New Christmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa songs

Subject: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 07:23 PM

Anyone got any seasonal songs of your own creation or by other artists, but which have not been widely heard to date?

CapriUni recently shared with us a new Solstice song she wrote, and I just sent çine a Christmas carol I wrote. (Interestingly, the two songs have nearly identical titles, though they were written almost 10 years apart and quite independently of each other.)

Songs from non-Mudcatters are welcome, too, as long as they're not yet well known. (Posting links to other threads for better-known but "new" carols is fine.)

I'm especially interested in hearing compositions of other Mudcatters. Of course, some of us have written irreverent parodies of well-known Christmas songs for Aine's Song Challenge!s in the past. But I'm also interested in the serious songs.


If you have one, could you post it here or post a link to it, if it's in another thread?

Thanks,

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 02:33 AM

Here's one by Bert, which he mentioned in another thread:

Stars And Snowflakes

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 10:18 AM

Link to the thread, Genie, please?

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 11:23 AM

Here's the new solstice carol from CapriUni:
Raise All Your Voices

It's a lovely new song of the season!

Genie

Subject: RE: New Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 11:48 AM

My thanks to Charley Noble for posting this one:

    Suddenly It's Christmas    (Wainright, adapted by Ipcar)

Subject: Lyr Add: WE'RE GONNA SING
From: open mike
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 12:19 PM

This one is by Connie Kaldor and BIM
from their album new songs for an old celebration


WE'RE GONNA SING

If you see us coming up the walk,
Better run & open the door,
Put the shortbread on the plate,
Get the eggnog ready to pour,
And get your voices ready,
Cuz you're gonna want to sing along,
When you hear those neighborhood carollers,
Sing your favorite Christmas songs.

CHORUS

We're gonna sing Joy to the World,
We're gonna sing Hark the Herald,
We're gonna sing Deck the Halls,
And It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,
We're gonna sing every Christmas Carol,
That we can remember,
We're gonna end with a Merry Christmas,
and a Happy New Year.

Some of us can sing in tune,
The others sing loud and clear,
We've got a version of We Three Kings,
You've really got to hear.

Bless the house that has welcomed us,
And shared its Christmas cheer,
Joy to all of the hearts within,
All throughout the year.
Good luck to all of us carollers,
As down the road we go,
May we be warmed by the toddy,
And the joys of the mistletoe.

CHORUS

should i do an LYRICS ADD with this??
Laurel

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 12:32 PM

Try the Ren and Stimpy song, "Happy!Happy! Joy!Joy!". That should cover everything. *G*

Subject: Lyr Add: HOT BUTTERED RUM (Tommy Thompson)
From: open mike
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 12:40 PM

also red clay ramblers' Hot Buttered Rum-which i sang for the
band of that same name (H.B.R.) who had never heard it...

HOT BUTTERED RUM

Tommy Thompson from the Red Clay Ramblers

CHORUS

    In the dead of winter
    When the silent snow birds come
    You're my sweet maple syrup honey,
    Hot buttered rum

VERSE ONE
When chimney smoke hangs still and low
Across the stubbled fields of snow
And angry skies reach out to seize
The sorry black bones of trees

CHORUS ONE

In the dead of winter
When the silent snow birds come
You're my sweet maple syrup honey,
Hot buttered rum

VERSE TWO

Dreary Christmas decorations
Line the streets and filling stations
Dime store santas can't disguise
Their empty hands and empty eyes

CHORUS TWO

In the dead of winter
When those tinsel angels come
You're my sweet maple syrup honey,
Hot buttered rum

VERSE THREE

When gloves and boots and woolen parkas
Bring cold comfort to the heart
When bitter memories freeze the tongue
Songs of love were left unsung

CHORUS THREE
In the dead of winter when the
Cold feelings come
You're my sweet maple syrup honey,
Hot buttered rum

REPEAT CHORUS ONE


I have heard this by Bryan Bowers and Rosalie Sorrels.
I believe the lyrics have also been done as "sweet maple sugar"
it is perhaps an after-christmas carol...

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 12:35 PM

I have heard this by Bryan Bowers and Rosalie Sorrels.
I believe the lyrics have also been done as "sweet maple sugar"
it is perhaps an after-christmas carol...

Or evwn a pre-Christmas carol, for some people -- especially those who work in retail, and have the job of putting up all those

Dreary Christmas decorations

and have to listen all day to canned Christmas carols, all day, every day for two months...

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 12:39 PM

From Genie:

I just sent Aine a Christmas carol I wrote.

I just want to say that this song of hers is excellent. I've woken up with the chorus running through my head two days in a row, now... Keep your eyes peeled for it in the Songbook!

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: MMario
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 12:56 PM

you too?

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 07:35 PM

MMario, I will post the lyrics to "Raise Your Voices In The Song" here if you will post the MIDI for it. And thanks for the good word, Capri and MMario. I gotta say, though, that I wish I knew how to show via a MIDI the rhythm, crescendos, harmonies, etc., that are supposed to be part of this song. (How do you indicate a guitar slap on a MIDI?)

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 09:33 PM

   Raise Your Voices In The Song (Christmas)

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 10:22 PM

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 11:24 PM

I just posted Knopfler's Ragpicker's Dream and, now that I have the CD (there is a review thread about it, just put "ragpicker" in the thread title search) I really like it and it is a Christmas song.

kat

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 10:23 PM

The thread titles Advent Candle Songs has lyrics and MIDIs for several newer advent songs:

One Candle Is Lit ("Come surely, Lord Jesus")   (Mary Anne Parrott)
Light one candle to watch for the messiah (Wayne L. Wold)

and others.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 12:56 AM

So far nobody seems to have put any Kwanzaa stuff in this thread (and it is Kwanzaa, not Kwansaa, maybe a Joe Clone could tweak the thread title so it'll come up in a correctly spelled Forum Search?) but I just got an ad in my Hotmail Junkmail for a Kwanzaa CD, and there are mp3 samples you can listen to at their website (http://www.essenceofkwanzaa.com).

BTW, Swahili speakers routinely have problems with the word "Kwanzaa"; if it were a Swahili word it would be pronounced as three syllables, with the stress on the "za": kwan-ZA-a. But it's an English word. I proposed that the Swahili for "Kwanzaa" should be "Kwaanza", and this has met with general approval among the limited Souaheliphone circles that have seen my proposal. But there are tens of millions of Swahili speakers out there who have not had the benefit of my counsel (and probably most of them have never heard of Kwanzaa anyway).

Haruo (or, in Swahili, Lilendi)

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:01 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 11:17 AM

My kids and I have been rewriting old favorites to eliminate references to deities or $mas... most work, if you can get around the rhymes. For instance:

Solstice is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny then luck to you!

And Deck the Halls doesn't require ANY rewriting, luckily.

We wish you a merry Solstice (x3), which is Happy New Year
We want some figgy pudding (x3) and a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some (x3) so bring it right here!
We wish you a merry Solstice (x3), which is Happy New Year!

and, one of my faves we have by Harry Belafonte (which is also unsexist-ed)

I heard the bells on Solstice day, their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet, the words repeat
Of peace on Earth, goodwill to all.
I thought as now this day I see, the bells of all humanity
Had rung so long the unbroken song
Of peace on Earth, goodwill to all.
But in despair I bowed my head, there is no peace on Earth, I said
For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on Earth, goodwill to all.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
We are not dead nor do we sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, goodwill to all.

I'm going on looking for more...

Sol, a-sol, a solstice, please good missus a solstice
Apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry
Any good thing to make us all merry
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for him who made us all works for me as I have cousins named Peter and Paul so the "him" who made us all is my great-grandfather! But if you have other relatives, you'd have to use their names...

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:04 PM

Mrrzy, I'm all for the folk tradition and for various occasions I have reworked known songs or written new verses, too. The U-U church I go to has done all sorts of rewriting of old hymns, though in some places it gets kinda contrived.
Generally, I like the versions you've done above, for those who celebrate Solstice and don't want to celebrate Christmas.

I just want to point out, since all the other songs you've revised above are traditional, that "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" is from a poem by Longfellow, and it had special significance in being written about bells he heard on Christmas Day being drowned out by the cannons of the War Between The States. Personally, I'm not in favor of rewriting Longfellow any more than I would a contemporary poet or Shakespeare.
(I can accept the "all" instead of "men," because I am quite sure Longfellow would have said it that way if he'd written a song in sometime after 1970; because "men" in the Bible may have been a translation of a word meaning "humanity" or "people;" and because that line doesn't rhyme with any other, anyway. But I usually sing the song straight.)

Anyway, I hope people are not under the impression that "I Heard The Bells" is traditional.

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: MMario
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:16 PM

well - it is a "traditional" Christmas song in that it has become one of the songs people expect to hear during the Christmas season. The two tunes I have heard it sung with are both over 125 years old; one is in fact older then the lyrics!

Additionally many ( I would venture to say most) people have learned this by oral/auditory transmission rather then from sheet music.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 01:25 PM

Here is a whole website of known carols rewritten for Yule/Solstice.

I think my favorite (right now) is the reworking of Harry Belafonte's "Day-o" ;-). Close the pop-ups, and click on Index by Title to open a frame and find it... The music plays automatically as the page opens...

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 09:07 PM

MMario, Mrrzy, lots of songs are 'tradtional' in the sense that you mean.  (Though I'd wager most folks who know the words to "I Heard The Bells..." have learned them via recordings or hymnals, whereas they learned "Jingle Bells" aurally.)

We do modify the words to old songs (e.g., singing "brothers" instead of "darkies" in Stephen Foster's "Old Folks At Home."  But I personally don't like it when a known composer's poem is re-written in a way that radically changes the meaning.  (What my fellow Unitarians have done with "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," for instance, I find just silly.)

At any rate, I'm no purist and have altered lines here and there myself (not always intentionally), so if you want to rewrite old carols, go ahead, and enjoy the singing.

Just wanted to make a distinction between songs such as Silent Night (Stille Nacht) which were formally written down and songs that have been disseminated through oral/aural tradition.  Nobody really knows what the original words to "Go Tell It On The Mountain," do they?  We do know the original words to Longfellow's poem.    Click here.
The familiar song omits two verses and changes the order of the others.  I just hope that if folks start making more changes, we won't forget the original poetry.

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 10:22 PM

Here's the tune to Raise Your Voices In The Song .

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 04:09 PM

Genie,
Which UU do you go to? I'm in Brunswick, ME, and am doing a Kwanzaa service on 12/29.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 04:19 PM

Mostly Wy'East Unitarian Fellowship in Portland, OR, though I'm still a member of First Unitarian Church there. They both use "Singing The Living Tradition" as a hymnal.

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: denise:^)
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 04:47 PM

Speaking of Kwanzaa, Hauro, from what I've read about the origins of the holiday (for the uninformed, it began in 1966 in California--it's *not* an ancient African celebration), it WAS originally spelled "Kwanza--" but there were 7 children who wanted to hold candles in the first celebration, so they added an extra "a."

I came across this explanation several times while looking for information to share with my students, so, if it's a myth, it's a widely-traveled one. (wouldn't be the first...)

--denise:^)

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 02:27 AM

A relatively new Christmas song that I really like is this (sung by Kenny Rogers)
Pretty Little Baby Child


A number of Pagan Versions of Christmas Carols are here.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 05:08 AM

So what is Kwanzaa?

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 12:26 PM

Kwansaa is a non-religious observance held on the week between Christmas and the New Year, celebrating the values of the African-American community, and introduced in 1966 as an answer to the commericialism of modern Christmas.

Here is a good, brief description.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 01:34 PM

denise, To the best of my knowledge, the second 'a' was added by it's creator at its inception - but I'm unable to remember his reason. Will try to look it up in a coupla days for you. I LOVE the 7 kids/candles myth though. A nice children's book is Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa - can't tell you the author.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 08:53 PM

Well, if the nguzo saba were part of the original elaboration of the festival, then a seventh letter (third a) was, too. But if the nguzo saba were originally the nguzo sita (six principles), or if the whole notion of nguzo came along later, then the seven children myth could have historicity. I have inclined to the supposition that the final -aa was chosen to counteract the English-speaker's natural inclination to make a final -a schwa, i.e. a neutral vowel like the "oi" in "porpoise", instead of a full-bodied "ah" like the final vowel in Swahili "kwanza".

BTW I find it rather silly to call Swahili "Kiswahili" in English. Kiswahili is Swahili for "Swahili", but the "Ki-" is a Swahili prefix more or less equivalent to English "-ish" or "-ese" in "Swedish" or "Japanese". If we're not going ostentatiously to go around calling "Swedish" "svenska" (be sure not to capitalize it!) and Japanese "Nihon-go" (the -go being equivalent to Swahili Ki-), then why the insistence on Kiswahili? Occasionally you even see (in English) "isiZulu", where "Zulu" ought to suffice. I think major African languages are just as much entitled to their own English names as are major Asian or European ones.

(Sorry about the rather off-topical rant.)

Haruo

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 02 - 12:58 PM

Is this thread too broad? Seperate threads for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, the solstice and so forth maybe?

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 12:50 PM

New Christmas carol, to an old folk tune:

Glaston Nativity (Keith A)

Subject: RE: New Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 12:02 PM

I'm not sure how new this one is, but it's new to me:

Bambino

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 12:34 AM

Solstice songs

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 11:07 AM

There is a relatively new Pagan Folk-Rock Band out of North Georgia called "Emerald Rose". They started out in 1998, and finally took the plunge and went pro last year some time, I think...

Anyway, they've recently put a new mix of their original song "Santa Claus is Pagan, Too," up on the web, here*.

It's got that old Christianity-shaped chip on its shoulder, which usually annoys the Hel out of me, but the overall song is so jolly I'm willing to forgive them, this time. ;-)

*(They have an mp3 site for many of their songs, but the address has changed, and I can't find it easily)

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 12:30 PM

Late last night while driving home from work I heard a folky christmas ballad on the local radio(rare!). It was about a little girl who rescues a wounded bird and puts it in a beat up cage. On Christmas eve it's all she has to offer at the manger. The Christ child accepts the gift and turns it into a mockingbird. Anyone know this song or the singer? She had a fine voice.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,Vintage Martin
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 03:00 PM

I like the song, too, Ann. But I think you are right about that chip. Some folks don't distinguish Christianity from the political views and antics of some nominal Christians.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 03:55 PM

I like the song, too, Ann. But I think you are right about that chip. Some folks don't distinguish Christianity from the political views and antics of some nominal Christians

Yeah, and some think all Pagans are like Laurie Cabot! Unfortunately, it's always the loudest and most annoying people that get all the attention...

And I think a lot of Pagans still kinda feel cornered by the hegemonic culture... even though we now have Grandkids who are being raised in polytheistic/Pagan families...

Still, I think the line:

"But he still flies high like Jupiter with a belly full of beer!"

makes up for all the songs flaws... ;-)

Subject: RE: New Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 05:19 PM

Here's another nice new Christmas song:

A Cold Night (Michael Kelly)

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,Michael Kelly
Date: 07 Dec 02 - 03:26 AM

For Genie..thanks for the link...I had to correct a few typo's and whatnot...her is the corrected version...thanks again.

A Cold Night
Michael Kelly (c) 2002

It's a cold night and the tiny snow flakes fall
And they're landing on the face of a baby boy
And his mother gently brushes them away
And wraps him tighter in the manger where he lays
And His father brings the ox and lambs in closer
to keep him warmer, for it's deep into December
And the shepherds, frightened by the angels singing
Come for shelter, with the Saviour

It's a cold night and the subway's running late
He lays sleeping, lying on the subway grate
And the warm air makes him dream of days gone by
Home and family and the joy of Christmas time
He's awakened by the sound of traffic passing
Children laughing, people rushing, Christmas shopping
In the distance a chiming church bell beckons
Come for shelter with the Saviour

Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright

It's a cold night and out beyond the clouds
Angel choirs sing a timeless, ageless song
And the world turns and revolves around the sun
They fill the heavens singing glory to the One
Far below them, he stumbles from the street into the mission
To get a bite to eat and sit and listen
As the mission choir is singing
Come for shelter with the Saviour
Come for shelter

Alleluia

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 02 - 09:36 AM

Lovely lyrics, Michael. Have you got a MIDI?

Genie

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,daylia
Date: 07 Dec 02 - 10:46 AM

A few years ago I tried to create a "new song" for Yule that would highlight the pagan roots of the Christmas season.

I borrowed some lines from Starhawk's winter solstice ritual in "The Spiral Dance" (you witchy types probably know who I'm talking about), changed them a bit and set them to the chords from 'Greensleeves', with a couple variations and a new melody to fit the words. Goes like this.

                         SUN CHILD

"We are awake in the night
We turn the Wheel to bring the Light
We call the sun from the womb of the night

It is the Lord of all life
Who is born again tonight
The Great Mother who gives birth to Him

Darkness and tears will be set aside
When the sun shall come up again early
This is the birthday of life, love and wings
The Sun Child, the winter-born King
The Sun Child, the winter-born King

We are awake in the night
We turn the Wheel to bring the Light
We call the sun from the womb of the night

Queen of the moon, stars and sun
Queen of the waters, of the earth
You bring us the Child of promise

Darkness and tears will be set aside
When the sun shall come up again early
This is the birthday of life, love and wings
The Sun Child, the winter-born King
The Sun Child, the winter-born King

We are awake in the night
We turn the Wheel to bring the Light
We call the sun from the womb of the night

O golden Sun of hill and field
Light the earth, light the skies
Light the waters, light the fires of our yearning

Darkness and tears will be set aside
When the sun shall come up again early
This is the birthday of life, love and wings
The Sun Child, the winter-born King
The Sun Child, the winter-born King"

- thanks for listening - daylia

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,Michael Kelly
Date: 08 Dec 02 - 11:28 PM

Hi Genie

No I don't have a MIDI version as I am just getting around to learning how to use this 'techy' stuff. I am, however, in the middle of recording a few CD's and I will have this song on one of them.

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Genie
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 03:57 AM

Keep us posted, Michael, OK?

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 04:18 AM

1) Ann, when you are sure you've got it nailed down could you mail me a copy of the best and latest simple MIDI and text? I'd like to update the copy on my site.

2) My own collection of Christmas songs in my online hymnal, though mostly Esperanto-oriented, has some other useful stuff too; and while little of it is technically "new" this Advent, about 30% of the stuff wasn't there this time last year, so it's "new" in that sense. BTW, my English-language index (Online Christmas Carols in Esperanto) was just added to the copious links at the Kir-Shalom Holy Christmas page (it's in Part I, under Christmas & Advent Hymns & Carols). If you're a Christmas type, Kir-Shalom is well worth bookmarking; good for Easter stuff, too. (Not much paganism, though; it's a church-related site; United Church of Canada.)

Haruo

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: denise:^)
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 10:55 AM

Here's the story:
"Many people have asked about the extra "a" in Kwanzaa. The extra "a" was legend to have been added during a pageant celebration during one of the first Kwanzaa celebrations. It is said that seven children were on stage. Six of the seven children each held a letter from the word Kwanzaa. When it was noticed that the seventh child did not have a letter, the extra "a" was added. Today this extra "a" helps to distinctly identify this African American Holiday."

...and here's a link.

denise:^)

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: CapriUni
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 01:57 PM

1) Ann, when you are sure you've got it nailed down could you mail me a copy of the best and latest simple MIDI and text? I'd like to update the copy on my site.

On its way...

Subject: RE: New Xmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwansaa Songs
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 02:57 PM

There's a beautiful song on an old Harry Belafonte album; it (the song) is called "Borning Day" and may be old or not. The album cover has H.B. walking on a brick road... can't remember the title.
First verse is:
Mary and the baby hungry; oh, we know what hungry be; so we bring them peas and rice, a little ginger tea... only pigeon peas and rice, a little giner tea; Mary thank us with her eyes; she pour the same as we...
It's a west Indian-type flavor; not your usual Christmas song.