Christmas carols emerged and developed from the 4th century onwards. Particularly in the 14th century and into Victorian times.
Christmas carols, or, more accurately, winter songs, have been around since the 4th century. Early Pagan festivals and rituals had songs and dances to help people get through the winter months.
The first carols as we might recognise them came from Franciscan friars around the 14th century. The 13th – 15th centuries produced many songs which were sung during social gatherings as opposed to in the churches. The Victorian era saw the greatest amount and range of carols being produced. Many of these we still sing today.
Into the 20th century and the expansion and divergence of music saw more modern songs and carols being written and recorded. With the advent of pop music and music charts there came fierce competition to get the ‘Christmas No1’, the biggest hit song of the year. As music trends and ideas progress it will be interesting to see how this affects Christmas songs of the future.
Try and find the Christmas carols in the following version of the Nativity. There are 23, which includes an odd one out.
The first Nowell happened on a silent night, a holy night, in the bleak midwinter. It came upon the midnight clear in the little town of Bethlehem, Royal David’s city.
Angels from the realms of glory appeared to shepherds while they watched their flocks at night, out in the fields. They went to the stable which the Herald Angels sang to them about,
Meanwhile, three kings of the orient were travelling from the east. They arrived at the stable where Mary had her baby,
“Unto us is born a son,” they exclaimed as they saw the baby in a manger, born there because there was no crib for a bed, “Joy to the World,” they all sang, even the little donkey which had carried Mary. They were in a stable because there was no room at the inn.
Ding Dong merrily on high the bells rang signalling the twelve days of Christmas.
So …
Merry Christmas everybody, come all you faithful, come and celebrate. Deck the halls with boughs of holly and a Christmas tree.
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Man on a bike. 