December 10th – None but the howlets
We’ve all heard of “The Holly and the Ivy”, but what about “The Ivy and the Holly”? Pay closer attention to the version of this… Read More »December 10th – None but the howlets
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December 9th – A semely song
This medieval song takes us into a flourishing springtime garden, to hear the Christmas story. Our narrator leads us through lush greenery to a scene… Read More »December 9th – A semely song
December 8th – Whole ‘quires’ of angels sing
Philosopher and admirer of Descartes, Henry More, provides us with today’s carol. Published under More’s pseudonym “Francisus Palaeopolitanus”, it appears towards the end of his… Read More »December 8th – Whole ‘quires’ of angels sing
December 7th – Singing like a bird
Perusing popular lyrics of bygone decades suggests that, unlike the carols with which we are more familiar today, many traditional carols eschewed wintery scenes and… Read More »December 7th – Singing like a bird
December 6th – Worchepe thee seynt Nicolas
Although we now recognise good ole’ St Nick as the jolly rotund fellow in red, who brings gifts to nice children on the 25th of… Read More »December 6th – Worchepe thee seynt Nicolas
December 5th – It’s snow joke
Here’s a wee verse from a book of children’s rhymes by Hamish Hendry, from 1897, with illustrations by Alice. B. Woodward. “We made a man… Read More »December 5th – It’s snow joke
December 4th – A Christmas Carol (but not that one)
Exploring the rare books brought to light through a simple search for “carols” brought up a few oddballs, and this is one of them. This… Read More »December 4th – A Christmas Carol (but not that one)
December 3rd – Nautical or nice…
Today’s choice is taken from the charmingly titled “The poets’ Christmas: a collection of carols, poems, and plays for Christmastide. With a plea for a… Read More »December 3rd – Nautical or nice…
December 2nd – Carolling at St Andrews
The St Andrews student newspaper “College Echoes” from December 1925 provides what is simply described as a “traditional carol”: “Carol, carol, merrily, Christ is born… Read More »December 2nd – Carolling at St Andrews
Advent Calendar 2025
When dark mornings bring the first glimmer of frost, bare branches shudder in the cold wind, and dusk settles in after lunch, it can mean… Read More »Advent Calendar 2025
‘Unhappy St Andrew’s Day’?
St Andrew’s day (30th November), historically a feast day for Andrew the apostle, officially became a bank holiday in Scotland in 2007. Previous blogs have… Read More »‘Unhappy St Andrew’s Day’?
Eduardo Paolozzi and the University of St Andrews
In this blog, Assistant Curator Struan Watson shares some insights into the journey of the Eduardo Paolozzi Archive, from ‘The Krazy Kat’ to our most… Read More »Eduardo Paolozzi and the University of St Andrews