24. The Twelfth Day Carol
Traditional, adapted and arranged by Robbie O’Connell, 1998.
The village of Kilmore, County Wexford, has a unique Christmas tradition that goes back nearly three hundred years. A song cycle of Irish Christmas carols is sung annually in the local Church of Saint Mary. There is a specific carol for each of the twelve days of Christmas. The Twelfth Day Carol is sung on the Sunday closest to 6th January, known in Irish as Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) and also as Little Christmas.
In theory, Nollaig na mBan was a day set aside to honor and thank women for all their work over the previous eleven days of celebration. In practice however, the tradition is not as well observed as it should be—although in recent times it has revived somewhat in that a ladies’ night out to dinner has become a more contemporary version of it.
However, that has no bearing on the Twelfth Day Carol which sticks to the new testament account of the arrival of the Magi, with the wonderfully musical names Jaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Strangely, it somehow manages to tie the Miracle of Cana, and the baptism of Jesus, to this event. I was drawn to this song by the majesty of the melody and the colorful ornate language of the lyrics.
I took the liberty of editing the text for the recording of it that I did with Jimmy Keane on the Aengus CD, All on a Christmas Morning, likewise for the 2003 recording for the inaugural production of Brian O’Donovan’s “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn”. The text below is the full version.
Lyrics:
THE TWELFTH DAY CAROL
Traditional, adapted and arranged by Robbie O’Connell, 1998.
(The indented verses have been left out of the recorded version.)1
Now to conclude our Christmas mirth, with news of our redemption.
We will end our songs on our Saviour’s birth with one that deserves attention.
Three great wonders fell on this day, a star brought Kings where the Infant lay,
Water made wine in Galilee and Christ baptised in Jordan.
Those Kings must have known what Balaam of old said of a star that would arise,
In Jacob’s land where he foretold the coming of the Messiah.
Jasper, Melchior and Balthazar set out when they saw that new bright star,
Leaving their eastern kingdoms far, to find the new-born Jesus.
Amazed to see the cottage poor, the stall where He was born in,
They left their retinue at the door, though great, they entered without scorn.
The Blessed Babe and mother found, leaving their crowns and sceptres down.
Adored Him prostrate on the ground and might have spoke as follows:
Oh King of Kings here in disguise whom stars obey and angels serve.
Though wealth and grandeur You despise, You have given us more than we deserve.
Our beds are gold and ivory, our garments rich with broidery.
Beset with pearls and pageantry, whilst You lie in a manger.
What else might have passed, you may conceive in this fond conversation.
They bade farewell, taking their leave, home to their habitation.
Farewell good Christians, fare thee well too, many a happy Christmas we wish you.
With a blessed end for to ensue, through the merits of Sweet Jesus.
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Robbie O’Connell: guitar, vocal
George Keith: fiddle
Dan Isaacson: flute, bouzouki
Rushad Eggleston: cello
Roxanne O’Connell, Brian & Lindsay O Donovan, Mary & Ned Casey: Harmony vocals
Eric Kilburn: Recording Engineer
Recorded at Wellsprings Studio in Acton, Massachusetts.