Essential Christmas Carols
Christmas is, quite possibly, one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. It's certainly the holiday for which the most stores decorate and specially select their music. Wherever you go in the month of December, stores are playing Christmas songs and people are wishing each other a happy holiday.
Sure, this may be in part because of the holiday's capitalistic potential but, especially if there are kids around, the Christmas holiday holds a certain kind of magic and community. What's more, it is a time that is wrought with holiday traditions, from gift-giving to stories and legends specific to the holiday. Perhaps more appropriate to this site, however, is the Christmas tradition of caroling from house to house, spreading holiday cheer to strangers and neighbors through the singing of traditional folk songs. Many of these songs have been brought to the US from other parts of the world, translated into English (while occasionally retaining some lyrics from other languages), while others were created in the States for storybooks or other avenues of entertainment.
So, without further ado, let's take a closer look at some of the essential American Christmas carols - folk songs, hymns, and traditional tunes.
You'd be hard-pressed to find many children who don't love singing "Jingle Bells" at Christmastime. With its dramatic, sing-songy language and the image of bells jingling in the snow and horses dashing about, there's much to love about this song. After all, "Jingle Bells" conjures up the spirit of Christmas. You'd almost never know that the origins of the song are heavily debated, despite the fact that a plaque in a small Massachusetts town announces that was the place where "Jingle Bells" originated.
History of Jingle BellsMore »
This classic, old school German carol has become a widely sung favorite here in the United States, where even folks who don't have German heritage make a habit of singing the original German lyrics. The song pays tribute to the borrowed-from-Pagan-tradition of bringing a tree into the home and decorating it with light, as a beacon against the darkness of the winter holiday. Indeed, the presence of a tree - as well as its many ornaments and decorations - can be a great focal point for any Christmas celebration.
History of O TannenbaumMore »
"Silent Night" is another popular carol whose origins stretch back to Germany. Sometimes sung with the original German lyrics "Stille Nacht", the song depicts a poetic tale of the Christ child's birth in a Bethlehem stable. The melody is usually sung softly and slow, often at the close of a Christmas service or caroling excursion.
History of Silent NightMore »
This spirited song breaks from the typical tradition of Christmas carols, which tell a story about either the Biblical origins for the holiday (such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "Silent Night") or some method of celebrating the holiday ("Jingle Bells", "O Tannenbaum"). "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", instead, is a straightforward declaration of merriment and is a favorite among cavorting carolers, who foist their Christmas cheer on unsuspecting neighborhoods.
History of We Wish You a Merry ChristmasMore »
The story of Santa Claus's ninth reindeer was written by a storybook author for a special book sold originally at the department store Montgomery Ward. It only became a song after the story was already sent into the world. "Rudolph" is largely beloved by children due to its creative, imaginative story about the sympathetic character of Rudolph, and the stop-motion animated film that depicts poor Rudolph's reindeer plight. The song is made more entertaining by the creative exclamations between lines, which allow children room to "go rogue" within a Christmas carol.
History of Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerMore »
This classic caroling favorite began its life as a Welsh hymn, and was translated into English (very indirectly) by a European poet. The song's spirited "Fa la la" chorus is probably the most popular portion of the hymn, as the verses themselves are not quite as widely known. The "Fa la las" are easy to pick up and sing along with, which makes for a fun, engaging interaction with the people whose houses are being approached by carolers.
History of Deck the HallsMore »
Sure, this may be in part because of the holiday's capitalistic potential but, especially if there are kids around, the Christmas holiday holds a certain kind of magic and community. What's more, it is a time that is wrought with holiday traditions, from gift-giving to stories and legends specific to the holiday. Perhaps more appropriate to this site, however, is the Christmas tradition of caroling from house to house, spreading holiday cheer to strangers and neighbors through the singing of traditional folk songs. Many of these songs have been brought to the US from other parts of the world, translated into English (while occasionally retaining some lyrics from other languages), while others were created in the States for storybooks or other avenues of entertainment.
So, without further ado, let's take a closer look at some of the essential American Christmas carols - folk songs, hymns, and traditional tunes.
"Jingle Bells" - James Lord Pierpont
You'd be hard-pressed to find many children who don't love singing "Jingle Bells" at Christmastime. With its dramatic, sing-songy language and the image of bells jingling in the snow and horses dashing about, there's much to love about this song. After all, "Jingle Bells" conjures up the spirit of Christmas. You'd almost never know that the origins of the song are heavily debated, despite the fact that a plaque in a small Massachusetts town announces that was the place where "Jingle Bells" originated.
History of Jingle BellsMore »
"O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)" - Ernst Anschütz
This classic, old school German carol has become a widely sung favorite here in the United States, where even folks who don't have German heritage make a habit of singing the original German lyrics. The song pays tribute to the borrowed-from-Pagan-tradition of bringing a tree into the home and decorating it with light, as a beacon against the darkness of the winter holiday. Indeed, the presence of a tree - as well as its many ornaments and decorations - can be a great focal point for any Christmas celebration.
History of O TannenbaumMore »
"Silent Night"
"Silent Night" is another popular carol whose origins stretch back to Germany. Sometimes sung with the original German lyrics "Stille Nacht", the song depicts a poetic tale of the Christ child's birth in a Bethlehem stable. The melody is usually sung softly and slow, often at the close of a Christmas service or caroling excursion.
History of Silent NightMore »
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
This spirited song breaks from the typical tradition of Christmas carols, which tell a story about either the Biblical origins for the holiday (such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "Silent Night") or some method of celebrating the holiday ("Jingle Bells", "O Tannenbaum"). "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", instead, is a straightforward declaration of merriment and is a favorite among cavorting carolers, who foist their Christmas cheer on unsuspecting neighborhoods.
History of We Wish You a Merry ChristmasMore »
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
The story of Santa Claus's ninth reindeer was written by a storybook author for a special book sold originally at the department store Montgomery Ward. It only became a song after the story was already sent into the world. "Rudolph" is largely beloved by children due to its creative, imaginative story about the sympathetic character of Rudolph, and the stop-motion animated film that depicts poor Rudolph's reindeer plight. The song is made more entertaining by the creative exclamations between lines, which allow children room to "go rogue" within a Christmas carol.
History of Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerMore »
"Deck the Halls" - Traditional
This classic caroling favorite began its life as a Welsh hymn, and was translated into English (very indirectly) by a European poet. The song's spirited "Fa la la" chorus is probably the most popular portion of the hymn, as the verses themselves are not quite as widely known. The "Fa la las" are easy to pick up and sing along with, which makes for a fun, engaging interaction with the people whose houses are being approached by carolers.
History of Deck the HallsMore »
