50 Facts About Christmas Music

The Ancient Origins of Christmas Music

Christmas music has a fascinating history that stretches back thousands of years. Let's explore some intriguing facts about its ancient roots and early influences.

1. Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas carols. They were pre-Christian/pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations.
2. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around December 22. This ancient festival marked the beginning of longer days and was celebrated with music, dance, and feasting.
3. The word "carol" actually means a dance or a song of praise and joy. Carols were originally written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived.
4. Christmas, remembering the birth of Jesus, started to be celebrated at the same time as the solstice. Early Christians began singing Christian songs instead of pre-Christian/pagan ones.
5. In 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. This is one of the earliest recorded instances of a Christmas carol.
6. Another famous early Christmas hymn was written in 760 by Comas of Jerusalem for the Greek Orthodox Church. This marked the beginning of a long tradition of composing Christmas hymns in various parts of Europe.

The Role of St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi played a pivotal role in popularizing Christmas carols. His influence helped shape the tradition we know today.

7. St. Francis of Assisi started his Nativity Plays in Italy in 1223, where people sang songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the plays. These new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany, and other European countries.
8. Initially, many Christmas carols were written and sung in Latin, which the common people couldn't understand. This changed with St. Francis's Nativity Plays, where choruses were often in vernacular languages that the audience could join in.

Evolution of Christmas Carols in Churches

The journey of Christmas carols into churches has its own unique history, marked by changes and adaptations over centuries.

9. Until 1700, only Psalms (poems from the Bible) were allowed to be sung in Anglican churches. From 1700 onwards, the only Christmas song allowed in Anglican churches was "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night," whose lyrics come from the Bible.
10. In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote "A Hymn for Christmas-Day," which later became "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" in 1754. However, the tune we sing it to now was written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 and adapted in 1855 with Wesley's words set to it.

The Victorian Revival of Christmas Carols

The Victorian era saw a significant revival of Christmas carols, bringing new life to old traditions and creating new ones.

11. Before carol singing in places like churches became popular, there were official carol singers called 'Waits.' These were bands of people led by important local leaders who sang on Christmas Eve, combining their duty with carols they played on musical instruments.
12. During the Victorian period, many orchestras and choirs were set up in cities of England. People wanted Christmas songs to sing, so carols once again became popular in churches and concert halls. Many new carols, such as "Good King Wenceslas," were written during this time.

Famous Christmas Carols and Their Origins

Many beloved Christmas carols have fascinating stories behind their creation. Let's look at some of the most famous ones.

13. The Christmas carol "Silent Night" was written by Joseph Mohr, a priest at the Catholic St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. It was first performed in 1818 and has since become one of the most beloved Christmas carols worldwide.
14. In 1939, Chicago copywriter Robert L. May created the character of Rudolph for the annual Christmas coloring booklet for Montgomery Ward. This character has since become an integral part of Christmas folklore.
15. The song "Carol of the Bells" is an English version of a Ukrainian folk chant by Mykola Leontovych in 1916. It was traditionally sung on January 13, the beginning of the new year in the Julian calendar. Peter J. Wilhousky adapted it with Christmas-themed lyrics in 1936.
16. Mel Tormé and his writing partner Robert Wells composed "The Christmas Song" in July 1945 at Wells’ California home. The song was originally titled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and was meant to beat the heat during a hot summer.

The Golden Age of Carols

The period between 1350 and 1550 AD is often referred to as the Golden Age of the Carol. Many of the carols from this era have survived and are still sung today.

17. The Golden Age of the Carol is considered to have been between 1350 and 1550 AD. Many of these carols are macaronic, meaning they were sung both in Latin and a vernacular language. Over 500 texts survive from this period.
18. By 1600, the tradition of the Waits was incorporated into carol singing. The Waits were the official city watchmen whose job was to patrol the streets at night. At Christmastime, they combined their duty with carols they played on musical instruments.
19. The first known book of carols, "Christmasse Carrolles," was published in 1521. Several other collections were printed over the next century, including "New Christmas Carols" in 1642.
20. In 1649, the Puritans in England banned Christmas carols. The Puritans did not observe Christmas as they saw no Biblical reference to the celebration of Christmas on December 25th. However, many people in England continued to celebrate in secret or defied the laws.

Influential Figures in Christmas Music

Several key figures have played significant roles in shaping the tradition of Christmas music. Their contributions have left a lasting impact.

21. In 1707, Isaac Watts published "Hymns and Spiritual Songs," containing at least 400 hymns written during his lifetime. The beauty of Watts' hymns galvanized a hymn-writing movement, including hymns for Christmas.
22. During the Victorian period, public choral singing in England started to gain popularity. Two important carol publications were Davies Gilbert's "Some Ancient Christmas Carols" (1822) and William Sandys' "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern" (1833). These collections recorded the traditions of Cornwall and the West of England.
23. Reverend J. M. Neale and Dr. John Stainer's 1853 "Carols for Christmas-tide" crested the wave of Victorian revival for English Christmas traditions. Neale set the "Antiphons" to music in 1851, which we now know as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The "Antiphons" are among the oldest hymns, dating at least to the reign of Charlemagne.

Secularization and Modern Christmas Carols

Not all Christmas carols are religious. Over time, many carols have become secular, reflecting the changing cultural and religious practices of society.

24. Not all carols are religious. Many carols from the Golden Age of the Carol were macaronic, meaning sung in the vernacular and Latin. However, over time, carols became increasingly secular after the Middle Ages.
25. "Jingle Bells" was written by American songwriter James Lord Pierpont in 1850. It was originally called "The One Horse Open Sleigh" and possibly meant for Thanksgiving. Despite this, it has become well and truly an entrenched part of Christmas celebrations.
26. The first song to be played in outer space was a carol. In 1971, astronauts on the Apollo 14 mission played "Jingle Bells" on their guitar during a moonwalk.
27. The first Christmas carol was probably sung in Rome in the 4th century. These hymns were austere and not very accessible to the masses as they were in Latin. It was in the 13th Century under St. Francis of Assisi that people started singing songs that were stories during the plays.
28. Carols were not unique to Christmas. They were sung in all four seasons as part of pagan celebrations celebrating the Winter Solstice. However, it is only the Christmas carols that have actually survived as we can see and hear today.
29. Caroling was banned in England in 1644 by an Act of Parliament made by the Puritans, who ruled then. This ban was enacted because carol singing was seen as a frivolous practice against their beliefs. However, it was restored in 1660.
30. During World War I, on Christmas Eve, 1914, British soldiers saw some Christmas trees lined up on the German side and heard carol singing. One thing led to another, and soon, messages were passed between the trenches. The next day, both British and German soldiers exchanged gifts, buried casualties, repaired trenches, and even played football. Astonishingly, soldiers from the warring nations ate and drank together while the Germans sang "Stille Nacht" and the British sang the English version – "Silent Night."

Christmas Music in America

Christmas music has a unique history in America, influenced by various cultural and historical factors.

31. "Jingle Bells" was originally meant for Thanksgiving but has now become well and truly an entrenched part of Christmas celebrations.
32. In America, "Jingle Bells" was written in Boston in 1857, initially for a children's Sunday School Thanksgiving celebration.
33. During the 19th century, as traditions such as decorating trees, giving presents, and consuming drink and food became an integral part of the festival, so music appeared to accompany them. Prince Albert’s tree and Dickens’s "Pickwick Papers" exemplified the transfer from the crib of the importance of children, animals, and presents.
34. Many of the most familiar 19th-century Christmas hymns appeared in children’s collections, such as CF Alexander’s "Once in Royal David’s City," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Away in a Manger" (1885).

Preservation and Revival of Christmas Carols

Efforts to preserve and revive Christmas carols have played a crucial role in keeping these traditions alive.

35. William Sandys’s "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern" (1833) recorded the traditions of Cornwall and the West of England. To encourage his readers to help preserve the carol tradition, Sandys wrote that every one of his readers in every part of England should collect every carol that may be singing at Christmas time in the year 1825 and convey these carols to him at their earliest convenience, with accounts of manners and customs peculiar to the people.
36. Reverend J. M. Neale set the "Antiphons" to music in 1851, which we now know as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The "Antiphons" are among the oldest hymns, dating at least to the reign of Charlemagne.
37. Dr. John Stainer's work on carols for Christmas-tide in 1853 crested the wave of Victorian revival for English Christmas traditions. His contributions helped in popularizing Christmas carols across England.

Medieval and Reformation Influences

The medieval period and the Protestant Reformation had a significant impact on the development of Christmas carols.

38. Many medieval carols included Christ’s nativity as part of a survey of his life and death. For example, the medieval "The Holly and the Ivy" blends pagan naturism with Christian ideas.
39. The Protestant Reformation encouraged the growth of carol singing. During this time, the first known book of carols, "Christmasse Carrolles," was published in 1521. Several other collections were printed over the next century, including "New Christmas Carols" in 1642.
40. Puritan communities in the New World (present-day United States) banned Christmas carols along with their counterparts in England. However, many people continued to celebrate in secret or defied the laws, thus passing on traditions for when the monarchy was restored in 1660.
41. Isaac Watts published "Hymns and Spiritual Songs" in 1707, containing at least 400 hymns written during his lifetime. His work galvanized a hymn-writing movement, including hymns for Christmas.

The Victorian Revival in England

The Victorian period saw a resurgence of interest in Christmas carols, leading to the publication of important collections and the revival of old traditions.

42. During the Victorian period, public choral singing in England started to gain popularity. Two important carol publications were Davies Gilbert's "Some Ancient Christmas Carols" (1822) and William Sandys' "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern" (1833). These collections recorded the traditions of Cornwall and the West of England.
43. Reverend J. M. Neale and Dr. John Stainer's 1853 "Carols for Christmas-tide" crested the wave of Victorian revival for English Christmas traditions. Neale set the "Antiphons" to music in 1851, which we now know as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The "Antiphons" are among the oldest hymns, dating at least to the reign of Charlemagne.

Secularization and Modern Christmas Carols

Over time, many Christmas carols have become secular, reflecting the changing cultural and religious practices of society.

44. Over time, carols became increasingly secular after the Middle Ages. This shift reflects the changing cultural and religious practices of Europe during this period.
45. "Jingle Bells" was originally written by James Lord Pierpont in 1850 as "The One Horse Open Sleigh." It was meant for Thanksgiving but has since become an integral part of Christmas celebrations.
46. The first song to be played in outer space was "Jingle Bells." In 1971, astronauts on the Apollo 14 mission played it on their guitar during a moonwalk.
47. The first Christmas carol was probably sung in Rome in the 4th century. These hymns were austere and not very accessible to the masses as they were in Latin.
48. Carols were not unique to Christmas. They were sung in all four seasons as part of pagan celebrations celebrating the Winter Solstice. However, it is only the Christmas carols that have actually survived as we can see and hear today.
49. Caroling was banned in England in 1644 by an Act of Parliament made by the Puritans, who ruled then. This ban was enacted because carol singing was seen as a frivolous practice against their beliefs. However, it was restored in 1660.
50. During World War I, on Christmas Eve, 1914, British soldiers saw some Christmas trees lined up on the German side and heard carol singing. One thing led to another, and soon, messages were passed between the trenches. The next day, both British and German soldiers exchanged gifts, buried casualties, repaired trenches, and even played football. Astonishingly, soldiers from the warring nations ate and drank together while the Germans sang "Stille Nacht" and the British sang the English version – "Silent Night."

The Enduring Magic of Christmas Music

Christmas music has a rich history, blending ancient traditions with modern melodies. From St. Francis of Assisi's Nativity Plays to the Victorian revival, carols have evolved but always kept their charm. Songs like "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" have become timeless classics, enjoyed by generations. Even during World War I, carols brought a moment of peace and unity. Whether it's the spiritual depth of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" or the festive cheer of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," each song adds to the holiday spirit. As we celebrate, we honor not just the birth of Jesus but also the enduring legacy of music that defines our festive traditions. So, next time you hear a Christmas carol, remember the rich history and cultural significance behind those joyful tunes.