Sting - Soul Cake

Before Christmas became the holiday it is today, it was the original "Halloween" in which poorer people would visit homes of the wealthy in order to obtain a food treat - such as soul cake.

Thanks for posting this! I have always loved this! We used to sing it with our guitars way, way, back all those years ago in college.

Another fun Christmas “begging” carol, The Gloucestershire Wassail*:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oO1qGUdnOvQ

Another nice one, Steeleye Span The Boar’s head Carol:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwr5B6VQZk

*It has a million verses, some fun ones that emphasize the “trick or treat” nature of the old wassailing tradition (first one for you beer and ale lovers, the next two for those who like the wenches):

Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all.

Be here any maids? I suppose here be some;
Sure they will not let young men stand on the cold stone!
Sing hey O, maids! come trole back the pin,
And the fairest maid in the house let us all in.

Then here’s to the maid in the lily white smock
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin
For to let these jolly wassailers in.

That entire album, If on a Winter's Night, and the video of the entire Live from Durham Cathedral concert are among my very favorite Christmas media. I have given the set of both to many loved ones. Sting may be a strange character, but this album is deep and beautiful. His arrangement on that album of "Gabriel's Message" is just outstanding:

Gabriel's Message

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