Kalakata Pera

Long ago, back then,
long ago, back then in Bethlehem,
in the holy city,
Jesus was born into this world,
in a little cattle shed,
in the month of Unduvap, on a cold day, at the midnight hour,
receiving the warmth of the divine mother’s embrace, he came into this world,
as chill winds blew from every side, there he lay asleep,
the poor shepherds, learning of this, go toward the cattle shed

On Mary’s loving face a light was seen to shine,
Joseph never once turned his back on God’s command,
gathering all around, lowing, the cattle call out,
the company of kings fall before the baby and present their gifts,
he came here to save human society from its sin,
what the prophets foretold long ago was fulfilled in this
Long ago, back then

This is a Nativity carol that simply and lovingly tells the whole Christmas story, grounding it in a specific time and place. It begins like an old tale, long ago in Bethlehem, in the holy city, Jesus was born, and sets the scene with tender detail, in a little cattle shed, in the month of Unduvap, the Sinhala name for December, on a cold day at the midnight hour. The baby comes into a cold world but is kept warm in the divine mother’s embrace, lying asleep as chill winds blew from every side.

The song then brings in the cast of the Gospel story one by one. The poor shepherds, learning of this, go toward the cattle shed, the first to hear the good news. On Mary’s loving face a light was seen to shine, and Joseph is honoured for his faithful obedience, he never once turned his back on God’s command. Even the animals belong to the scene, lowing, the cattle call out, and then the company of kings fall before the baby and present their gifts.

Finally the carol states plainly why all this happened, he came here to save human society from its sin, and marvels that what the prophets foretold long ago was fulfilled in this. What the listener is left with is the beloved Christmas story told whole, the cold stable, the sleeping child, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the kings and their gifts, all gathered around one purpose, the coming of a long-promised Saviour.