three ships

Christmas just wouldn't be he same without listening to that smooth,

smokey voice of Nat King Cole. That opening line "chestnuts roasting

on an open fire" summons my holiday spirit. The familiarity of his

comforting voice, makes me feel all woolly inside, and says that all is

as it should be.

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This season, the lyrics to one of the songs on the album, I Saw Three

Ships, got my pesky etymological juices flowing. I can't say why I've

not thought of it before, but what's it all about? Bethlehem is

certainly land locked, and there is no mention of ships in the biblical

story.

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The tune of this carol is a traditional English folk song and the lyrics

were written by wandering minstrels as they travelled through the

country. In the original version of the carol, the three ships were the

ones taking the supposed skulls of the wise men to Cologne

Cathedral in Germany. Hmm. That's festive.

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There are various versions of the song today, but they all involve

three ships. After doing a little poking around, here are some

possible meanings:

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1) The arrival of ships is a symbol of good luck. They represent

prosperity and wealth, a wish bestowed for the holiday season,

since England was, at the time, a very sea oriented country.

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2) The song is upbeat and happy. It expresses excitement about the

coming of the Christ child, much like the anticipation of a ship coming

in to port.

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3) The three ships represent the three wise men who came sailing

in on their "ships of the desert", as camels are sometimes referred to,

to pay a visit to the holy family.

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4) The three ships represent the holy family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

It's a disguised defense of Catholicism.

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5) Ritson in his Scotch Songs quotes the following lines, stating they

were sung during the Christmas holidays about the middle of the

sixteenth century.

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There comes a ship far sailing then,

Saint Michel was the stieres-man

Saint John sat in the horn:

Our Lord harped, our Lady sang,

And all the bells of heaven they rang,

On Christ’s sonday at morn.

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This suggests that perhaps the ships were angelic ones, protecting

the Lady and her child, and delivering them on Christmas morning.

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6) The holy trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are represented as

the three ships carrying the Christ child to Bethlehem.

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Here are the lyrics we are most familiar with today:

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I saw three ships come sailing in,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

I saw three ships come sailing in,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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And what was in those ships all three?

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And what was in those ships all three?

On Christmas day in the morning.

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Our Saviour Christ and his lady

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Our Saviour Christ and his lady,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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Pray whither sailed those ships all three?

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Pray whither sailed those ships all three?

On Christmas day in the morning.

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Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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Then let us all rejoice, amain,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Then let us all rejoice, amain,

On Christmas day in the morning.

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William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern

London: Richard Beckley, 1833

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I'm much anticipating the arrival at the land locked manor of my

own three little ships this coming week. So, this carol as taken on an

entirely new meaning for me. Hope you enjoy the events in your port

of call this Christmas season, as well. ~x

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photo borrowed from Flickr