The Long Lived Tradition of Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols normally fill the air in the month of December. Usually, even before the month of December starts, you can find many shops and stores playing various Christmas songs. Along with this, Christmas decorations begin to appear in places.

Carols are songs or hymns with lyrics that dwell on the theme of Christmas and the winter season. These are sung as part of the traditional celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

This long lived tradition started from the thirteenth century. During those times, the carols were mainly communal songs that could be heard on Christmas as well as during harvest tides. Later on, the songs got to be sung in churches and were specifically linked to the spirit of Christmas.

When Protestantism gained prominence, carols declined in popularity. People's interest in Christmas carols only got revived in the 19th century due to the works of William B. Sandys through Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern in 1833 and through the compositions of Arthur Sullivan.

There is a slight distinction between Christmas songs and carols. Carols are usually based on medieval chord patterns. Personent hodie and Angels from the Realms of Glory are two of the oldest carols that can be traced back directly to the Middle Ages. This particular medieval chord pattern is said to be the element that gives carols the unique characteristic of musical sound.

Some of the popular carols include the Away in a Manger, Angels from the Realm of Glory, Christmas is Coming, Carol of the Bells, Ding Dong Merrily on a High, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Do You Hear What I Hear, O Holy Night, Of the Father's Love Begotten, Glory to God, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The Twelve Days of Christmas, March of the Kings, Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

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