Thousands of years ago, songs were sung in Europe in midwinter. These were pagan songs and people danced around stone circles while singing. The Winter Solstice which takes place around December 22nd is in fact the shortest day of the whole year and this is when the singing took place. The meaning of the word Carol is actually a song or a dance of praise and happiness and does not have a religious meaning. Carols were sung throughout the year in centuries past but now they are only sung at Christmas.
The pagan Christmas celebrations gave way to early Christian songs. Composers in different countries began to write hymns for Christmas but the songs were not always popular as they were sung in Latin which most people did not understand or care about. The majority of people had totally lost interest in Christmas celebrations by the time of the Middle Ages.
History of Christmas Carols
When the Puritans under Oliver Cromwell came to power in 1647, carol singing was banned altogether although people sang them secretly. Carols from the Elizabethan era were loosely based on the story of Mary and Jesus in Bethlehem and were seen as entertainment and normally sung in homes. Travelling minstrels entertained the public in towns and cities and sang carols that were not based on religious themes such as “I Saw Three Ships”. As today, musicians had to be licensed and the custom spread throughout the centuries up to the present. Another custom, usually involving females, involved taking a wassail bowl to neighbours. The women sang and this was by way of asking for gifts.
The words from Joy to the World were inspired by the 98th Psalm. The composer was a British preacher and poet called Isaac Watts. Over one hundred years later, Lowell Mason, a choral teacher, composed music for the poem. However, he incorrectly attributed it to Handel, probably with a view to making it more popular. It was another one hundred years before the hoax was uncovered.
In Victorian times Christmas music was collected from various English villages and the tradition of carol singing was revived. Official carol singers (known as Waits) sang on Christmas Eve in towns and villages. Again, the purpose of this was to collect money from the public. At the same time, choirs and orchestras were grouping together in English cities as people wanted to sing carols and at this time new songs such as Good King Wenceslas were written. It is said that The First Noel has French origins whilst others insist it has a British background. It is popular in both countries and the word Noel is mentioned 30 times in the song. Handel’s Messiah is the music that is associated with Christmas more than any other. Other musicians began to compose Christmas music after Handel’s piece.
In the church year, the importance of Christmas has meant a long tradition of specially-composed music to celebrate this time of year. In 1880 the idea was formed of singing carols inside churches. Shortly afterwards, the Salvation Army used a brass band to play carols in the street at Christmas. They still do this now to the delight of the public who enjoy the sight of the band in uniform and the sounds their band makes with their trumpets and drums.
Christmas Music
Christmas music has always been both secular and sacred. In Britain, in the 1970s and 1980s, it became the trend for musicians to try to produce the Christmas Number One Single. This might be a carol or simply a song mentioning Christmas. Modern composers try to mention snow, bells, reindeers and sleigh-rides to ensure popularity of their composition. They are seeking royalty payments when the songs are broadcast on television and radio. The lyrics of Christmas songs can range from religious to traditional or completely bizarre. Music accompanying the songs can be romantic to solemn.
Individual singers and professional choirs all sing carols and many churches have special Christmas Carol services, some at midnight on Christmas Eve. Carols by Candlelight is very popular. Instead of being lit by electricity, the church is lit by candles creating a wonderful nostalgic atmosphere for the congregation. These services are held throughout the world. People who do not normally go to church love to attend these services too.
Christmas music and songs have been popularised on television, radio and in films. White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby is truly unforgettable and the film of the same name is enjoyed to this day. Composed by Irving Berlin in 1942, this is considered to be the most popular holiday song in America. It evokes a longing for simple past pleasures and therefore was ideal for the gloomy wartime winters of World War 2. The song has sold over 30 million copies and has been sung in many different languages.
Winter Wonderland, Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer, Jingle Bells and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire – these are all Christmas songs which almost everybody knows and can sing along to. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the dozen days from 26th December to 6th January. There is no religious element to the lyrics but rather the song is a memory game. One person sings one line, the next two lines and so on. Although composed centuries ago, the song has not lost its popularity.
The songs of Christmas continue to endure and we never seem to get tired of them. Christmas would not be Christmas without seasonal music to lift our hearts. How ever you decide to celebrate Christmas, you will hear the Christmas songs on television, radio, in offices and at shopping centres – in fact almost anywhere that music is permitted. Christmas songs are also sold on CDs and DVDs. You can download them onto your MP3 from the internet. It is hard for young people today to imagine the time before technology took over our lives and the simple pleasure of singing was part of everyday life. Fortunately many people are keen to keep up the old ways and, because of this, we can be sure that the music of Christmas will endure for a long time to come.
