Today I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post by Deacon Daniel Malyon, a deacon in the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. Today he offers a beautiful meditation on the famous Christmas Carol, The Little Drummer Boy. Written by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958, the story in the carol is similar to (and might be based on) a French legend retold in a beautiful children’s book, The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola. Deacon Daniel blogs at Musings of An Orthodox Brit.

by Deacon Daniel Malyon

“The Little Drummer Boy” – we often hear it throughout the Christmas season, and like many Christmas carols, it can seem like a simple jolly tune to get us in the Christmas Spirit. However, for me, if contains some profoundly Orthodox Christian messages.  As we celebrate the Nativity season (which is ongoing to us on the Old Calendar), I thought to take this opportunity to delve more deeply into this quintessential Christmas Carol.

At first glance the story of Little Drummer Boy is simply is one of a young man following the three Magi to Bethlehem and meeting the infant Christ in the stable. However, if read in an allegorical sense, it can be seen to represent the spiritual journey of all Christians from nothing to Christ; drawing upon the themes of obedience, humility, the Saints, creation and salvation itself to convey a story of true Christian Metanoia through drawing close to Christ. Looking through the verses of this Carol, we will address the themes as the tale progresses.

In the first verse we are told of the young man being called by the Magi to visit the infant Christ, to lay their gifts before him. To the Orthodox Christian this call can be seen to resemble the call of all to serve him. In the Gospels we are told of the calling of many a person to Christ, such as the disciples and the rich young man, each response with a message to the Christian today. St Paul teaches us in his letter to the Ephesians that we are to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness,” (Ephesians 4:1-2)  reminding us that the call to Christ is not the whole journey but the start of a journey of this inward change. This same start of the larger spiritual journey is mimicked in the Carol with the start of the young man’s journey to visit the infant Christ.

In the second verse we see the young boy arrive before the infant Christ and have a realisation of his poverty and lack of any gift, a profound moment for him. In our own spiritual lives we witness many a profound realisation of our sinfulness and unworthiness before God. In some cases this is referred to as awe and in the philosophical traditions it is often called an experience of the numinous. Such moments of humility are an important part of the Christian realisation of our need for Christ and are attested to by great desert fathers such as Abba Poemen who stated that, “as the breath which comes out of his nostrils, so does a man need humility and the fear of God.” In this we are reminded that we are all a poor boy before Christ as the drummer boy proclaimed.

From an Orthodox Christian perspective, this requirement of a profound inward change from pride to humility is the greatest of challenges. In the world today we are taught to put ourselves above others in the spirit of business or competition. However the Gospels remind us that we are all sinners unworthy of what is given to us, like the publican who, “wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13).  In these examples we see how God’s mercy and gift of salvation should not be squandered for pride but should be taken on in every moment in our lives We should always remember to give thanks to God and seek his mercy for our weakness. For this reason, we can reflect on the actions of the drummer boy in his approach to Christ, admitting his weakness and ending the verse by asking, “Shall I play for you/ on my drum,” essentially offering himself to Christ with fullness of faith.

The third and final verse of the carol takes a twist from journey of the young man and focuses on the response of those around, specifically that Saint Mary, the animals and eventually Christ himself. Though this again can just be seen on a superficial level of their approval, the focus of the boy on the importance of these elements teaches us about our faith regarding the intercession of the Saints, the sanctity of God’s creation and Salvation. In seeking Saint Mary’s intercession and recognising the importance of creation in his tune he is essentially coming towards Christ in a profoundly Orthodox manner through communion with the Church and all of creation.

The verse starts with the words “Mary nodded,” when taken as symbolic we can understand this to be a reminder of her role as an intercessor. She is nodding in approval of the actions of the boy and as a reassurance. To us Orthodox Christians, the intercession of St Mary and other Saints is vital to us in our spiritual journey in the same way that a coach or inspiration would be in any other journey. During our own Liturgy we ask for the intercessions of, “the saints of this day, each one by his name,” and many times by St Mary herself specifically. In seeking her intercession and reassurance of our actions and path we can understand that the boy is ensuring that his faith in Christ are reflected in his actions, in the playing of his drum.

This continues with an interesting line in which, “the Ox and Lamb kept time,” which to me is a greatly reassuring image of creation being in tune with his actions. To be able to act in tune with creation and God’s intention for us is the aim of all Christians, since it shows us to live as God intended. St Irenaeus of Lyons famously stated that, “the glory of God is man fully alive,” and to be fully alive is to live in Christ. For the Orthodox Christian, there is a vital importance in recognising the sacred nature of creation itself, as it reminds us that what God has created in essentially good and with it we are also good. In a world where humans are so often drawn away from God through money or other worldly cares, the belief that God is the creator of all things can keep us grounded to God through reminding us to give Him thanks. In the drummer boy seeking and realising this need to be kept in time by God’s creation, he is remembering the nature of reality in God, as are we when we see God’s design in the world.

The final two lines are our finale, and drummer boy’s realisation of his spiritual journey. He has played his best and God has smiled upon him. The indescribable sense of joy he must have felt is beyond words since he has become fully alive and seen the radiance of God. In this, the drummer boy has achieved the aim of creation. In St John’s Gospel, Christ states that mankind’s purpose is, “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” In playing his best and receiving his reward, the drummer boy achieves this purpose in the simplest way, though doing his best for God. Here we see something simple and practical, that instead of through lofty means and exhortation a simple boy was smiled upon by playing his best. Through simply his realisation of his gifts, God’s mission for him and his dedication to it the drummer boy became fully human in God.

As we celebrate the Nativity of Christ, we should perhaps spend some time reflecting on our own journeys of realisation, reflection, obedience and our ongoing salvation and asking ourselves how we are working towards God like the drummer boy. His simple yet profound story is an example to us all and one often overlooked as a simple children’s song, though provides the greatest of messages: If I offer my best to God in all humility, will He smile upon me?

Deacon Daniel Malyon is a Consecrated Deacon of the London Diocese of Coptic Orthodox Church and works as a teacher of Philosophy & Religion Teacher in London. He received his MTh in Orthodox Theology at Winchester University. He blogs and reviews books on Musings of an Orthodox Brit.