The Turning of the Year
Author: Dave Barron
Singer: Dave Barron

The Turning of the Year
Author: Dave Barron
Singer: Dave Barron

The Christian festival of Christmas was transposed on the ancient Celtic festival that marked the turning of the year at the time of the winter solstice. Both festivals were marked by religious ceremonies and by family celebrations and feasting. It was and is a time for hope and joy, for families and for building and storing memories for future reflection.

The traditional air was used for the carol Christmas Day is Come (Caitriona O’Leary); another title for the melody is The Little Brown Mallet.

Christmas time is here, the turning of the year;
We celebrate with feasting and with hope for the new year,

Chorus:

And all enjoy the season, the turning of the year;
Each home is full of happiness and all are of good cheer.


Chorus

The young folk journey home from places far and wide;
Parents cry with joy to see them coming for Yuletide.

Chorus

The old folks tell their stories of Christmas long ago
With simple gifts for simpler times: memories of pure gold.

Chorus

The children hush to bed and wait for morning light,
Rushing down to see what came in the magic of the night.

Chorus

All bond with the feasting; Good food and drink and more;
The old folk then doze, dreaming of Christmases of yore.

Chorus

And all distill their feelings to store in memory
Storing thoughts for years to come of how it used to be.
The happy thoughts will buffer the sadness yet to come,
Of family ties and family joys at the time of the rising sun.

Chorus

Chorus