Yes, I am still listening to Christmas carols … after all Holy Mother Church does not end the Christmas Season until the Baptism of the Lord (January 8, 2012). So, in the meantime, I will continue to delight in carols and joyful sounds of Christmas. An example is the lovely traditional Catalan carol “What shall we give to the child?”
As you read the lyrics below, I’d like to point out the last two lines which allude to the Passion and Death of Christ. The words remind us that after the joy of His birth, suffering will follow. But the glory of His Resurrection will transcend the darkness of sorrow.
[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#272a40″]What shall we give to the child of the Mother?
What shall we give that to him will taste good?
Hazel nuts, honeycomb, figs and ripe olives,
Honey and curds we will bring for his food.
What shall we give to the sweet son of Mary?
What shall we give to the beautiful child?
Figs in a basket and scales for to weigh them,
Sweet corn and figs we will bring to the child.
Tan-ta-ta-tan-ta, the figs are not ripened,
Tan-ta-ta-tan-ta, the figs are still green,
They will be ripe by the day of the palm leaves,
Ripe when the bright sun at Easter is seen.
Listen below: