Preparing my heart to celebrate Christmas

This year as we begin the final countdown of the days before Christmas I have been thinking about some of the old carols and the message of hope and the true meaning of Christmas that a lot of them contain. As I was editing some of the photos I took last month I came across this one that I took at Versailles. It reminded me of this carol that is not sung very often.

The Holly and the Ivy.
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown,

Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown:

O, the rising of the sun, And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom, As white as lily flow'r,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To be our dear Saviour: Refrain

The holly bears a berry, As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To do poor sinners good: Refrain

The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, On Christmas Day in the morn: Refrain

The holly bears a bark, As bitter as the gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, For to redeem us all: Refrain

The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown: Refrain

(Click on the title above to listen to the tune.)