This Endris Night facts for kids

"This Endris Night" (also known as "Thys Endris Night" or "The Virgin and Child") is a very old English Christmas carol. It was written way back in the 1400s, which is called the 15th century. This carol has a few different spellings, but they all refer to the same beautiful song.

Discovering "This Endris Night"

This special carol has survived for hundreds of years. We know about it because two different versions from the 1400s were found.

The Wright Edition

One version of the carol was printed in a book by a person named Thomas Wright. His book, called Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century, came out in 1847. It helped share this old song with more people.

The Edinburgh Manuscript

Another version of "This Endris Night" is kept in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was originally part of the Advocates' Library. This library was a special place where important documents and books were stored. Later, in 1925, the National Library of Scotland took over many of these collections. They keep old and valuable texts safe for everyone to learn from.

What Makes the Carol Special?

People who study old poems and songs really admire "This Endris Night." They say it has an "unusual delicacy" and "lyrical flourish." This means the words are very gentle and poetic. It's known for being especially beautiful for a song from that time period.

Opening Lines of the Carol

The carol begins with these lovely words, from the version Thomas Wright published:

Thys endris nyȝth

I saw a syȝth,

A stare as bryȝt as day;

And ever among

A mayden song

Lullay, by by, lullay.

These lines describe seeing a bright star and hearing a maiden (a young woman) singing a lullaby. It's a peaceful scene, perfect for a Christmas carol.