Listen to the carol:

This is my own recording of ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, also widely known as The Huron Carol.

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‘Twas in the moon of wintertime,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead…

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is one of the oldest Christmas carols associated with Canada and is often considered the country’s first Christmas hymn. It tells the familiar story of Christ’s birth while presenting the Nativity through imagery that would have been familiar to the Huron (Wendat) people of seventeenth-century North America.

That unique setting has made it one of the most distinctive Christmas carols still sung today.

The Story Behind the Huron Carol

The carol was written around 1642 by the French Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf, who lived and worked among the Huron (Wendat) people in what is now Ontario.

Rather than simply translating a European Christmas hymn, Brébeuf adapted the Nativity story using local language and imagery. The stable became a bark lodge, the shepherds became hunters, and many of the familiar details were expressed in ways that would have resonated within Huron culture.

Although English versions differ slightly, they all preserve this distinctive approach to telling the Christmas story.

Meaning of ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Despite its unusual setting, the central message of the carol remains the same as the Gospel accounts of Christ’s birth.

The angels announce the coming of the Savior.

The visitors come to worship the Christ Child.

The newborn King is welcomed with gifts and praise.

The setting may look different from the Bethlehem we often imagine, but the heart of the story has not changed.

That is one reason the carol has continued to be appreciated for centuries. It shows that the message of Christmas can be expressed through different cultures while remaining faithful to the biblical account.

The refrain, often sung with the words “Jesus, ahatonnia,” has become one of the most recognizable features of the carol and helps preserve its connection to its Huron origins.

A Lasting Christmas Tradition

Today, ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is sung throughout Canada and beyond during the Christmas season. Its memorable melody, rich history, and distinctive imagery have made it a cherished part of the Christmas repertoire.

More than three hundred years after it was first written, it continues to offer a unique perspective on the Nativity while proclaiming the same joyful message at the heart of every Christmas celebration.