History of Christmas Carols

Christmas is the blissful time of the year for Christians. They celebrate it with great zeal. If you want to know about history of Christmas carols then nothing is better than reading this article. Carols were sung first in Europe. However, these were not Christmas carols. They were called as pagan songs sung during winter season. People dance round stone circles while singing these pagan songs. The carol word means a song of praise and happiness. Carols were written and sung during four seasons. The convention of singing them during Christmas time has survived through tough times. According to a Roman Bishop, a song named Angel's Hymns must be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another popular Christmas hymn was written by Comas of Jerusalem for Greek Church. Soon after this, several composers all across Europe began to write carols.

Many of the Christmas carols were written in Latin language because of which several people never liked them. People were not able to understand the Latin language. In the middle ages, many people lost their interest in celebrating Christmas. This was changed by St, Francis. He began his nativity plays sin Italy. St. Francis tried his best to spread carols in all the church services.

New carols spread to Spain, Germany, France and some other European countries. Many of the carols were written about Jesus and Mary meeting different people in Bethlehem. Several carols from this time and Elizabethan period are false stories and based on a Christmas story about holy family and were seen as enjoyable rather than sacred songs. The history Of Christmas carols also tells us that the new Christmas carols were generally sung in homes than in churches. Traveling singers began singing these carols as well as words changed for local people, wherever they were traveling. One carol, which changed like this is I Saw Three Ships. The Christmas celebration and even singing Christmas carols were stopped when Cromwell came to power in the year 1647 in England. But, the Christmas carols survived because people still sang them in secrecy.

There were some official carol singers named as Waits. These were groups of people led by significant local leaders, who had the power in villages and towns for taking money from the public. They were known as Waits as they sang on Christmas Eve. Several orchestras as well as choirs were set up in the cities of England and people wanted to sing Christmas songs; therefore carols once again become famous. Several new carols like Good King Wenceslas were written.

New carols services were created and became popular as did the tradition of singing carols in the streets. Even today, both of these traditions are still famous. The popular type of Carol service is Carols by Candlelight services. At this service, the church is only lighted by candlelight and it awakens the Christmas spirit. Carols by Candlelight services are held in many countries all across the world.