[kids-book-project] Yule

[mol]

Ok. lets start talking about how to present this Sabbat.

I am just about to sit down and eat...so I will have to comment later on...just wanted to get us started.

[Semele]

Maybe it could be a story about a young child asking about the history of Christmas and the parents could teach the child about all the various traditions and include something fun to do for different ones. That way it isn't path specific and doesn't totally exclude Christianity. Just some thoughts.

Semele

[Niamh]

"Mommy/Daddy, why do we bring a tree into the house?"
Just a thought. I find that questions like these coming from children make for good starts in children's books. Now that I read it, it sounds corny... :crazy:

[Yvonne Belisle]

It's a start in the right direction. Besides we have to start somewhere.

[mol]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
It's a start in the right direction. Besides we have to start somewhere.

Absolutely...so...why do we bring a tree into the house?

[Semele]

Why because it gets lonely hanging out in the garage with all the other holiday goodies of course!!!

Semele

[mol]

Originally posted by Semele
Why because it gets lonely hanging out in the garage with all the other holiday goodies of course!!!

Semele

Nice. :rolleyes:

[Amethyst Rose]

This is a little off topic, seeing as how it has nothing to do with the tree :)
But I have a bunch of Yule songs... I was wondering if we'd want to include them?

[Yvonne Belisle]

Yes they should be posted so we all can see them.:D

[Amethyst Rose]

All right some of these songs may be exclusively pagan, so we may not want to use them, you decide.... there are a lot of songs, so prepare yourself for a really long post..... I hope I'm allowed to post something this long....

BB
Amethyst Rose


HARK THE NEO-PAGANS SING
-"Sunblade"
(Tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing")

Hark the neo-Pagans sing,
Glory to the Holly King!
Peace on Earth and mercy mild,
God and Goddess reconciled,
Hear us now as we proclaim,
We have risen from the flames,
Our ancient Craft now we reclaim,
In the God and Goddess' names
Hark the neo-Pagans sing,
Glory to the Holly King!
Herne by highest love adored,
Herne the ever-reborn Lord,
At all times behold Him come,
Offspring of the Holy One,
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail Incarnate Deity!
Our ancient Craft now we reclaim,
in the God and Goddess' names
Hark the neo-Pagans sing,
Glory to the Holly King!

*

YE CHILDREN ALL OF MOTHER EARTH
-Ellen Reed
(Tune: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear")

Ye children all of Mother Earth
join hands and circle around
To celebrate the Solstice night
When our lost Lord is found.
Rejoice, the year has begun again
The Sun blesses skies up above
So share the season together now
In everlasting Love!

*
GLORIA
-Ellen Reed

Snow lies deep upon the Earth
Still our voices warmly sing
Heralding the glorious birth
Of the Child, the Winter King
Glo -- ria!
In excelsis Deo!
Glo -- ria!
In excelsis Dea!
Our triumphant voices claim
Joy and hope and love renewed
And our Lady's glad refrain
Answer winter's solitude
Glo -- ria! (Etc.)
In Her arms a holy Child
Promises a glowing Light
Through the winter wind so wild
He proclaims the growing Light.
Glo -- ria! (Etc.)
Now the turning of the year
Of the greater Turning sings
Passing age of cold and fear
Soon our golden summer brings.
Glo -- ria! (Etc.)

*

OH, COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL!
-Ellen Reed

Oh, come all ye faithful
Gather round the Yule Fire
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye,
To call the Sun!
Fires within us
Call the Fire above us
O, come, let us invoke Him!
O, come, let us invoke Him!
O, come, let us invoke Him!
Our Lord, the Sun!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee!
Born again at Yuletide!
Yule fires and candle flames
Are lighted for You!
Come to thy children
Calling for thy blessing!
O, come let us invoke Him (x3)
Our Lord, the Sun!

*

SILENT NIGHT
-Ellen Reed

Silent night, Solstice Night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fireswelcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling Wheel
Brings the winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!

*
GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING
-Ellen Reed (1st verse)

Brothers, sisters, come to sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Gardens peaceful, forests wild
Celebrate the Winter Child!
Now the time of glowing starts!
Joyful hands and joyful hearts!
Cheer the Yule log as it burns!
For once again the Sun returns!

Brothers, sisters, come and sing!
Glory to the new-born King!
Brothers, sisters, singing come
Glory to the newborn Sun
Through the wind and dark of night
Celebrate the coming light.
Suns glad rays through fear's cold burns
Life through death
the Wheel now turns
Gather round the Yule log and tree
Celebrate Life's mystery
Brothers, sisters, singing come
Glory to the new-born Sun.



*
SHARE THE LIGHT
(The First Noel)

CHORUS: Share the light, share the light!
Share the light, share the Light!
All paths are one on this holy night!
On this Winter holiday, let us stop and recall
That this season is holy to one and to all.
Unto some a Son is born, unto us comes a Sun,
And we know, if they don't that all paths are one.
Be it Chanukah or Yule,
Christmas time or Solstice night,
All celebrate the eternal light.
Lighted tree or burning log,
Or eight candle flames.
All gods are one god, whatever their names.

*
MOON OF SILVER
(We Three Kings)

CHORUS: Oh, Moon of Silver, Sun of Gold,
Gentle Lady, Lord so bold!
Guide us ever, failing never,
Lead us in ways of old.

Maiden, Mother, Ancient Crone,
Queen of Heaven on your throne,
Praise we sing Thee, Love we bring Thee,
For all that you have shown.

Lord of Darkness, Lord of Light,
Gentle Brother, King of Might,
Praise we sing thee, Love we bring Thee
On this Solstice night.

*
JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare him room
And Heaven and Nature sing, etc.

Welcome our King who brings us life.
Our Lady gives him birth!
His living light returneth to warm the seeds within us
And wake the sleeping earth, etc.

Light we the fires to greet our Lord,
Our Light! Our Life! Our King!
Let every voice be lifted to sing his holy praises, As Heaven and
Nature sing, etc.

*


GOD REST YE MERRY, PAGANFOLK
(God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen)

God rest ye merry, paganfolk,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice day.
The growing dark is ending now
And Spring is on its way.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

The Goddess rest ye merry, too,
And keep you safe from harm.
Remember that we live within
The circle of Her arms,
And may Her love give years to come
A very special charm.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

[Niamh]

Those songs are really great! I've seen some of them before, but my first time seeing most of them. Definitly should be included.

[mol]

Have to watch out...are these songs copyrighted? If so...we will have to get permission to use them.

[Amethyst Rose]

Well.... I got them from a mailing list, after they had been passed on to numerous other mailing lists.... I think as long as we include the author's name, it should be okay.... shouldn't it?

[Dextra]

Amethyst, you've smacked me upside the head with inspiration! I've had the notion in my mind to write some Yule songs, but I think they should be more original, instead of drawing from the "traditional" songs.
In the old days, especially around the British Isles, Ireland, Scotland, etc, carolling was something the did for every holiday, not just Yule. I think it would be a great idea if everyone tried to compose some original songs for the sabbats. Anybody got any ideas?!

[Niamh]

We'd still have to get written permission from the author. If the book was to be printed by a big publishing house, they would go through the process of getting the legal premission, etc. However, if we can find a primary source for the songs and contact the author... Plus if they are copyrighted material, there would be some money involved.

[mol]

Originally posted by Niamh
We'd still have to get written permission from the author. If the book was to be printed by a big publishing house, they would go through the process of getting the legal premission, etc. However, if we can find a primary source for the songs and contact the author... Plus if they are copyrighted material, there would be some money involved.

That was my point. Maybe it would be better if we could create some original songs, etc. Like Dextra had suggested...

[Amethyst Rose]

Well.....

wouldn't that be true of anything we want to put in the book then?
We would have to make up everything on our own... which I suppose wouldn't be too bad :)

I wouldn't have much to contribute if that's the case... most of the stuff I have in my BoS has been collected from mailing lists, and I have no clue of the author.

[Dextra]

Had another idea pop into my head (I'm full of 'em today for some reason). I had mentioned to Mairwen that "Amazing Grace could very easily be translated into a pagan song just by changing a few words here and there. I heard a version of it that Tori Amos did in concert and it was just beautiful! The one line that makes me believe that it could be easily "translated into pagan" is the part that says "T'was Grace Mother that taught my heart to feel." Beautiful! And I don't know anyone that isn't at least touched whenever the song is played on bagpipes. A friend of mine mentioned that the song had pagan roots. He's an information hound, so he would know. But I'm going to go look it up and see if there are any copyrights attached to the song and if I can get a better history on it and I'll be back to divulge whatever I can find!

[mol]

Originally posted by Amethyst Rose
Well.....

wouldn't that be true of anything we want to put in the book then?
We would have to make up everything on our own... which I suppose wouldn't be too bad :)

I wouldn't have much to contribute if that's the case... most of the stuff I have in my BoS has been collected from mailing lists, and I have no clue of the author.

Everything that we would do in this would need to be original content. Otherwise we would be breaking laws. Besides...I thought that was sort of the point to all of this. By teaching, we learn.

[Kaylara]

I have heard the Pagan Amazing Grace... I might have it somewhere in my papers.... Along with a pagan Pledge of Aliegence... Let me look, and I'll post it.

Kaylara

[mol]

Originally posted by Kaylara
I have heard the Pagan Amazing Grace... I might have it somewhere in my papers.... Along with a pagan Pledge of Aliegence... Let me look, and I'll post it.

Kaylara

;) Thanks!

[Dextra]

Unfortunately, I did find out that the lyrics to Amazing Grace are copyrighted. However, it was the actual melody that I believe was supposed to have a pagan origin. I'm still looking to find something with that information. In the meantime, I would also love to see the pagan version if you can find it Kaylara! I was just going to re-write it myself, but I would like to see that one first!

[Amethyst Rose]

Here's the one I have....

Wiccan Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace
How sweet the Earth,
That bore a Witch like me.
I once was burned,
Now I survive.
Was Hanged but now I sing.

'Twas Grace, That Drew
Down the Moon,
and Grace that Raised
the Seas,
The Magick in,
The people's Will
Will Set our Mother Free.

We Face The East,
and breathe the winds,
That move across the Earth,
From gentle breeze to hurricane,
our breath will bring forth change.

Turn Towards the South,
and Feel the Fire,
That burns in you and me,
The Spirit's flame shall rise again,
and Burn Eternally.

We Greet the West
Our Souls awash,
In Tides of Primal Birth,
Our Pain and blood, Our Tears and love
Shall cleanse and heal the Earth.

Reach in to North,
and Know your roots,
Down Deep ancestral Caves.
We find the Wisdom of the Crone,
of Circles we are made.

Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Earth
That bore Witches like We.
We once were burned
Now we survive
were hanged and now we sing.

Goddess bless,
So mote it be
Our Magick Spirals on,
Merry meet and Merry Part
and Merry meet Again.