"The Seven Joys of Mary" (Roud # 278) is a traditional carol about Mary's happiness at moments in the life of Jesus, probably inspired by the trope of the Seven Joys of the Virgin in the devotional literature and art of Medieval Europe. Though not traditionally associated with Christmas, it has become so in the modern era.
Versions
The song has English and American versions referring to different acts by Jesus that gave joy to Mary:[1][2]
| English version | American version | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sucking at her breast | Being born |
| 2 | Curing the lame | Curing the lame |
| 3 | Curing the blind | Curing the blind |
| 4 | Raising the dead | Reading the Old Testament in the Temple |
| 5 | Bearing the cross | Raising the dead |
| 6 | Wearing the crown of Heaven | Rising from the dead |
| 7 | Writing with a golden pen | Wearing the crown of Heaven |
Tune
The common music is sung thus:[3]
Recordings
- 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)
- Stephen Cleobury and the King's College Choir (1984, 1999)
- Kate & Anna McGarrigle – The McGarrigle Christmas Hour (2005)
- John Jacob Niles – An Evening with (remastered 2006)
- Great Big Sea – RedEye Holiday Sampler 2008
- Kate Rusby (under the title 'Seven Good Joys') – While Mortals Sleep (2011)
- Loreena McKennitt – A Midwinter Night's Dream