Here’s a list of the traditional African-American Christmas songs that I could find. If you know of anymore, please contact me and let me know.
Behold That Star
Children, Go Where I Send Thee
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Mary Had A Baby
Rise Up Shepherd And Follow
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
The Little Cradle Rocks Tonight In Glory
What You Gonna Call Your Pretty Little Baby?
‘Children, go where I send thee’ was discovered in a school for black children in Kentucky by Jean Ritchie. This Christmas song is thought to be of traditional African American origin. The lyrics and MIDI for Children, go where I send thee are found in our Christmas carols database.
The possible meaning of the lyrics are given below.
‘One for the little bitty baby born, born, born in Bethlehem’.
- This of course, refers to the infant Jesus.
‘Two for Paul and Silas’
- This verse honors Paul and Silas who went on many missionary journeys to spread the teachings of Christ. Alternate versions of this song have ‘Two for the lily-white babes clothed all in green’ as the second line. These babes could be Jesus and his cousin, John the Baptist.
‘Three for the Hebrew children’
- The three Hebrew children could be Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These 3 were thrown into a burning furnace by the King of Babylon as they refused to bow down to the Babylonian idols. They walked out of the furnace unharmed. The three Hebrew children could also be the three wisemen who came to visit baby Jesus.
‘Four for the four that stood at the door’
- The Bible tells the story of a paralytic man who wished to see Jesus, who was adressing an assembly of people in a house. A large crowd had gathered there, and the friends of the paralyzed man could not get his bed through the door of the house. So they climbed on the roof, created an opening and let their friend down to settle at the feet of Jesus, while they remained outside. The four who stood at the door could be these men. Many people interpret the four to be the four writers of the Gospel Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, though this does not explain the part about standing at the door.
‘Five for the gospel preachers’
- The five are Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Peter. Paul is already mentioned above.
‘Six for the six that never got fixed’
- Could this mean the sinners who never change their ways? Alternate versions of this song have the lyrics ‘Six for the six proud walkers (or waiters or waters)’. Six could also refer to the six jars of water that Jesus converted to wine at the wedding at Cana
though this does not explain the part about not getting fixed.
‘Seven for the seven that never got to heaven’
- Alternate lyrics are ’seven for the seven who went to heaven’ and ’seven for the seven who came from heaven’. The seven in heaven could be the seven stars in Ursa Major or the sevenfold spirit of God or the seven early Christian churches or the seven stars in the right hand of Christ mentioned in the Revelation.
‘Eight for the eight that stood at the gate’
- Alternate lyrics are ‘eight for the eight who sealed their fate’. This could refer to the eight people who entered Noah’s ark (Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives).
‘Nine for the nine all dressed so fine’
- This could refer to the nine orders of Angels in heaven. Alternate lyrics are ‘Nine for the ninety-nine in line’ - Those waiting while the Good Shepherd sought his one lost sheep.
‘Ten for the ten commandments’
- This refers to the ten commandments given to Moses.
‘Eleven for the eleven deriders’
- To deride means to laugh contemptously or to ridicule. Who are these eleven people who laughed contemptously and who did they laugh at? I have no idea. Alternate lyrics are ‘eleven for the eleven who went to heaven’ which could refer to the eleven apostles (minus the traitor Judas Iscariot) who went to heaven.
‘Twelve for the twelve Apostles’
- This line is self-explanatory.
La befana is the Italian Santa Claus.
She visits every home in Italy on the night before the Epiphany (6th of January) and leaves gifts and candy for the good children and a lump of coal for the naughty ones.
Befana rides a broomstick, and unlike Santa she can easily climb up and down chimneys, as she is thin. She is fashion concious too, and wears a black shawl to disguise all that chimney soot.
Italian children hang out their stockings by the chimneys for Befana, and put out little morsels of food and a glass of wine for her. If Befana is in a good mood, she may even sweep the floors of the house before she leaves.
The legend of Befana goes that the three wise men on their way to visit the Baby Jesus knocked on a little hut on a hill in Italy looking for directions. Yes, this was Befana’s house. Befana did not know the way to the Baby Jesus, she however offered the three wise men hospitality for the night.
The next morning, before the three wise men set out on their quest, they invited Befana to come with them. But she was too busy with her housework and declined. Later, Befana regretted not going to see Baby Jesus and decided to go out on her own to look for Him. She baked lots of goodies and packed little gifts to give Him.
Befana searched and searched, but she could not find the Baby Jesus or the three wise men. She gave every child she met a gift in the hopes that this was the Christ child.
Even after centuries, Befana is still searching. Every year, on the night before the Epiphany, she sets out on her search with a bag of goodies, and gives a gift to every child she meets on the way.
Here is how to say “Merry Christmas” in different languages from around the world.
Silent Night, Holy Night is my favorite Christmas carol. When I listen to this, I can actually feel the hush of the snowfall, the peace of the newborn babe and the awe of the world watching a miracle happen.
Here is a simple version of the guitar tab for Silent night, holy night. My friend Chris assures me that even guitar beginners like me won’t have any problems playing this one.
Waltz 3/4 time
C
Silent night, holy night
G C
All is calm, All is bright
F C
Round yon virgin mother and Child
F C
Holy Infant, so Tender and mild,
G C
Sleep in heavenly peace,
C G C
Sleep in heavenly peace.
C
Silent night, holy night
G C
Shepherds quake at the sight
F C
Glories stream from heaven afar
F C
Heavenly hosts sing Alleleulia!
G C
Christ the Saviour is born
C G C
Christ the saviour is born!
C
Silent night, holy night
G C
Son of God, love’s pure light
F C
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
F C
With the dawn of redeeming grace
G C
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
C G C
Jesus Lord at Thy birth.
C
Silent night, holy night
G C
Wondrous star, lend thy light
F C
With the angels let us sing
F C
Alleluia to our King
G C
Christ the Savior is born
C G C
Christ the Savior is born!