Christmas Carols

Christmas carols are the traditional based on the theme of Christmas during the Christmas season.

The word carol is said to originate from the Latin word “carula” or French word “Carole” both meaning circular Dance.

The term Noel is frequently used for describing the carols which are having French origin.

 It is sung to make the environment merrier and to prepare the environment and mind of the people for Christmas celebrations.  It was accepted that the first Christmas carol was recorded on around 129AD, “Angel’s hymn”.

This tradition of singing carols during the festival has its roots from Pagans culture, who sings carols during the winter solstice. Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The word carol describes the action of dancing or singing in the joy and rejoice to praise with happiness.

There is also a saying that, a famous carol ”The Holly and the Ivy” originated from a pagan harvest festival.

Many famous people in history started writing carols, once such an important person is Comas of Jerusalem who wrote carols for a German Orthodox church. Initially, the carols were written in the Latin language, so in due course of time, people all over the world began to, unlike this tradition.

St.Francis Assisi changed this downfall of the carols by starting nativity plays during which carols in native languages used even though some Latin chorus songs are used. But this revived the tradition once again.

It was during the Victorian period when William Sandys and David Gilbert collected the old Christian carols from different villages.

Many new carols were written during that period and the choir and orchestra were set up in many cities of England.

The most famous Christmas carol, “Joy to the world” was written by Issac Watts, the father of Hymnody.

It is said that singing of carols in churches was instituted on Christmas Eve in 1880 in Truro cathedral from where it spread to worldwide now.

The origin of singing carols going to each other’s home has its roots from ancient Greek, where children go out in triangles singing songs in the neighborhood. This tradition even had a name known as “Kalanda”

And these children were given gifts by the neighbors and elders. 

Many famous carols that are being played and sung even today have very ancient origins. This shows the importance of the carols and the joy it gave to everyone during the festival seasons.

There are many old variants to the traditional Christmas carols, most important of them are  Peloponnesian, Constantinopolitan,…

The carols have a common format implanted in its authoring it starts by telling the significance of the festival in which it is sung, then slowly proceeding towards praising the landlord and landlady, in front of whom it was sung.

Singing carols nowadays became one of the important parts of even the church celebrations of Christmas, in various Christian communities. Composing music for Christmas carols is done with utmost care nowadays.

 Most of the popular carols are now became part of many popular movies also.

Christmas carols are written in such a way to narrate the Christmas story in a musical language, even to people practicing other religions also. So, Christmas carols break the bonds of religion, race and other limitations that keep their clutches over mankind.

Did you know that there were periods in the history of mankind when carols were banned and people used to sing them in secret? Even though it went through such bitter phase carols did not perish but it was gaining its momentum during those times.

There was also a famous work named, Christmas carol by Charles Dickens which is a story about a person involved with Christmas ghost visits. It is one of the best sellers during its release.

Christmas Carols

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

Good tidings to you,
And all of your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
We all know that Santa’s coming.
We all know that Santa’s coming.
We all know that Santa’s coming,
And soon will be here.

Good tidings to you,
And all of your kin.
Good tidings for Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I’m offering this simple phrase
For kids from one to ninety two
Although its been said many times many ways
Merry Christmas to you

Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room.
And Heaven and nature sing.
And Heaven and nature sing.
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding Joy.
Repeat the sounding Joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow.
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
Far as the curse is found.
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness.
And wonders of His love.
And wonders of His love.
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

The First Noel

The first Noel, the angel did say,

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as ttoey lay;

In fields wtiere they by keeping their sheep.

On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the the East, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light.

And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star.

Three wise men came from country far;

To seek for a King was their intent.

And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel. Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

This star drew night to the northwest.

O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;

And there it did both stop and stay.

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel,

Then entered in those wise men three,

Full reverently upon their knee;

And offered there in his presence,

Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel,

It’s Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Ev’rywhere you go

Take a look in the five-and-ten,

Glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Toys in ev’ry store

But the prettiest sight to see

is the holly that will be

On your own front door

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots

Is the wish of Barney and Ben

Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk

Is the hope of Janice and Jen

And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start

again

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Ev’rywhere you go

There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel,

One in the park as well

The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,

Soon the bells will start

And the thing that will make them ring.

Is the carol that you sing

Right within your heart

Conclusion

Christmas carols not only is sung as a tradition but, it the musical vibrations that make the child inside of everyone to peep out. This child who is innocent, excited for good things without any devil qualities like greed, dishonesty, rudeness, disloyalty…

Singing Christmas carols each doorstep with Joy and rejoice will spread those qualities to the landowners and the neighborhood. This tradition gave rise to many important practices of singing songs in the neighborhood beyond religious celebrations.

If everyone is like the child mentioned for all their lifetime, the very purpose for which God sent his Son to this world will be accomplished.

New carols and musicals for them are being welcomed by a variety of societies and even contests are also being conducted every year. Carols became an important part of the Christmas day celebrations in institutes like schools, colleges and also in the workplace parties during the Christmas season.

They make the gatherings memorable and merrier which is the prime goal of Christmas. Above all, it is very pleasant to see and hear little kiddos singing festival carols to spread the pleasant aroma of Christmas in the air of the neighborhood. 

Last Updated : 10 October, 2023