Boar's Head Carol

The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
So I pray you, my masters, be merry,
Quot estis in convivio. [As many as are at the feast.]

Caput apri defero, reddens laudes domino.
[I bring in the boar's head, giving thanks to the Lord.]
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes Domino.

The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all the land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico. [serve it with a song.]

Caput apri defero, reddens laudes domino.
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes domino.

Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio. [In Queen's hall.]

Caput apri defero, reddens laudes domino.
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes domino.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of one of the oldest known Christmas carols first published by Wynken de Worde (Christmasse Carolles, 1521) ....####

Recorded by various artists (Christmas In The Harbour, First City Productions, Inc.; Iceberg Alley Intl, 1998). Contributed through UseNet by Fergus O'Byrne.

Note: A traditional English ballad sung to this day by the Oxford University Queen's College choir at the Boar's Head Gaudy, where a procession of students presents a rather sizeable boar's head to the Provost, who then slices and serves the meat to all in attendance at College Hall.

See more Newfoundland and Labrador Christmas songs.