December 11- Jingle Bells

After a few days break from Christmas music, we were back at it today with the popular Christmas song Jingle Bells. As some may know this song was originally written for Thanksgiving in 1857 by James Pierpoint. Somewhere along the way it transitioned to a Christmas tune that is still a favorite among children. While my kids didn't do a craft today, we did make sure to jingle bells as we sang this song.

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

December 8 - Silent Night

Today, we again focused on a German Christmas carol, translated into English by John Young in 1859. This carol is one that is quite well-known and even in our household my two older boys know the beginning verse completely. It was fun teaching them that it actually comes from another language and they enjoyed listening to German singers on YouTube. Here is the version we enjoy, though.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

December 7- O Christmas Tree

Many people know the first couple lines of this German Christmas carol, but often forget the remainder of the song. It is a song of controversial history due to its use during the Third Reich to try to remove the Christian elements of the holiday season (more history here). There are various versions of the song, though, and below is an excellent rendition that compares the unchanging color of the Christmas tree to our ever-constant God. (The rest of this version can be found here.)

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

*****

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!

Though I don't have pictures, my children made their Christmas tree crafts today using the Shapes Tree from DLTK's.

12 Days of Homeschool

No, this is not part of our Christmas music study, but it is a well-done version of a Christmas song as a response to all the questions we get as homeschoolers. Enjoy! I'll get back to Christmas music, right after this.

December 4- Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels We Have Heard on High is a traditional French carol that was translated into English by James Chadwick in 1862. More history can be found at Wikipedia. What I love about the language of this carol is that it introduces a simple, yet prevalent, Latin phrase to my children. It is a more familiar carol that I have enjoyed singing since I was a child myself.

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song? Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King. Refrain

See him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love. Refrain
Our ornaments are Handprint/Footprint Angels loosely based off these directions at DLTK's.

December 3 - The Holly & the Ivy

This carol is one that has a familiar tune while the words are a little less known. It is a great lead into Christmas decorating, though, as my kids are now noticing holly and ivy everywhere on Christmas items. The history of the song is similar to other carols since it has been around a while and the words have changed over time (more history here). It is a beautiful song, and a great study for our look at Christmas music.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

A video we all enjoyed on YouTube -The Winchester Cathedral Choir recorded in 1986


My childrens' ornaments (seen at the top) were constructed with craft foam, glitter craft foam and a pretty paper background.

December 2 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel

As we continue in our Christmas music study, we focused on a traditional carol reported to be from the early 12th century. Originally this song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, was written in Latin, and, while I hope to teach my children the Latin in the future, we focused on the English translation done by John Mason Neal in 1851.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Our ornament for today is simply an old key to represent the "Key of David", as taken from the song. This was a fun way to use some old keys, and the kids are excited about having these ornaments when they are older. Here are the four kiddos keys.

Reference site: http://www.carols.org.uk/o_come_come_emmanuel.htm

December 1 - Christmas Music Unit Study

Today our focus is on where Christmas music originated. Over at Homeschooling Apropos there is a great write-up about the history of Christmas Carols. Our ornaments for the day are music notes depicting music at Christmas.

Christmas Music Unit Study

In search of a Christmas unit, I figured I would be able to find one online that fit our family and would take some of the guesswork out of the preparations for me. (There is already so much to do at holiday time.) Though, I don't plan on breaking from regular school for Christmas studies, I was wanting something special to do for the days leading up to this special time of year.
Thankfully, I think I have found a perfect fit. At Homeschooling Apropos VegieMama has put together a great unit for studying Christmas music. I especially like the simple craft suggestion of creating ornaments that go along with each day of study.
As we begin this journey here today, December 1, 2009, I hope others also will be encouraged to take time to reflect on the Lord and the coming of His Son to earth.