The Seven Joys of Mary (carol) facts for kids
"The Seven Joys of Mary" is a traditional carol, which is a type of song, often sung during holidays. This carol is about the happy moments in the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was likely inspired by an old idea from the Middle Ages called the "Seven Joys of the Virgin." This idea was popular in religious writings and art from that time. Even though the song wasn't always connected to Christmas, it has become a popular Christmas carol in modern times.
Different Versions of the Song
This carol has different versions, especially in English and American traditions. These versions talk about different events in Jesus's life that brought joy to Mary. Here's how some of the "joys" are different between the two versions:
| English Version | American Version | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jesus as a baby | Jesus being born |
| 2 | Jesus curing people who couldn't walk | Jesus curing people who couldn't walk |
| 3 | Jesus curing people who couldn't see | Jesus curing people who couldn't see |
| 4 | Jesus bringing people back to life | Jesus reading in the Temple |
| 5 | Jesus carrying the cross | Jesus bringing people back to life |
| 6 | Mary going to Heaven | Jesus rising from the dead |
| 7 | Mary writing with a golden pen | Mary going to Heaven |
Popular Recordings
Many artists have recorded "The Seven Joys of Mary" over the years. This shows how popular and timeless the carol is. Some famous recordings include:
- The Weavers – We Wish You A Merry Christmas (1951)
- Burl Ives – Christmas Day in the Morning (1952)
- Maddy Prior and June Tabor – Silly Sisters (1976)
- Kate Rusby (under the title 'Seven Good Joys') – While Mortals Sleep (2011)
