Happy New Year!
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| Bolton Priory Window, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, UK Augustus Pugin |
In much of Western Christianity today is celebrated either as the Solemnity of Mary or the Festival of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus.
Our music for New Year's Day is a Welsh carol set to the music of the British composer, Benjamin Britten. It explores the custom of levy-dew an ancient tradition of drawing water from a well and sprinkling it on townspeople as a means of cleansing or preparing them to face the new year.
Here we bring new water from the well so clear
To worship God, with this happy New Year
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;
the seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe,
Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go.
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, etc.
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin,
Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, etc.
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| Llanllawer Holy Well, Pembrokeshire, UK Richard Law |
Sources
Photos and Illustrations:
window, boltonpriory.org.uk
well, commons.wikimedia.org, Llanllawer Holy Well and issuing stream, geograph.org.uk
Text:
wikipedia.org
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