Let’s hop over to
France, and specifically to Provence, for today’s piece. Because “Un flambeau,
Jeannette, Isabelle” originated there some time in the 17th Century.
It’s all about two farm girls who have found mother and child in the stable,
and rush to tell the villagers of their discovery.
I learned this in a
French class, and in fact I don’t know the English words. But here’s one
translation of the first verse:
Bring a torch, Jeannette,
Isabelle,
Bring a torch to the
cradle, run!
It is Jesus, good folk
of the village,
Christ is born and Mary’s
calling,
Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the
mother!
Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the
son!
It goes on to describe a
celebratory feast, and to admonish the villagers to hush because the baby’s
sleeping.
Très charmant, non?
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