A traditional, old English Christmas carol was found written on an anonymous manuscript in the 1650s titled, 鈥淕od Rest You Merry, Gentlemen.鈥 Ultimately, a beloved song of the Church, this carol of antiquity has provided authentic comfort and joy to Christians through the centuries.

Over time, this carol would undergo a series of modifications to its melodic arrangement to finally reach the completed standard we play today. To note, the historic meaning of the opening phrase is, 鈥淢ay God grant you peace and happiness.鈥 According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the phrase has been commonly used from 1534 to the modern era.

Jon Shonebarger is the Middle Tennessee Division Chaplain for the Department of Tennessee 性视界APPn Legion. His email is jtshonebarger@gmail.com.

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