The Huron Carol Quiz | Music Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Huron Carol was written by a French missionary among the Hurons. The Jesuit missionaries were known as "blackrobes". In what century did they begin their missionary work in North America?

Answer: 17th century

French missionaries began to arrive in "Huronia" around 1615. Father Jean de Brebeuf, one of the eight Canadian martyrs, spent many years among the Hurons, sharing their life and work. The Hurons called him "Echon" - "One who carries burdens". In 1641/42 he wrote "Jesous Ahatonhia" in the Huron language.

He used the French song "Une jeune pucelle" for the tune. He was captured and killed by the Iroquois when they attacked the Hurons in 1649.

2. The Huron Carol retells the story of the Nativity, using images that Hurons of the time would have been familiar with. How does it describe the season?

Answer: The moon of winter time

"'Twas in the moon of winter time,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead"

"Gitchi Manitou" is a creator deity of several First Nations, largely in the Great Lakes areas. Early Christian missionaries sometimes used this term for "God".

3. In the Bible, Jesus' birth was announced to shepherds. Who were the first to hear about it in the Huron Carol?

Answer: Hunters

"Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born! In excelsis gloria!"

The original version makes no mention of hunters; in fact the Hurons made their living mainly by agriculture, but the fur trade was very important to the Europeans.

4. True or false: The Huron Carol is considered to be the first Canadian Christmas Carol.

Answer: True

It is the first Christmas carol known to have been composed on Canadian soil, even before the country of Canada was founded.

5. In Christian tradition, Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. What image is used in the Huron Carol?

Answer: Bark Lodge

"Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found"

The Hurons, who lived in the area of modern Ontario, built their homes with sheets of bark.

6. In the Bible, Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes. What did she use in the Huron Carol?

Answer: Rabbit skin

"A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped his beauty 'round
And as the hunter braves drew nigh
The angel song rang loud and high:
"Jesus your King is born! Jesus is born! In excelsis gloria!"

7. Who replace the Magi in the Huron Carol?

Answer: Chiefs

"The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory
On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born! In excelsis gloria!"

The original version talks about "elders" or "three persons of great authority", depending on the translation. The gifts emphasize the importance of the fur trade.

8. True or false: the Huron Carol has its own postage stamp.

Answer: True

It is one of a series of three Canadian Christmas stamps put out in 1977.

9. Which Canadian artist organized an annual concert tour called "The Huron Carole" at Christmastime?

Answer: Tom Jackson

The proceeds of the concert tours went to Canadian foodbanks. Bruce Cockburn also recorded a version of "Jesus Ahatonnia" on his 1993 Christmas album.

In one version or another the Huron Carol is a staple for many Canadian churches at Christmas time. This is the last verse:

"O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria."

10. The popular version of "The Huron Carol" is a faithful translation of the original Huron text.

Answer: False

It was translated first into French, then English, and then rewritten in 1926 by John Middleton so it could be sung in English to the original tune. This translation of the original Huron text into English is by John Steckley/Teondecheron:

Have courage, you who are humans; Jesus, he is born
Behold, the spirit who had us as prisoners has fled
Do not listen to it, as it corrupts the spirits of our minds
Jesus, he is born
They are spirits, sky people, coming with a message for us
They are coming to say, "Rejoice (Be on top of life)"
Marie, she has just given birth. Rejoice"
Jesus, he is born
Three have left for such, those who are elders
Tichion, a star that has just appeared on the horizon leads them there
He will seize the path, he who leads them there
Jesus, he is born
As they arrived there, where he was born, Jesus
the star was at the point of stopping, not far past it
Having found someone for them, he says, "Come here!"
Jesus, he is born
Behold, they have arrived there and have seen Jesus,
They praised (made a name) many times, saying "Hurray, he is good in nature"
They greeted him with reverence (greased his scalp many times), saying 'Hurray'
Jesus, he is born
"We will give to him praise for his name,
Let us show reverence for him as he comes to be compassionate to us.
It is providential that you love us and wish, 'I should adopt them.'
Jesus, he is born."

You can download an MP3 with the original words sung by the Eskasoni Trio by going to the Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huron_Carol

Source: Author catamount

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Huron Carol Trivia Quiz

What do you know about this hauntingly beautiful piece of music? The questions are mostly about the modern English version.

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