Sunday, December 25, 2005

Merry Christmas

Today is December 25, Christmas Day to those of us who celebrate that holiday.

Many Christmas carols feature birds among their imagery for Christmas and the holiday season. One of my favorites that does so is the Advent hymn, People, Look East (full text here, midi here). People, Look East is an English hymn set to a French melody, and it uses various symbols - guest, rose, bird, and star - to refer to Christ.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love the Bird is on the way.