All About Christmas Carol - The History And Origin of Christmas Carols

The History and Origin of Christmas Carols 

History and origin of Christmas carols or the read article for About The History And Origin of  Christmas Carol.

Carols were initial sung in Europe thousands of years past, however these weren't Christmas Carols. They were irreligious songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles (The word carol originally meant to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is the shorten day of the year, which is usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word "Carol" actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing Carols at Christmas has really survived.

Early Christians took over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of heathen ones. In AD 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called "Angel's Hymn" ought to be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another notable early Christmas Hymn was written in 760 AD, by Comas of capital of Israel,Orthodox Church. shortly when this several composers everywhere Europe began to write 'Christmas carols'. However, not many folks likable them as they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the traditional folks could not perceive. By the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), the general public had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether.-The History And Origin of Christmas Carols.

This was modified by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity dramas in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or 'canticles' that told the story throughout the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread to Germany, Spain, France and other European countries.-The History And Origin of Christmas Carols.

The earliest carol, like this, was written in 1410. Sadly only a very tiny piece of it still exists. The "Carol" was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem(10 kilometers south of Jerusalem). Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are untruthful stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the spiritual family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs.They were usually sung in houses rather than in churches! Traveling singers or Minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local people wherever they were traveling. One carols that changed like this is 'I Saw Three Ships'.

In England 1647,When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power, the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was stopped. However, the carols  remain alive as people still sang them in  hidden place. Until Victorian times,Carols survive mainly unsung, when two men called William Sandys and Davis Gilbert collected lots of old Christmas music from villages in England.-The History And Origin of Christmas Carols.

Before carol singing in public became famous, there were sometimes official carol singers called 'Waits'. These were bands of people led by important local leaders (such as council leaders) who had the only power in the towns and villages to take money from the public (if others did this, they were generally charged as beggars!). They were called 'Waits' because they only sang on Christmas Eve (This was sometimes known as 'watchnight' or 'waitnight' because of the shepherds were watching their sheep when the angels  become visible to them.), when the Christmas celebrations began.

Also, at this time, many orchestras and choirs were being set up in the cities of England and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so carols once again became trendy. In the Victorian period Many new carols, such as 'Good King Wenceslas', were also written during that period. -The History And Origin of Christmas Carols.

New carols services were created and became trendy, as did the custom of singing carols in the streets. Both of these customs are still trendy today! One of the most trendy types of Carols services are Carols by Candlelight services. At this service, the church is only lighting up by candlelight and it feels very Christmassy! Carols by Candlelight services are held in countries all over the world.

The most popular type of Carol Service might be a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, where carols and Bible readings tell the Christmas Story.-The History And Origin of Christmas Carols.

Incoming Searches: 

Christmas carol lyrics

Christmas carol songs

Mickey mouse Christmas carol

Christmas carol songs free download

Quotes from a Christmas carol