Before the days that saw Halloween become a festival for ghouls, ghosts and goblins, ‘hallows’ meant ‘holy’ and it was a celebration of the rebirth of the Celtic Lord of Winter, Gwyn ap Nudd, as the constellation of Orion rose above the horizon in the night skies. In honour of that festival, I’ve just released my own version of O Holy Night, previously a French Christmas carol, to these words, and the play counter is going up like a rocket here on Soundcloud.
All Hallows Eve! The stars are brightly shining ….
in celebration of Lord Gwyn’s rebirth.
Sages gaze into embers divining …
and dreaming of the winter king of Earth.
Dark is the night; its cloak is black as coal,
And only the fiery eyes of dragons glow,
But something is stirring, a flame is igniting
Under the ‘neath roots of Paradise below.
On this night, this holy night, this night divine!
O Samhain eve! Our hearts are loudly beating ….
like shamans’ drums, to augur your return,
The gentle folk are stoking their hearths for greeting …
the blessed Guardian of the great stag Herne.
Our fields lay fallow; our crops are gathered up,
And now the gales and winds of winter knock.
But something is stirring, a flame is igniting ….
under the ‘neath roots of Paradise below.
On this night, this holy night, this night divine!
O Halloween! The giant Orion is rising ……
from Eridanus, to take his winter throne.
In his belt, three kings are on their camels riding,
Bearing myrrh, and frankincense and gold.
Cetus the Whale dives through the starry deeps,
While we down here in the Land of Nod sleep…
As into our dreamscapes, flames your sacred wisdom,
And your love, your love, your love for all mankind.
Unto us a star is born! Oh, it is SUCH a night divine!
© Annie Dieu-Le-Veut, Samhain 2023
Annie Dieu-Le-Veut 