Christmas Carols

Origin, History, Facts and Trivia on Christmas Carols

Christmas Carol is a unavoidable part of Christmas along with Christmas Hampers, Christmas Gifts, christmas gift baskets and Christmas Decorations. Christmas Carol is a hymn or song whose words are describing the winter setting and the Christmas itself. Lyrics also include the traditions and customs associated with the Christmas. Caroling is a popular custom which being observed every Christmas season in many countries.

Some of the Popular Christmas Song you want to listen to are:

Boar’s Head Carol Angels, From the Realms of Glory Away in a Manger Carol of the Bells Deck the Halls Frosty the Snowman Good King Wenceslas Hark! The Herald Angels Sing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Jingle Bell Rock Jingle Bells Joy to the World Let It Snow From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

Little Drummer Boy Oh Come, All Ye Faithful Oh Holy Night Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Silent Night Silver Bells The 12 Days of Christmas The First Noel We Three Kings of Orient Are When A Child Is Born White Christmas Winter Wonderland

For more Christmas songs and carols written in different languages, browse our Christmas categories and pages in the upper tab.


Origin of Christmas Carols

Carol, or “Noel” and “Carole” for some, is a word derived from Anglo-Norman and French origin. The word means circular dancing together with singing. Christmas carols were generally defined as songs used to express religious merriment and are often associated with holiday season.

Christmas Carols History

It is believed that it was 13^th century that the custom of Christmas carols singing was initiated. According to research, Christmas carols were sung in harvest festivals and holiday season particularly Christmas. The years of 1350 to 1550 was considered as the golden era of Christmas carol.

Christmas carol became popular as a form of religious hymns and songs having the theme which described Jesus, Saints and Mother Mary and used the combination of two languages – English and Latin.

In 15^th Century, Christmas carol became the art music. It was considered as the important part of traditional English music.

In 16^th century, the Christmas carol’s popularity faded and almost disappears. It was not until 18^th century that the carol was revived. Most of popular Christmas songs we know of today were composed during those years.

Facts and Trivia about Christmas Carols

Did you know?

• In early times, Carol was refereed as the circular dance accompanied by music. Years after, it was developed into musical piece with refrain and verses. Although not all traditional carols had Christmas lyrics, most of them were related to Christmas celebration, Advent, Jesus Christmas, Mary and saints.

• Boar’s Head Carol, printed in 1521, is a traditional English carol which describes the boar’s head as traditional dish on Christmas Eve.

• Saint Francis of Assisi introduced the Christmas Carols as part of religious church services.

• Silent Night is another old Christmas son written by Joseph Mohr in 1818. He composed the song after he learned about the broken Christmas organ. It was then he compose 'Stille Nacht' that could be sung with guitar and choir.

• On 3^rd of November year 2009, the world record of prime number of carolers who simultaneously sing Christmas carol was broke by the Christmas sing along event, led by Andrea Bocelli – having 14,000 people singing.