Advent Reflection 11 December

Ding dong merrily on high

Pause for a moment

What baking smells most make you feel that Christmas is coming?

Listen to the music

Ding dong merrily on high
In heaven the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riven with angel singing

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below
Let steeple bells be swungen
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers

Learn about the carol

The tune for this carol first appeared as a secular dance tune known under the title "Branle de l'Official" in Orchésographie, a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593). The lyrics are from English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934), and the carol was first published in 1924. Woodward took an interest in church bell ringing, which no doubt aided him in writing it.

The words reflect Psalm 150.6 ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord’, as well as echoing the song of the angels ‘Gloria, hosanna in excelsis’.

Time for reflection

It is fitting that everything good should be harnessed in worship of God and his coming. Christmas is a feast and there is something total and multi-sensory about the way we celebrate it that is wonderfully appropriate. Jesus was frequently to be found feasting. Celebration is as much a part of God’s ordained order as fasting, perhaps actually more so.

We look at the decorations and lights and enjoy the carols, feel presents to imagine what they are and we savour the taste of our Christmas dinner and treats - and that is just UK traditions. If we look around the world, we can see expressions of Christmas joy translated into a huge variety of sights, songs and smells.

It is right that the best foods, music and decorations come out. It is fitting, our duty and our joy, to praise him with everything at our disposal wherever we are.

Time for Action

Prepare a Christmas treat – either for yourself or to share with friends and neighbours.