OT Advent Calendar Bonus Content: St Stephen’s Day
St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated on December 26th. Or the 27th. Or January 9th. Look, it depends on the variety of Christianity one practices, okay?
Author: Bryan O'Nolan
OT Advent Calendar: Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, all! For those who celebrate, I hope today is filled with joy, health, love and peace. For those who do not, I hope today brings you blessings!
OT Advent Calendar Day 27: The Boar’s Head Carol
The Boar’s Head tradition was likely brought to England by the Anglo Saxons, and certainly existed in the Middle Ages.
OT Advent Calendar Day 26: The Wexford Carol
First of all, I have a deep personal connection to County Wexford in Ireland. Second and third, there’s Yo Yo Ma and Alison Krauss.
OT Advent Calendar Day 24: The Coventry Carol
Another I’ve loved all my life, this and tomorrow’s song are lullabies. “The Coventry Carol” was the second of two songs included in a 16th century nativity play
OT Advent Calendar Day 23: Once in Royal David’s City
“Once in Royal David’s City” is, as so many of our Christmas traditions are, a child of the 19th century. Written by Cecil Frances Alexander and published in her 1848 hymnbook Hymns for Little Children
OT Advent Calendar Day 22: The Friendly Beasts
“The Friendly Beasts” is also remarkably old, going back to 12th century France and sometimes attributed to Pierre de Corbeil, Bishop of Sens.
OT Advent Calendar Day 21: Silly Christmas Songs
Today’s theme is a catch all for the light, silly songs we encounter around the Holidays: silly Christmas songs
OT Advent Calendar Day 25: Lullay Mine Liking
The word “lullaby” is, in fact, onomatopoeia; it is the “lu lu,” “la la” and “bye bye” sounds mothers often make to calm infants. Which suggests a new meaning to Radiohead’s “There There,” but—as I so often do—I digress.
OT Advent Calendar Day 20: Two Catalan Christmas Songs
Today’s tunes are both from the region of Catalonia in Spain: “Ríu Ríu Chíu” and “Caga Tió.”
OT Advent Calendar Day 19: The Holly & The Ivy
Today’s song, “The Holly and The Ivy,” shows great evidence of being endemic for quite a while before it was collected and standardized.
OT Advent Calendar Day 18: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
This German song entitled “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”—literally, “It Is a Rose Sprung Up”—is one of the most Marian of Christmas Carols.
OT Advent Calendar Day 17: I Saw Three Ships
I love the simple chords and melody of the song and its simple faith. And I do mean simple. Let’s just say Bethlehem is not a port.
OT Advent Calendar Day 16: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
The tune for “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is from 15th century France and the Latin text first in evidence in early 18th century Germany.
OT Advent Calendar Day 15: Gaudete!
In some of Western Christianity, the third Sunday, with a rose candle and vestments, is Gaudete Sunday, Gaudete being Latin for “rejoice.”
OT Advent Calendar Day 14: Strange Christmas
You said the theme for this Saturday was “Strange Christmas.” I did. There’s nothing strange about this. Not yet…
OT Advent Calendar Day 13: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen & We Three Kings
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is one of the oldest Christmas carols still in general circulation and, given it likely dates from the 16th century, it’s remarkable that the first verse has survived almost intact:
OT Advent Calendar Day 12, Holiday Hip Hop Edition
Your OT advent calendar will be musical. Today’s tunes are “I Am the Grinch,” by Tyler, the Creator versus “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC.
OT Advent Calendar Day 11: Christmas Time Is Here, Charlie Brown
Your Ordinary Times advent calendar will be musical this year: Today’s song is “Christmas Time Is Here” of Peanuts frame.
OT Advent Calendar Day 10: I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Your OT Advent calendar will be musical. Today’s song: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
