Christmas Songs & Carols

Index:

Christmas Carols Facts!

The joyous themes for many Christmas carols were banned in England by the staunch Protestant Oliver Cromwell and many of the very old Christmas carols were subsequently lost for all time. Christmas carols were only fully popularised again during the Victorian era when they again expressed joyful and merry themes in their carol lyrics as opposed to the normal, more sombre, Christian lyrics found in hymns. As religious observances in the United States and England were closely linked the popularity of Christmas carols grew in both countries in the 19th century. Many Christmas traditions are relatively recent such as Santa Claus and reindeer and bear no relation to Christmas carols. We have reflected this in the unusual and beautiful Victorian Angel Pictures we have included for your pleasure and enjoyment. Merry Christmas and enjoy singing the wonderful words and lyrics to the Christmas carols & Christmas songs featured here.

Song /
Artist
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Christmas Carols Facts
/ YouTube Link
We Wish You a Merry Christmas / Disney Classics / We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
The author and composer of We Wish You a Merry Christmas cannot be traced however it is believed to date back to England in the sixteenth century. The tradition of carollers being given Christmas treats for singing to wealthy members of the community is reflected in this Christmas song - We Wish You a Merry Christmas! Over the years the fashion for figgy puddings mentioned in We Wish You a Merry Christmas has faded. But for the curious, the recipe consisted of the most important ingredient which was of course figs together with butter, sugar, eggs, milk, rum, apple, lemon and orange peel, nuts, cinnamon, cloves and ginger! Not dissimilar to the modern day Christmas Puddings! / O Christmas Tree)
Jingle Bells / Disney Classics / Jingle Bells.
Believe it or not Jingle Bells, one of the most famous American Christmas songs, was originally written for Thanksgiving! The author and composer of Jingle Bells was a minister called James Pierpoint who composed the song in 1857 for children celebrating his Boston Sunday School Thanksgiving. The song was so popular that it was repeated at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been reprised ever since. The essence of a traditional Christmas is captured in the lyrics of Jingle Bells and the sound effects using the bells have become synonymous with the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus to the delight of children of all ages! /
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer / Dean Martin / Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
The famous Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started life as a poem created by an American advertising executive called Robert May. He was requested to produce a poem that could be given away to children by the Santa Claus employed by Department Stores at Christmas! Working as an Advertising Executive Robert May had a natural flair with words and was able to compose the Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer poem which was specifically designed to appeal to children. This marketing ploy was a massive success and approximately 2.5 million Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer poems were given away in the first year of its publication! In 1949 the singer Gene Autry recorded a musical version composed by Johnny Marks. /
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town / Mariah Carey / N/A /
Here We Come A-Caroling / Disney Classics / N/A
The Little Drummer Boy / Tennessee Ernie Ford / Little Drummer Boy.
The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958. The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum' - a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist! However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists. The most notable rendition was created by the most unlikely combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Little Drummer Boy was a massive hot for the artists and was in fact Bing Crosby's most successful recording since the legendary White Christmas. / M Version)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year / Wyle, Pola, Arr, Mandell, Andy Williams / N/A /
The Twelve Days of Christmas / The Do Re Mi Children’s Chorus / The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas start with Christmas Day and finish with the eve of Epiphany on 5th January. The Twelve Days of Christmas dates back to English origins in the sixteenth century although the music is reputed to be French.
The first publication date for The Twelve Days of Christmas was 1780. Each of the The Twelve Days of Christmas has a religious significance and are symbolised following the lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)
1.- True Love refers to God
2.- Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3.- French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4.- Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5.- Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6.- Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7.- Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8.- Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9.- Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10.- Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11.- Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12.- Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed / & John DenverVersion)
O Christmas Tree / Disney Classics / N/A / We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
Silent Night / Mariah Carey / N/A / Newton John Version)
White Christmas / Bing Crosby / White Christmas.
The song White Christmas is undoubtedly the most famous and popular of all theChristmas songs. The music and lyrics for White Christmas were written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and originally featured in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby. The lyrics of White Christmas struck a chord with the soldiers fighting in the Second World War and their families who were waiting for them back home. The song and recording of White Christmas by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter's orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers was so popular that it was later reprised in the movie called after its name - White Christmas. The film White Christmas once again starred Bing Crosby together with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. /

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

/ Bing Crosby / God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was first published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the author is unknown.. It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. The lyrics to this simple carol are reputed to be one of the oldest carols. /
The Christmas Song / Nat King Cole / The Christmas Song.
(Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire is definitively called The Christmas Song. The lovely music and lyrics were composed by Torme and Wells in 1946. The most popular recording of this truly great Christmas song, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire was recorded by Nat King Cole. The strong imagery in the words to this Christmas song are also complimented by such sentiments as reflected in one of its lines "from kids from from one to ninety-two" which encompass the essence of the family Christmas. The notion that a traditional Christmas should be white is also profligated in the lyric of this Christmas song, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. /

Deck the Halls

/ Nat King Cole / Deck the Halls!
The music to Deck the Halls is believed to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come from a tune called "Nos Galan" dating back to the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square Song Collection in which the lyrics were first published. The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America. /
Adeste Fideles / Nat King Cole / N/A /
O, Little Town of Bethlehem / Nat King Cole / O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday school children's choir. /
Away in a Manger / Nat King Cole / Away in a Manger.
Away in a Manger is always the first carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger was originally published in 1885. The publication of Away in a Manger was in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The author is unknown. The music to Away in a Manger was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895. /
Joy to the World / Nat King Cole / Joy to the World.
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend NonconformistAcademy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759). /
The First Noel / Nat King Cole / The First Noel
The First Noel is unknown in origin but is generally thought to be English dating back to the sixteenth century. There is a misconception that the First Noel was French and it is believed that this is because of the French spelling of Noel as opposed to the olde English Anglo-Saxon spelling of the word as in Nowell. After England was captured by the Normans numerous words were adopted from the Norman French language and Noel was re-spelt as Nowell, early printed versions of this carol use the Nowell spelling. The First Noel was first published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. / Version)
Caroling, Caroling / Nat King Cole / N/A /

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