Christmas Carols
Originally, a "Christmas carol" referred to a piece of vocal music in carol form whose lyrics center on the theme of Christmas or the Christmas season. The difference between a Christmas carol and a Christmas popular song can often be unclear as they are both sung by groups of people going house to house during the Christmas season. Some view Christmas carols to be only religious in nature and consider Christmas songs to be secular.
The word 'carol' is derived from the old French word 'caroller', which means dancing around in a circle. It was derived from the Latin 'choraula', which in turn was derived from the Greek 'choraules'. Choraules was also translated as a Greek dance called a 'choraulein', which means 'to dance to a flute'. The dance later spread throughout Europe and became especially popular with the French, who replaced the flute music with singing.
Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with bringing carols into the formal worship of the church during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in Greccio, in the province of Umbria in 1223. As patron of the arts, he inspired the composers and poets of the day to deliver Christmas music.
The lighter joyous Christmas songs were introduced many years later in Renaissance Italy - the 1400's. The earliest known copies of English carols were part of the Ritson Manuscript about 1410 and is so named as the manuscript was later owned by Joseph Ritson, who in 1795 gave it to the British Museum. The 44 composers of most of these early carols are unknown.
Throughout the years, monks also contributed significantly in composing music themes from the Bible. By the 1600's, carols involved singing only, and Christmas had become the main holiday for these songs. In 1649, John de Brebeur wrote the first American Christmas carol, called "Jesus is Born". In 1660, Christmas carols became far removed from the monastic and courtly types of the carols of earlier times. They were sung by ordinary people, in their homes, and the words of the carols were printed and circulated on broadsheets.
Although the origins and authorship of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" are unknown, it likely has roots that well predate 1780 and it may have been French in origin. Some have thought it was a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, which celebrated the twelve days of Christmas ending with Epiphany on January 6th, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol relates to a Biblical truth, which the children could remember.
1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
Most of the carols sung today were originally composed in the 1700's and 1800's. "O Holy Night" was introduced at midnight Mass in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a French composer, wrote the music. “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear” was written in 1849 by Edmund Hamilton Sears. The score was provided the next year by Richard Storrs Willis, a New York organist.
In 1865, after a trip to the Holy Land, Rector Phillips Brooks wrote the words to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Three years later, Lewis Redner wrote the score. The words of the famous carol "Silent Night" were written on Christmas Eve in 1818 by Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest. Franz Gruber, the organist of Mohr's church, composed the music that same night, and the carol was sung at midnight Mass.
Christmas carols today are not necessarily stuck in the past, as contemporary composers and poets continue to write new carols to challenge the popularity of those classic songs that instantly remind us of Christmas.
Today, many caroling groups sing for charity in churches and neighborhoods. Some historical accounts claim this is rooted in feudal societies, when poor citizens would "sing for their supper" in exchange for food or drink. Another theory is that carolers traveled door-to-door because they were not originally allowed to perform in churches.
The most believable account of the origins of Christmas caroling by ordinary people takes place in England in the 1840's. After Prince Albert of Germany married Victoria of England, the English peasants were eager to please and impress the newly married royal family. After reading in a newspaper that Prince Albert thoroughly enjoyed Christmas carols, the peasants starting serenading him with them.
Caroling has been a tradition ever since. It is said that the Methodists and Lutherans brought a modified version of this tradition to America. The American tradition of caroling involves traveling carolers being offered food and drinks after being welcomed into the homes that they were serenading. The rich and interesting history of Christmas carols has brought a beautiful element to Christmas celebrations throughout the world. From medieval dancing songs to the 19th-century revival, the words and music of carols have evolved over time as each generation of carol singers continues to add to a mixed tradition of folk music and sacred song.