Noël Nouvelet French Christmas Carol

Noà «l Nouvelet is a traditional French Christmas and New Years carol. The song was long ago translated into English as Sing We Now of Christmas, though the lyrics are somewhat different. The translation given here is the literal translation of the original French Christmas carol. Lyrics and Translation Noà «l Nouvelet Noà «l nouvelet, Noà «l chantons ici,Dà ©votes gens, crions à   Dieu merci  !New Christmas, Christmas we sing here,Devout people, let us shout our thanks to God!Chorus : Chantons Noà «l pour le Roi nouvelet  ! (bis)Noà «l nouvelet, Noà «l chantons ici  !Chorus:Let us sing Christmas for the new King! (repeat)New Christmas, Christmas we sing here.Lange disait! pasteurs partez dici!En Bethlà ©em trouverez langelet.ChorusThe angel said! Shepherds leave this place!In Bethlehem youll find the little angel.ChorusEn Bethlà ©em, à ©tant tous rà ©unis,Trouvà ¨rent lenfant, Joseph, Marie aussi.ChorusIn Bethlehem, all united,Were found the child, Joseph, and Mary too.ChorusBientà ´t, les Rois, par là ©toile à ©claircis,A Bethlà ©em vinrent une matinà ©e.ChorusSoon, the Kings, by the bright starTo Bethlehem came one morning.ChorusLun partait lor; lautre lencens bem;Là ©table alors au Paradis semblait.ChorusOne brought gold, the other priceless incense;The stable thus seemed like Heaven.Chorus Noà «l Nouvelet  History and Meaning This traditional French carol dates from the late 15th century and the early 16th century. The word nouvelet has the same root as  Noà «l, both stemming from the word for news and newness. Some sources say it was a New Years song. But others point out that the lyrics all speak of the news of the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem, the announcement by angels to the shepherds in the fields, looking forward to the visit of the Three Kings and the presentation of their gifts to the Holy Family. Everything points to a Christmas carol rather than celebrating the New Year. This carol celebrates all of the figures in the  crà ¨che, the handmade nativity scenes found throughout France, where they are part of the Christmas celebration in homes and in town squares. This song would be sung by families at home and at community gatherings rather than as part of the liturgy in Roman Catholic churches at the time it was written. There are many versions found from those early centuries. It was printed in the  1721 Grande Bible des noà «ls, taunt vieux que nouveaus.  Translations into English and variations in French would all be colored by the denominational differences between Christian faiths and doctrines. The song is in a minor key, in Dorian mode. It shares its first five notes with the hymn,  Ave, Maris Stella Lucens Miseris.  The tune is used in, of course, the English version, Sing We Now of Christmas. But it is also repurposed for the Easter hymn, Now the Green Blade Rises, written in 1928 by John Macleod Cambell Crum. It is used for several translations into English of a hymn based on the writings of Thomas Aquinas, Adoro Te Devote, A Meditation on the Blessed Sacrament. The carol remains popular both in French and in its English variations.