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The Darkest Midnight in December

Like O Come O Come Emmanuel, this ancient Irish carol sings of Christmas as the light of hope in the deepest darkness of the year. It comes from County Wexford and is a 17^th century hymn.

At that point in history there were no such thing as Christmas carols ; even hymns were not considered sacred enough to be sung in church; only psalms were allowed as part of the service

But these hymns were seen as suitable to be sung at home, and so they grew in Ireland as a folk tradition as surely as the dancing carols did in Wales; eventually they too became part of the church’s own celebrations.

This passionate instrumental version hums with the energy and joy of new life stirring under the winter snow.