Christmas is a joyful celebration – one that should be accompanied by smiles and laughter.
And dancing!
Some believe the origin of the word “carol” (as in “Christmas Carol”) is the Old French word “carole” which described a circular dance accompanied by singing. Most of the carols we sing now are really Christmas hymns, but if we look further back in time, there were festive songs which were dances and there are a few of today’s favourites which still bear some of the musical DNA of dance tunes. It’s not difficult to imagine joyful dancing to the rhythm of the Sussex Carol:
On Christmas Night, all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring.
Or “The Holly and the Ivy” with its verse-and-chorus structure, ideal for communal singing and celebratory dancing:
The Holly and the Ivy, when they are both full grown,
of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.
Consider the up-tempo triplet beats in this song of joy:
Good Christian men, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Even Greensleeves has a lilting waltz-time feel that lends itself to gentle swaying or swirling around:
What Child is this, who laid to rest
on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
So standing still and singing these well known songs is fine, but dancing in celebration is surely more in keeping – both with the music and the joy of the season. So…
This year, we’re bringing the celebration of dance to Hunsdon’s Christmas with a Line Dance! Not carols, though. (If you want Christmas Carols, check out the Carols by Starlight event on 22nd December). No. This event will be well known Christmas tunes like “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree” which will get your feet tapping and your body moving. We’ve booked an expert instructor and are looking forward to an evening of foot-stomping fun!
We’ll share food together and we’ll lay on a licensed bar – all together a proper feast to celebrate the Christmas feast!
12th December in Hunsdon Village Hall – doors open at 7pm.
