Happy third day of Christmas 2014!
Each time I see this image of the Christ Child, I think of the beautiful Spanish Christmas carol from Catalonia titled El Can Dels Ocells (“Carol or Song of the Birds”). This lovely carol conveys nature’s joy at learning of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem’s stable.
This link includes the Catalan lyrics with a literal English translation. One of my favorite verses is:
The nightingale twitters,
‘He is more beautiful than the sun,
More brilliant than a star!’
The redstart and the stonechat
Celebrate the infant
And his virgin Mother.
Pablo Casals, world-famous Catalan cellist and conductor, would begin each of his concerts by playing this song after his exile from Spain. Consequently, the carol became closely associated with Catalonia throughout the world. In the video below you will hear Pablo Casals playing this carol set against a background of beautiful artwork featuring birds.
Feliç Nadal. Feliz Navidad. Merry Christmas.