Christmas Carols History

History of Christmas Carols

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" says a famous Christmas carol and indeed just hearing this cheerful song makes you feel happier. Christmas carols history is a fascinating insight into different cultures in geographically distinct countries that are united by the same religion. Singing Christian hymns, or other festive songs, around the time of the Christmas Festival is an essential part of the fun and festivity of Christmas.

There are many popular Christmas carols and each song has its own specific Xmas carols history. Some Cristmas carols date back to the Middle Ages, while the history of some Christmas carols such as ‘Good King Wenceslas’ are more recent and were composed in the 19th Century. Christmas carols, also called Noel, help to bring people together in harmony on the occasion of the festival of Christmas.

Christmas carols history takes us back to Christmas hymns, sung in church. Famous Western classical compositions for church choirs, such as Handel’s Messiah are also traditionally performed around Christmas. However as times change popular songs such as ‘Jingle Bells’ or ‘White Christmas’ are also considered as Christmas Carols and are sung with great gusto around Christmas time.

In many European countries there is a tradition of groups of people going from door to door in the community and singing outside their houses. These groups of Christmas Carollers were rewarded for bringing joy into the hearts of the listeners by being invited into their houses for meals or a drink.

The name Christmas carol is said to have originated because a young girl named Carol went missing in London, one cold winter night. As her friends went from door to door searching for her, in a manner similar to the Christmas Singers, the name Christmas Carol began to be used and is today an essential part of the Christmas Festival. Share the enjoyment of Christmas Carol History with Christmas Carnivals.

The tradition of Christmas carols can be traced back to the thirteenth century, although carols were originally communal songs sung during festivities like harvesttide as well as Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be diligently rehearsed and sung in church, and to be specifically associated with Christmas.

A popular myth says that the tradition of carols is related to the birth of Jesus. The thought of singing carols originated from the songs the angels sang when they met the shepherds to give the news of Christ's birth. Another legend says that Christmas carols are actually named after a little girl named Carol Poles who disappeared in 1888 in the Whitechaple district of London. According to the myth the girl was found missing around the Christmas time.

So, people went searching for her at night. In those days, the district of Whitechaple was haunted with the terror figure Jack the Ripper, the serial killer. So, the masses sang Christmas carols upon knocking in order to declare their good intentions. Interesting, hmm…from Christian themes to Jack the Ripper, the faceless prowler of the dark night, the history of Christmas carols is masked in mystery.

The word carol is derived from Greek dance 'choraulein,' which was accompanied by flute music. It later became popular with the French, who replaced the flute music with songs. They called it caroller, which means dancing around in a circle. As the years rolled by, music and lyrics were included and hence the modern Christmas carols.

The custom of singing carols can be traced back to the 12th century when St. Francis of Assisi first introduced them in the church services. It is also said that they were originally communal songs sung during celebration like harvest, tide, as well as Christmas. By the end of 1600 century carols involved singing only and Christmas had become the main purpose for these songs. They were related to the nativity.

These origins are traced recently, but it is indicated that the angels sang the first carol to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus near Bethlehem.