If I’m honest, really this blog post is just an excuse to share some beautiful folk songs that I enjoy from different countries. However, I do think there’s something about artistic mediums such as song that makes them good at communicating energies and emotions. Below I’ve shared ten videos of folk songs. Each of them is from a different country and they all have female singers. Can you identify any common themes in femininity and womanhood across different cultures? I acknowledge that these examples are all from northern or western Europe – that is simply because it’s difficult to find songs from other countries when I don’t understand the language! If you know of any beautiful folk songs from other parts of the world, I would love to hear, so please do share them in the comments section below.
Femininity does not have to be associated with traditional cultures or the past. Those are just the songs I’ve collected here. Femininity is expressed in a diversity of ways. It is individual to every woman and does not intend to make us identical in anyway! Rather, it shares some common themes that are rooted in our shared womanhood which allow us to flourish into the women we were each created to become.
I personally love fairytales and history so look more to the past for inspiration than some of you, my sisters, may do. Although the chances are, if you’re reading this, you are probably interested in history too! I think sometimes femininity was valued more in traditional cultures than it tends to be in society today. The baby was thrown out with the bathwater, to borrow a saying. That doesn’t have to be the case, however. We can choose to learn about and reclaim our femininity. I hope you enjoy these songs.
As much as we need creativity and to avoid stagnancy with new Christian songs, I find that sometimes there is just something beautiful about traditional hymns. They’ve been sung across generations throughout communities, becoming a deep-rooted tradition. They unite thousands of people from all walks of life, some of whom have never even met, in the shared worship of one God. There’s something about the time-enduring aspect of it that I find very special. There’s a peace in the ritual familiarity of singing many-times-repeated words. A grounding in faith and steadfastness when life seems crazy. A reminder that people much older and wiser than us can testify to God’s faithfulness even if we don’t always feel it right then, and that there is a reason why Jesus of Nazareth is still remembered two thousand years later. There is a reason why this faith has lasted all this time. A reason why, despite people throughout history being convinced that religion could not last, that there have always been people coming back to our good, loving Father.
I want to share a few of my favourite hymns (by female singers, since this is Feminine Finishing School!) and collect a mini library of songs that we can come back to when we need to listen again. Or at least that I can come back to! These are all songs that I like personally, and most are traditional in my church and culture. I would love to know what songs are traditional in your culture, whether they’re Christian or otherwise. Please do comment below! And I hope you enjoy these songs!
1. Be Thou My Vision
‘Be Thou My Vision’ is based on a sixth-century Irish poem. The most popular English version was translated in 1912 by Eleanor Hull, and since 1919 it has been sung to an Irish folk tune known as ‘Slane’. It remains one of the most popular hymns in Britain.
2. How Great Thou Art
‘How Great Thou Art’ is based on a Swedish traditional melody and poem composed by Carl Boberg in 1885. Additional verses were added by Stuart K Hine when he translated it into English in 1949, and in 2013 it was voted the UK’s favourite hymn.
3. Amazing Grace
‘Amazing Grace’ was published in 1779 by John Newton, who after an eventful life as a sailor that gained him a bad reputation, gradually converted to Christianity and later became a clergyman. It gained popularity during the Second Great Awakening of early 19th century America.
4. Peace In Christ
‘Peace In Christ’ is a relatively recent hymn, written in 2018 by Nik Day in response to the chaos in the world. Yet despite this, it feels very much like a traditional hymn – and the video is also incredibly cute!
5. In Christ Alone
‘In Christ Alone’ is another modern hymn. Written in 2001 by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, it has an Irish melody and has so quickly become traditional that I was surprised to learn how relatively recent it is.
6. The Lord’s My Shepherd
‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ is based on Psalm 23 in the Bible and is attributed to King David. It is now traditionally sung to the tune ‘Crimond’, which was composed by Jessie Seymour Irvine around 1872.
7. Lord Of The Dance
‘Lord Of The Dance’ was written in 1963 by the English songwriter Sydney Carter, who borrowed an American tune. It has since become very popular in British primary schools, and so holds nostalgic memories for many people.
8. When You Believe
‘When You Believe’ was composed for the 1998 musical animated film ‘The Prince of Egypt‘, which told the story of Exodus. Again, it’s one of those songs that sounds as if it could be older than it is.
9. Abide With Me
‘Abide With Me’ was written in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte as he lay dying from tuberculosis. He survived only three more weeks after its completion. It is frequently chosen for singing at funerals, and was also played on the deck of the Titanic while it sank.
10. Here I Am, Lord
‘Here I Am, Lord’ was written by Dan Schutte in 1981, who based it on the biblical passages Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3. In 2013 it was voted the UK’s fifth most popular hymn.
There are many more hymns of course, but I decided to limit this list to ten. What songs are traditional in your culture? I’d love to know, so please do comment below!
Feminine Finishing School 