Variety

A Christmas melody for you...:

The origin of The Little Drummer Boy

“The Little Drummer Boy”, also known as “Carol of the Drum”, is a popular Christmas song written in 1941 by Katherine K. Davis a pianist. It was popularised by the version of the Harry Simeone Chorale and has been adapted many times since. When you read the lyrics given here you will realise it tells of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary’s approval.

The newborn seems to understand and smiles at the boy in gratitude.The story is somewhat similar to a 12th century legend retold by Anatole France as Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (French: Our Lady’s Juggler), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the statue, according to which version of the legend one reads, either smiles at him or throws him a rose (or both, as in the 1984 television film, The Juggler of Notre Dame.)

In 1957, the song was rearranged by Henry Onorati for a recording by the Jack Halloran Singers on Dot Records, but this version was not released in time for Christmas. The following year, 20th Century Fox Records contracted Onorati’s friend Harry Simeone to make a Christmas album. Someone re-arranged the song, retitled it “The Little Drummer Boy,” and recorded it with the Harry Simeone Chorale on the album Sing We Now of Christmas. The song was jointly credited to Simeone and Onorati, even though they had only arranged it.

The album and the song were an enormous success, with the single scoring on the US music charts from 1958 to 1962.

The lyrics....

Here are the lyrics of this popular song for you to sing during the festive season.

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see,

Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring

Pa rum pum pum puma

To lay before the King

Pa rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

So to honour Him

Pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby

Pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too,

Pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring

Pa rum pum pum pum

That’s fit to give our King

Pa rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you!

Pa rum pum pum

On my drum.

Mary nodded

Pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb

kept time

Pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him

Pa rum pum pum

I played my best for Him

Pa rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me

Pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum

When a child is born...

The historic birth of Jesus, around which the Catholic Church is built today may have taken place over two thousand years ago, but even today it is celebrated in reverence by His followers.

It is a fact that the exact date on which Baby Jesus, the Prince of Peace was actually born is unknown. But according to records, many years after this significant event took place, Pope Julius I and the leaders of the Roman Church had agreed to officially designate December 25 as the day He was born. Since then, the birth of Jesus is celebrated on this day by His followers the world over with various rituals, traditions and icons, some of which are even said to be of pagan origin too being incorporated into the festivities.

Even though there is much controversy over the actual date Jesus was born and the manner in which the event is celebrated today, Christmas is here to stay. The significance of the Nativity or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus according to the Gospels continues to hold, over the years.

Many of you must be familiar with the Nativity as most schools too include it as an event in their year end concerts. The birth of the Prince of Peace is symbolic even today because everybody needs love, peace and goodwill in this world.

It all happened, a long time ago in a little town called Bethlehem. Mary who was in the last stages of her pregnancy had to travel for many miles across the desert on a donkey, with her carpenter husband Joseph due to a census that was taking place in the land during that time.

On arrival the young couple had no proper place to rest and stay the night. Finally, after much difficulty they managed to find a place but that too in a stable where the cattle are kept. And Baby Jesus was born on a cold night, on this day we now call Christmas.

Why do you think Baby Jesus was born in such humble surroundings in a stable and placed in a manger (a trough where cattle eat) instead of in a palace or amidst luxury? Because He had a special mission on this Earth to fulfil. His birth in this type of environment is symbolic of humility and enabled the Prince of Peace to identify Himself with the down-trodden and the poor masses. Even the fact that the message of His birth was first given to the poor shepherds and not to the elite of society who thronged the city that night teaches us the value of humility.

According to the scriptures, Jesus was born into this world to spread the message of love, peace and harmony to all mankind. He proved it too throughout His life which He lived serving mankind, spreading the message of love and peace where ever He went.

The birth of Jesus was announced to the poor shepherds by an angel but the Three wise men were alerted to it by a star that is said to have shorne brightly in the sky on that day. The star of Bethlehem or the Star of Prophecy had alerted the Wise Men or the Magi to what was prophecied long ago, about the birth of a king. So they travelled all the way from the East, in search of this new born king, following the star.

On the way, they stopped to inquire from the King of the land, Herod about the King of Jews whom they believed was born. The king was obviously troubled by this news and asked the wise men to let him also know about the new born king once they found Him.

But, as the king's intentions towards the Prince of Peace were not good ones, the wise men were warned by an angel not to return to king Herod's palace. So, they went back to their own lands after offering Baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The Nativity teaches us many valuable lessons,and so, on Christmas Day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let's strive to uphold the values of love, peace and harmony.

Christmas is all about loving, giving and living in peace with one another.

- Miru