A Tudor Christmas - Carol (30th December)

30th December - Carol

Lets start with a carol that is not known anymore and was written by King Henry VIII: 

"Green groweth the holly,

So doth the ivy.

Though winter blasts blow never so high,

Green groweth the holly.

As the holly groweth green

And never changeth hue,

So I am, ever hath been,

Unto my lady true.

As the holly groweth green

With ivy all alone

When flowers cannot be seen

And greenwood leaves be gone,

Now unto my lady

Promise to her I make,

From all other only

To her I me betake.

Adieu, mine own lady,

Adieu, my special

Who hath my heart truly

Be sure, and ever shall"

Many of the carols that we know today were written during the Victorian age and were different during the Tudor age. The carols that were written by the Victorians took the tunes that had been made by the Tudors and were adapted with new lyrics. They would be performed, originally in Latin along with dancing which were then performed at many feasts, especially at Christmas. 

Carols were often sung in groups outside, they would go from house to house singing in the hope of getting food or money. Most concentacted on the Nativity and wer about celebraton and rejoicing. Others would have been written with pagan elements. 

Many carols that came from the Tudor period were written and came from Germany, some may have been known in England during this time. Some would have been translated so they could be sung in a language that everyone understood and knew.

Gentlemen and children of the Chapel Royal would gather round and perform carols for the monarch, they would then recive gifts of money. As the Tudor rule went on, carols would have been sung everyday during Mass along with being performed for the monarch.