On the third day of Christmas, the Singing Sergeants gave to thee… their unique version of the traditional English carol, “The Holly and the Ivy.” -Recorded from Historic Hangar II, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling,
“The Holly and the Ivy” is an English traditional Christmas carol. Holly and ivy have been a mainstay of English Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when they were mentioned regularly in churchwardens’ accounts (Roud 2004). Holly and ivy also figure in the lyrics of the “Sans Day Carol”. The music and most of the text was first published by Cecil Sharp.[1] Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world.
Lead image: www.shutterstock.com
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.