After surfing the waves of Christmas Island, let’s jump back almost 600 years to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) for a truly ancient holiday sound, featuring the lively Spanish carol Riu Riu Chiu.
This carol is one of the oldest surviving villancicos (Spanish folk songs often sung during Christmas) and dates back to the late Medieval or early Renaissance period. It celebrates the birth of Christ, specifically honoring the Virgin Mary, and its infectious rhythm makes it clear that even Medieval Christmases were full of joyful celebration!
Customs of a Medieval Christmas
Christmas in the 15th and 16th centuries was less about Santa and more about solemn religious observance mixed with festive feasting – especially on the Iberian Peninsula:
- The Twelve Days of Christmas: The entire season was stretched into a massive celebration lasting from Christmas Eve until Epiphany (January 6th).
- Feasting and Fasting: While the lead-up to Christmas (Advent) involved strict fasting, Christmas Day itself meant massive feasts. In Spain, this included delicacies like turrón (nougat candy) and rich meats.
- Lights and Processions: The use of light was crucial during the darkest time of the year. Nativity plays and festive processions were common, involving locals playing musical instruments and carrying torches.
- The Donkey’s Role: In Spain, the tradition of the Magi (Three Kings) arriving on Epiphany with gifts, often led by a donkey, was historically more important than Santa Claus, who was yet to appear on the scene.
The Sound of the Past
When arrangingRiu Riu Chiu I tried to capture the texture and energy of an Early Music ensemble, with instrumentation chosen to sound both antique and vibrant. Drums and tambourine are used to keep time, with the chorus parts doubled by a recorder choir (which drops to a simple continuo during verses). I hope this rhythmically compelling piece helps transport you on a Medieval holiday journey!
🎁 Looking for More?
You can hearRiu Riu Chiu on my new album, Christmas Around the World, which is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. The full lyrics and translation are available here.
Next week, let’s sail across the Mediterranean to a quaint little town in sunny Italy. 🇮🇹
Dig Deeper
Here’s some additional insight into this ancient carol and its time period:
- The history of the Villancico
- Music and Instruments of the Medieval/Renaissance Period
- Christmas Traditions in Medieval Spain