Canterbury is a magnificent place to be at Christmastime. For the holidays, the narrow streets and timber-framed houses of this legendary English city are decorated with lights, creating a twinkling display of festive cheer. With its Norman cathedral, castle, and small shops, Canterbury retains its medieval charm.
A Canterbury Christmas presents three English folk carols. Cecil Sharp, an English music teacher and composer, published The Holly and the Ivy in a songbook in 1911. According to tradition, holly is associated with goodness and is therefore used to decorate homes during the winter months. Good King Wenceslas tells the story of Vaclav the Good, a kindhearted Bohemian king who reigned in the 10th century. While its melody dates from the 14th century, John Mason Neale, an English priest and hymn translator, wrote the words in 1853. We Wish You a Merry Christmas is a secular carol dating from the 16th century. English wassailers sang it to bid each other good luck in the coming New Year.