The Carnal and the Crane facts for kids

"The Carnal and the Crane" is an old English folk song, also known as Child Ballad 55. It's also considered a Christmas carol, which is a song traditionally sung during the Christmas season. This song tells a story through a conversation between two birds. One bird is called a "carnal," which people think might be a crow, and the other is a crane.

What the Song is About

The song features a conversation where the "carnal" bird tells the crane about the birth of Jesus. It describes how Jesus was born in a stable, which is a building for animals, and slept in a manger, a feeding trough for livestock.

The Story of King Herod

The song also talks about the Biblical Magi, often called the Three Wise Men. They told King Herod about Jesus's birth. Herod was a powerful ruler at the time. He didn't believe them and said that if what they said was true, a cooked rooster on his dinner table would come back to life and crow. Amazingly, the rooster did just that!

Because of this, King Herod became very worried. He then ordered a terrible event known as the Massacre of the Innocents. This was when he commanded his soldiers to kill all baby boys under two years old in Bethlehem, hoping to get rid of Jesus.

Journey to Egypt and Miracles

To keep Jesus safe, St. Joseph, Jesus's earthly father, had to quickly take Jesus and his mother Mary and flee to Egypt. The song says that along their journey, wild animals bowed down to worship Jesus.

Another part of the story tells of a farmer who was planting seeds. As Jesus passed by, the seeds miraculously grew and were ready for harvest right away. The farmer reported this amazing event to King Herod. Herod, thinking the growth was natural, decided not to chase them. He thought they were too far ahead to catch if they had a three-quarters of a year head start.

Old Legends in the Song

Even though we don't have very old written copies of "The Carnal and the Crane," the stories within it suggest it's a very old song. It includes several popular legends about the life of Jesus that were well-known long ago.

The Rooster's Miracle

The idea of a cooked rooster coming back to life is a common story in many old European songs. It often appears in tales where an innocent person is saved from danger in a miraculous way. Someone might express disbelief in a miracle, saying it's as unlikely as a rooster coming back to life. This specific story, with a hero named St. Stephen, also appears in another old song called Child Ballad 22, "Saint Stephen and Herod".

More to Explore

• List of the Child Ballads
• List of folk songs by Roud number