Sans Day Carol

Cornish Christmas carol

The "Sans Day Carol", also known as "St. Day Carol", "The Holly Bears a Berry" and "The Holly Tree" is a traditional Cornish carol named after the Cornish village of St Day, where it was found around the turn of the twentieth century. Some sources give it as a Christmas carol, while other sources give it as a carol for the period between Passiontide and Easter. The song, which is listed as no. 35 in the Oxford Book of Carols, is very closely related to the more famous carol "The Holly and the Ivy". According to the Roud Folk Song Index, the "Sans Day Carol" and "The Holly and the Ivy" are variants of the same song (Roud 514).

[edit] The carol and its melody were first collected and transcribed by Gilbert Hunter Doble from the singing of W.D. Watson of Penzance, Cornwall, the Borough of Penzance's Head Gardener. Watson had learned the song in the early 1900s from a man aged around fifty or sixty years named Thomas Beard, a villager in St Day in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall. In the early 1930s, the American folklorist James Madison Carpenter recorded W.D. Watson singing the song on wax cylinder; the recording can be heard online via the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. W.D. Watson translated the song into Cornish, which he thought had been the original language of the song, and added a fourth verse. After learning the song from W.D. Watson in English, Doble arranged the carol, altering it slightly, and publishing it in 1929. The fourth verse published by Doble is a translation of the "Ma gron war'n gelln" verse written by Watson.

[edit] The most common and earliest used text for this carol is as follows: 1. Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk, And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk: Chorus: And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be, And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly. Holly! Holly! And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly! 2. Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass, And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross: Chorus 3. Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal, And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all: Chorus 4. Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red, Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead: Chorus

[edit] British hymnodist Michael Perry composed the text "When the Angel Came to Mary" which is also sung to the Sans Day Carol.

[edit] 1930s - William Watson singing the carol he translated in an early 1930s recording (from 8.06) 1965 - The Watersons - Frost and Fire: A Calendar of Ceremonial Folk Songs 1969 - The Clancy Brothers - The Clancy Brothers Christmas 1976 - Philip Ledger and the King's College Choir - Carols for Christmas Eve 1988 - Rita MacNeil - Now the Bells Ring 1991 - The Chieftains - The Bells of Dublin 1993 - John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers - Christmas Day in the Morning 1998 - David Hill and the Choir of Winchester Cathedral - O Come Let Us Adore Him: Christmas Carols from Winchester Cathedral 1996 - Sue White - Best of Cornish Folksongs, Vols I & II 2004 - Cherish the Ladies - On Christmas Night 2006 - Maddy Prior - An Evening of Carols and Capers 2007 - Chris Squire - Chris Squire's Swiss Choir 2008 - Nidarosdomens Guttekor (Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir) - I Wish 2009 - Belshazzar's Feast (Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson)- "Frost Bites" 2011 - Sandy Denny, Patsy and Alex Campbell - 19 Rupert St (recorded 1967) 2011 - Kate Rusby - While Mortals Sleep 2020 - Burd Ellen - Says the Never Beyond 2024 - Janice Burns & John Doran - Sans Day Carol

The Sans Day Carol brings a rarer, distinctly Cornish flavour to the seasonal soundtrack. While most households default to the more ubiquitous "Holly and the Ivy", this version offers a slightly different melodic contour and lyrical nuance that hints at its rural roots. Its modest tempo and warm harmonies make it a perfect bridge between the bustling party tracks and the more solemn hymns, adding depth to any gathering. Because it’s listed in the Oxford Book of Carols, you’ll find reliable arrangements for choir, instrumental, or solo voice, meaning you can adapt it to anything from a small family carol‑sing circle to a full‑size church service. Its relative obscurity also gives listeners a sense of discovery – a little musical souvenir from Cornwall’s rich folk tradition.

When you’re hunting for a recording of the Sans Day Carol, look for editions that include a clear vocal line and a modest accompaniment – fiddles, acoustic guitar or piano work well in a living‑room setting. Folk labels often pair it with other West Country tunes, offering context that highlights its regional character. If you prefer choral arrangements, seek out the Oxford Book of Carols version; it typically features SATB parts that sound lush in a small choir or community group. For a modern twist, check streaming services for artists who blend the carol with gentle brass or subtle percussive elements – just ensure the tempo stays true to the original’s relaxed pace, so the melody remains recognisable.

Many listeners assume the Sans Day Carol is simply a renamed "Holly and the Ivy" because the lyrics mention holly. In reality, the two share a common ancestor but diverge in structure and phrasing. The Sans Day version contains verses that reference the Cornish village of St Day and includes a distinctive refrain about the holly’s berries that isn’t found in the more widespread hymn. This subtle difference can be lost when recordings edit verses for brevity. To appreciate the carol fully, compare both tunes side by side – you’ll hear how the Sans Day’s melodic line is slightly more lilting, and its lyrics retain a local colour that the generic version lacks.