The Huron Carol - Canadian Christmas Chant
Farya Faraji
Dec 3, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsAVvkirjyk

Vocals and arrangement by Farya Faraji. Many thanks to Luigi Alberga for having introduced me to this song. This is known as the oldest Christmas chant in Canada, and may very well be one of its oldest songs, if not the oldest.

The piece has a very interesting history: it was first noted down in the 18th century in Québec, and it is said that it was written and composed by Jean Brébeuf, a French missionary who had traveled to New France in 1625. Brébeuf was nothing short of a linguistic genius, and had an extraordinary ability for languages.

He learned the Wendat language, a member of the Iroquoian family of languages in North America, and even mastered it to the point of poetic and oratory fluency. According to this story, he then wrote what is known in French as the Noël Huron, or Jesous Ahatonnia, in the Wendat language.

Viewer comments:

@dawncharlonne1961

This Christmas Carol was sung to us by my beloved Abenaki grandmother when we were little.. My dad loved it because he was Huron/Abenaki and it was in our native tounge.. It's still part of my Christmas celebration.. I honor my ancestors..

@fionasteinbrecht60
St Jean de Brebeuf wrote this song for the Huron indians in Ontario , Canada . He was martyred and remembered at St Marie of the Hurons Shrine . Canadian children learn this hymn at school . Loveley rendition with english and french. ❤ 🇨🇦🎄

@genevieveblanchet-frost9958
This is so beautiful! I am Québécoise and I have never heard this - what a lovely surprise to discover this hymn and also to hear it sung in both official languages, with beautiful Christian lyrics. Gorgeous video, too. Thank you!!