Green Groweth the Holly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green Groweth the Holly |
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| by King Henry VIII of England | |
Henry VIII
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| Genre | Christmas carol |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1522 |
"Green Groweth the Holly", also called "Green Grow'th the Holly", is an old English poem and Christmas carol from the 1500s. It was written by King Henry VIII of England. This song was made for three voices to sing together.
What is "Green Groweth the Holly"?
The Carol's History
Carols, which are special songs, started to become popular during the Middle Ages. They were different from regular church songs. King Henry VIII lived during the Renaissance, a time of great art and learning. He was very good at music and knew many languages. King Henry wrote "Green Groweth the Holly" as his own version of a Christmas carol. We don't know the exact year he wrote it. He wrote both the words and the music for this song!
The song was put into "The Henry VIII Book" in 1522. At first, people really liked it during King Henry's time. Some even said he was one of the best songwriters of his age! But later, the song became less popular. The British Library even called it a "failed classic." Some people think King Henry might have based it on another folk song called "The Holly and the Ivy." However, others believe "Green Groweth the Holly" was actually written before that more famous song.
The Poem Version
"Green Groweth the Holly" has also been changed into a poem. The poem version is more about everyday life and doesn't mention God. It's like a love poem about how the holly plant stays green all winter. It also talks about how a lover stays faithful, just like the holly.
