Happy Three Kings Day!
I'm in Connecticut and it snowed last night. The Christmas tree is still up. All of the tinsel and half the ornaments are off, but it's still festive.
When I was a kid, over Advent and Christmas, my mom would tell us about the Three Kings and their journey to see the baby Jesus. She'd also tell us how, in Cuba where she grew up, on Three Kings Day the kids would put shoes outside the front door with hay in the shoes for the Three Kings' camels or horses, to eat.
Now, as a grown-up, most days, over the Advent/Christmas season, I will stop to imagine the Three Kings traveling through whatever weather I'm experiencing at the time, as they slowly make their way carrying their gifts. Sometimes my imagined kings have horses or camels and huge entourages with folks that go ahead of them to set up huge fancy camps, sometimes the kings are alone and on foot, sleeping on the ground under simple tarp tents. However my imagined kings travel, they always have a lot of faith and a little uncertainty. So in addition to immense joy, they feel a fair amount of relief when they finally make it to the baby in the manger.
As a result of this mini mental-movie, I love Three Kings Day.
In honor of the day, here's a wonderful song, not about the Three Kings (Three Kings songs seem to be mopey), but about the reason for the season. This is the best example of a Joyful Noise that I know of.
With the distortion from the old recording, and Mahalia's unique phrasing, some of the lyrics can be hard to understand, so I'm including them. But it's not just the lyrics, it's the way she sings it -- her profound faith and amazing joy is contagious.
Go Tell It On the Mountain - as sung by Mahalia Jackson
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
They found my Lord Savior
Was laying in a manger
Came down from Glory
To save this world from sin
Hallelujah!
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherd kept watching
O’er the wandering flock
By night behold down from heaven
Shine a holy light
Let us praise him!
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
When I was a kid, over Advent and Christmas, my mom would tell us about the Three Kings and their journey to see the baby Jesus. She'd also tell us how, in Cuba where she grew up, on Three Kings Day the kids would put shoes outside the front door with hay in the shoes for the Three Kings' camels or horses, to eat.
Now, as a grown-up, most days, over the Advent/Christmas season, I will stop to imagine the Three Kings traveling through whatever weather I'm experiencing at the time, as they slowly make their way carrying their gifts. Sometimes my imagined kings have horses or camels and huge entourages with folks that go ahead of them to set up huge fancy camps, sometimes the kings are alone and on foot, sleeping on the ground under simple tarp tents. However my imagined kings travel, they always have a lot of faith and a little uncertainty. So in addition to immense joy, they feel a fair amount of relief when they finally make it to the baby in the manger.
As a result of this mini mental-movie, I love Three Kings Day.
In honor of the day, here's a wonderful song, not about the Three Kings (Three Kings songs seem to be mopey), but about the reason for the season. This is the best example of a Joyful Noise that I know of.
Click to viewWith the distortion from the old recording, and Mahalia's unique phrasing, some of the lyrics can be hard to understand, so I'm including them. But it's not just the lyrics, it's the way she sings it -- her profound faith and amazing joy is contagious.
Go Tell It On the Mountain - as sung by Mahalia Jackson
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
They found my Lord Savior
Was laying in a manger
Came down from Glory
To save this world from sin
Hallelujah!
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherd kept watching
O’er the wandering flock
By night behold down from heaven
Shine a holy light
Let us praise him!
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born