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Caroling
In the Middle Ages in England and France, carols were dances accompanied by singing. In the French Midi, for example, the "carol" was a kind of round dance. We get the word "carol" from the French word "Caroler", which translated into the meaning "dance in a ring". In time, the word "carol" changed its meaning, referring only to certain kinds of songs. The Anglo-Saxon tradition favored gathering together small choirs on the village green to sing carols and Christmas songs for the pleasure of passers-by.
History shows us that there has been recorded Christmas music as far back as the 4th Century. Medieval music was the first to be enjoyed and was eventually followed by music in the Gregorian style. Italy and the Renaissance brought forth a more festive and joyous quality of song.
During the mid-19th century, there was an upsurge of music from the Scandinavian countries. During the latter part of this century, many more carols were written. As the 20th century progressed, so did the music. Each new decade and style of music brought new carols, however, the classics of the past remain.
In 1818, the most famous of Christmas Carols was written, "Stille Nacht" or "Silent Night" was written and composed by an Austrian priest, and his church organist.
Modern American Carols
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ASCAP lists "White Christmas" written by Irving Berlin in 1942 as the most performed holiday song in recording history, with over 500 versions in 25 languages.
The song was introduced in the 1942 MGM musical "Holiday Inn", featuring Bing Crosby.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
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"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was published commercially in 1947 and shown in theaters as a nine-minute cartoon the following year. The Rudolph phenomenon really took off when the author's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, developed the lyrics and melody for a Rudolph song. Marks' musical version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," recorded by Gene Autry in 1949, sold two million copies that year and went on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to "White Christmas."
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen.,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You could even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history."
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"The Christmas Song" was written in 1944 by the classic jazz singer Mel Torme at the age of 19. "The Christmas Song" has become an American Christmas tradition, thanks to Nat King Cole's hit 1946 recording.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows
A turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies
On his sleigh
And ev’ry mother’s child
Is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so, I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times
Many ways;
“Merry Christmas to you”
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Author Unknown
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, And etched on vacant places Are half-forgotten faces Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.
--Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The tradition of Christmas lights dates back to when Christians were persecuted for saying Mass. A simple candle in the window meant that Mass would be celebrated there that night.
