(Traditional Cornish)
This carol has been described as a Cornish May carol as the lyrics seem to be welcoming in the summer after the winter season. The word “Furry” may get its origins from the Latin word “Feria” which is a holy day or holiday or Middle English for village fair or perhaps as a derivative of the Cornish language’s fer meaning fair or the Celtic feur which means festival.
It has been possibly linked to the times of Chaucer and to “Flora Day” in Helston, Cornwall which occurs on the 8th May, St. Michael’s Day, but “The Furry Day Carol” is also said to be different to the annually sung “Furry Day Song”.
The carol was published in The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928 which was edited by the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The carol has been recorded by artists that include Maddy Prior, the City Waites and Joemy Wilson.
Joemy Wilson recordings
Furry Day Carol/On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol) (Traditional Cornish/Traditional English)
Dargason Music 10108 (CD: Gifts III (Christmas from Around the World))
Hammered Dulcimer – Joemy Wilson
Flute – Valerie King
Sources:
- https://hymnary.org/hymn/OBC1928/49
- https://www.historicalfolktoys.com/catcont/95103.html
- https://musescore.com/user/28804403/scores/6129395
- http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiFURRYCRL.html
- https://www.cornishdictionary.org.uk/sites/default/files/SWF_dictionary_20190530_final.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_Dance
- https://gourd.com/125L.HTML
- https://www.allmusic.com/composition/the-furry-day-carol-mc0002018141
- https://www.discogs.com/search?q=Furry+Day+Carol&type=all