Carols and folk traditions for Druids

(Nimue)

Christmas carols represent a fascinating body of music. There are a number of reasons why, as a Druid you might want to explore them – even if you aren’t interested in Christianity. Obviously there’s the element of community in this. Gathering to sing is good for people and carols often attract people who don’t normally raise their voices, so that’s always a good thing to support.

There are older carols that don’t have that much Christianity in them in the first place. The Boars Head carol springs to mind as an example. There’s a nod to ‘the king of bliss’ but otherwise this is a song about feasting.

Carols often feature characters that Pagans may find resonant – the three magi and Mary particularly.

The carols we best know had their tunes standardised during the nineteenth century. Before that, they were much more local. There’s a lot to be said for exploring your local carol traditions and find out which carols have a history in your part of the world. It’s a great way to connect with ancestors of place. Also, many of those local tunes are more interesting than the ‘official’ ones.

Check out wassailing too – there’s a singing tradition for this that relates to this time of year but has little to do with Christianity. Some people think wassailing is an ancient Pagan practice. Versions that focus on orchards and hanging toast in trees do have that swing. Other kinds of wassailing exist though that are more about going door to door around your  nearby big houses, singing, and demanding a reward. Some wassailing songs suggest serious violence could follow if money or drink is not forthcoming.

Mumming plays are also part of midwinter folk tradition and these also feature songs, often . Like some kinds of wassailing, these plays are largely a justification for passing a hat round. Mummers are generally disguised, which has always made it more feasible for them to bring a political dimension to the entertainment. Critiquing those with wealth and power is very much part of mumming, and aligns well with the idea of Druid satire. It’s fascinating to explore and great fun to get involved with.

Again,  there are traditional plays associated with specific places. More importantly – to my mind – this is also a living tradition, with new plays, and new political villains to lampoon…