Song of the Day - 6th January

Today's Song of the Day is for Epiphany.

We may feel as if Christmas is well behind us now, it was back to work for me today and back to work, school and college for millions across the country. But 6th January is the Feast of Epiphany, known as Three King's Day is some cultures, and also as Little Christmas or Old Christmas.

In some parts of the Spanish-speaking world, the emphasis of Christmas Day is on family dinner reunion and church attendance, while gifts are exchanged on the Feast of the Epiphany, when according to tradition the Three Wise Men (or Magi) brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Baby Jesus. It is an important celebration in Spanish-speaking countries, mainly dedicated to children, who receive their gifts on the morning of 6 January. In some countries it is a public holiday that marks the end of the Christmas season which started on Christmas Eve.

Today's song is a simple, singable setting of a poem called "Star Of The East" by Eugene Field (1850 – 1895), an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. He was known as the "poet of childhood".

He studied at the University of Missouri but was not a serious student and spent much of his time at school playing practical jokes. He then began work as a journalist for the St. Joseph Gazette in Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1875 where he became known for his light, humorous articles written in a gossipy style. In 1883, Field moved to Chicago where he wrote a humorous newspaper column called Sharps and Flats for the Chicago Daily News in which, Field made quips about issues and personalities of the day, especially in the arts and literature. He sounds like a fun guy!

There is, however, nothing humorous or irreverent about this poem - it is a lovely, gentle hymn-like poem dedicated to the Star of Bethlehem, entreating that it show us the way as well that we may also offer our gifts and our hearts.

Star Of The East

By Eugene Field

Star of the East, that long ago

Brought wise men on their way

Where, angels singing to and fro,

The Child of Bethlehem lay--

Above that Syrian hill afar

Thou shinest out to-night, O Star!

Star of the East, the night were drear

But for the tender grace

That with thy glory comes to cheer

Earth's loneliest, darkest place;

For by that charity we see

Where there is hope for all and me.

Star of the East! show us the way

In wisdom undefiled

To seek that manger out and lay

Our gifts before the child--

To bring our hearts and offer them

Unto our King in Bethlehem!