Monday, December 8, 2025

It is the 8th of December 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

It’s the hap, happiest season of all… and it’s Monday, which means it’s time to go to the mailbag and answer a question that is properly themed for this season of Advent and Christmas.  

The question comes from “Devyn with a y” from Fort Smith, Arkansas- which I propose be called Ar-Kansas, or the other state has to go by Can-Saw… I don’t make the rules, I merely want some consistency… I will note that the matter of pronunciation, or so I’ve heard, is a matter of preference and custom.

Fort Smith was the home to the lawman Bass Reeves- one of the coolest guys in American history- allegedly the man behind the “Lone Ranger”- they did a show- “Lawman Bass Reeves”- the guy that did Yellowstone was involved.

But Devyn didn’t write in with questions about Deputy Marshall in the 1800s, but instead asked, “I know you have strong opinions on Christmas music and wanted to ask if you have any Christmas songs that you won’t sing or skip if they come on a playlist”?

Thanks, Devyn- I do have some strong opinions- BUT, I’ve also come to learn that I’m generally a happier person if I set my focus on the true, good, and beautiful instead of getting upset about the false, bad, and ugly.

Did “pop a acapella” at Christmas get out of hand? Sure. I once wrote an article, as a professor, in the student newspaper at my college, breaking down “Do They Know It’s Christmas” line by line to point out how inane it is (while also strangely compelling and hummable). When it comes to how others worship in song, I have long ago laid down my sword. So, I don’t want to use this platform to make a comment that could disparage something held dearly by someone else.

Here’s where a lot of people go if they want to warn about bad theology in Christmas songs (so, leave the Christmas shoes and I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas in a different category). It is in Away in A Manger when we sing “the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes”… of course it isn’t sinful to cry, it’s very human- and as a human we would expect him to cry… but I get the point.

But if you really want the one I can’t sing and- bless any of you who dig this one… It’s the Cherry Tree Carol. Something about the cherry tree and apocryphal stories. And it has come from the 15th century into English, especially in the Appalachian tradition. The most famous version is probably a play on the Appalachian tune made popular by Joan Baez. It’s the one that goes like….

As Joseph and Mary
Were walking one day,

"Here are apples and cherries,
"
O Mary did say....

Then Mary spoke to Joseph,

So meek and so mild,

"Joseph, gather me some cherries

For I am with child...."

Then Joseph flew in anger -
-
In anger flew he,

"Let the father of the baby

Gather cherries for thee!"

Then Jesus spoke a few words,

A few words spoke he,
"
Let my mother have some cherries;

Bow low down, cherry tree!

Wait… what? Joseph flew in anger? He’s quite cross in the earliest versions but is sometimes made a little nicer… but “let the baby’s father gather cherries for thee”!! Joseph was a regular guy- “better you than me” as the song goes… and I bet he did get angry at times- and maybe could have said something to Mary despite their general acts made in faith…

So, it comes from the Gospel of Pseudo Matthew- Chapter 20- put that in Google , and you can read it- a standard if not bizarre “infancy text” where we get the baby Jesus doing things like this- getting cherries in the carol, but also referenced as dates if it’s taking place in the Mediterranean.

I don’t care for dates, personally- but if you do- awesome! Same with this carol. Now… the superiority of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree to Jingle Bell Rock and how the former has made the latter superfluous, well… we could make that argument. Thanks, Devyn in Arkansas- hey- send me your Advent and Christmas questions- we can have some fun, perhaps on the week of Christmas, doing a series of mailbag shows with your questions- I’m at Danv@1517.org.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and Psalm 21- an earthly king, David, praising his heavenly king:

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.

    How great is his joy in the victories you give!

You have granted him his heart’s desire

    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[

You came to greet him with rich blessings

    and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—

    length of days, for ever and ever.

Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;

    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

Surely you have granted him unending blessings

    and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

For the king trusts in the Lord;

    through the unfailing love of the Most High

    he will not be shaken.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 8th of December 2025, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who reminds you that Joy to the World isn’t technically a Christmas song… and neither is Sleigh Ride- he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who reminds you that there are more Christians in Africa than in America or the UK, so, yes, Bob Geldof, they do know it’s Christmas- I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.