Hi Jim,

I remember seeing Christmas in one version but I've seen so many that I'm not sure. "Christmas" is likely a corruption of Martinmas. Her version, other than the opening, is fairly standard (rose-briar ending, no gifts) and I've transcribed the first three stanzas below:

Barbrellen

Oh Christmas comes but once a year
When the leaves they were all falling
It being the time when a young man
Fell in love with Barbrellen

He sent his servant to the town,
To the house where she was dwelling,
Saying, "You must come to my master's house
If your name be Barbrellen."

Slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she grew nigh him,
But the only words to him did speak,
Was, "Young man I think you're dying."

Some archaic versions in the US were sung in a minor key (Sam Harmon, Lena Harmon, ref. Jimmy Driftwood, who knew an archaic minor version) and perhaps this is a way of identifying older versions. In his study of 33 US versions Charles Seeger came up with no melodic consensus.

I am interested in finding out when the "rose-briar" ending was added, or, at least when the first printed version was made.

Richie