New Delhi: Christmas is just a week away. There are many traditions related to Christmas, one of which is the carol. Silent Night, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas…we have heard these carols and many more. These carols have been part of Christmas for ages.
Did you know that Jingle Bells was originally called The One Horse Open Sleigh? James Lord Pierpont wrote and composed it in 1857. At first, people did not like the song, and it took many years for it to become one of the most popular Christmas songs.
A Christmas carol is a song or a hymn sung at Christmas or during the surrounding Christmas and holiday season. But do you know when Christmas carols became part of the day? Let us find out in the article.
The Evolution of Christmas Carols: From Medieval Hymns to Modern Classics
The word ‘carol’ is mostly known for referring to Christmas songs. However, it used to have a broader meaning and described different types of music used in medieval European church services.
Carols were once written and sung during all four seasons, including May and harvest carols. Today, the tradition of singing carols at Christmas remains the only one.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, monasteries in Northern Europe began developing Christmas hymns with rhymed stanzas.
In the 12th century, a Parisian monk named Adam of Saint Victor started using popular songs to create music for these hymns, which became more like the Christmas carols we know.
When early Christianity transformed pagan solstice celebrations into Christmas celebrations, they provided Christian songs for people to sing. In 129 AD, a Roman Bishop recommended that Angel’s Hymn be sung during a Christmas service in Rome.
In 1223, nativity plays in Assisi, Italy, included songs, or ‘canticles’, that told the Christmas story. These new carols were usually in regional languages, allowing the audience to understand and sing along, though some choruses were in Latin.
The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany, and other parts of Europe, often including circle dances with people singing together.
The first English Christmas carols appeared in a work by John Awdlay in 1426. Awdlay, a chaplain from Shropshire, listed 25 ‘caroles of Cristemas’. These carols were likely sung by groups of ‘wassailers’ who went from house to house.
Some carols, such as Personent hodie, Good King Wenceslas, and The Holly and the Ivy, trace back to the Middle Ages and are among the oldest songs still sung today.
Many popular Christmas carols come from a book called Piae Cantiones, which was published in 1582. This collection contains Latin songs from the late medieval period. Some early carols found in this book include “Christ was Born on Christmas Day”, “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”, and “Good King Wenceslas”.
Today, carol singers often perform in town squares and shopping centres and visit hospitals and care homes. Instead of expecting a cup of wassail, modern carolers usually ask for donations to charity.
Significance of Carols in Christmas
Christmas carols are an important part of the Christian holiday season and have several meanings:
Christmas carols tell the story of Jesus’ birth and express joy and wonder about the nativity.
Christmas carols bring people together and create happiness.
Christmas carols bring joy and warmth during the cold winter months.
Some think Christmas carols help teach children about Christianity.
This article explores the rich history of Christmas carols, tracing their evolution from medieval hymns sung in monasteries to the globally popular songs we enjoy today. The article also explores the various meanings and cultural significance of Christmas carols, both past and present. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
