Christmas Carols Origin & History

Christmas carols are sung by church congregations and at individual celebrations to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many Christmas carols are also played by orchestras and music groups every year.

Twelve Days of Christmas

During the Middle Ages in Britain, Christmas was celebrated for two weeks minus Sunday worship services. This long festival inspired the "Twelve Days of Christmas."

Jingle Bells

"Jingle Bells" was originally written as a Thanksgiving celebration song. It was planned by James Pierpoint in 1857 for his Sunday school class.

Silent Night

"Silent Night" was first a poem written by an Austrian monk named Joseph Mohr in 1816.

Come all ye Faithful

"Come all ye Faithful" was also known by its Latin name, Adeste Fidelis, written by Englishman John Wade in 1751.

Away in a Manger

"Away in a Manger" was first published in a Lutheran hymn book in 1885. No one knows who the writer is but William Kirkpatrick composed the music for this carol.

References

• World of Christmas
• Christmas Carols