December 29 

The First Noel 

TEXT AND TUNE: Traditional English Carol

First appeared in print, 1823

Carols Ancient and Modern, William Sandys

The origin of this much-loved carol is unknown and is likely a genuine folk song as opposed to a hymn composed for the church. Though the English are credited with its origin, the word “noel” comes from the French expression “joyeux noël,” which means Merry Christmas! In England, the word is spelled “nowell.” Used in the context of the first phrase, the meaning may be from the root of the French word “nouvelles,” which means “news.” There are several indications that the original was by someone with minimal education as the grammar is forced in order to rhyme (“Our blest Messiah’s place it was”). Even more, they may have had a minimal biblical education (as copies of the Bible were not readily available), for the second stanza mention of a star seen by the shepherds is nowhere in the biblical account. The writer might not have considered that it could have been spring or even known that a “cold winter’s night” in Palestine was nothing like winter in England or France.

In spite of these things, the carol abounds with joy in its simple narrative of the Christmas story. Although most hymnals only provide four or five stanzas, up to nine can be found in older books. Unusual for English folk melodies, it is one musical phrase sung twice with a refrain of minimal variation and ending on the third note of the scale. The four-part hymn arrangement was created in 1871 by the famous English composer, John Stainer.

As you sing this hymn … because of the familiarity of the story, it is easy to overlook the wonder. Shepherds, the lowest, and wise men, the highest echelon of society, represent both extremes of our world as they encounter the baby Jesus. Were the wise men disappointed when, after such a long journey and an amazing celestial miracle, they were led to the poorest of locations and the birth to an unknown family? No. Their response, like the shepherds, is kneeling in adoration. There is no sense of confusion or wondering if they made a mistake. They simply worshiped. They trusted the word from God to avoid King Herod in their return home. Their lives were changed by this baby King.

What about yours? Are you pursuing Jesus and His light? If you are and you submit to Him, your life will never be the same. Just as the angels told the shepherds: “Fear not!” This King was born, not to enslave you, but to free you. His life, death, and resurrection will bring you eternal life if you “follow the star.”

An excellent way to sing this carol is to have different family members sing the stanzas and everyone join on the refrain. Creative families might even make up their own stanzas to tell the story another way. It’s all good news!