The Historical Development of Christmas Carols

Imagine the Christmas season and one of the most striking memories that comes to mind is the singing of Christmas carols or the carolers coming to your door.Whether a simple chorus line of “Jingle Bells” or the more complex tunes, singing carols signals the commencement of the holiday season for many people.Many radio stations play Christmas carols frequently during the holidays, and shopping malls blast the tunes as people purchase gifts.  Though we may all know the words and sing along, have you ever wondered about the origins of these Christmas carols?  Many people have never considered when and how these songs were originally created.

Though the earliest beginnings of these songs are unconfirmed, one thing that is known is that recognizable carols can be traced back as far as the 14th century.  Christians began singing songs remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus to Mary.  Song was a memorable way to pass on stories in a time with low literacy rates, not to mention a fun and joyous activity.Many carols conform to a refrain (verse) pattern that can be traced back to their origins, and which is still followed today.

In the 15th century, Christmas carols were beginning to be considered an art form, and musical arrangements were developed for them.  These arrangements were not only beautiful, but were complex.  A song book was published at the end of this century which detailed many of the carols.  Often, the music was written to be sung by three or four voices.  The popularity of carols then waned for several centuries, but by 1800 they were regaining their former appreciation.  In this era, many of today’s most popular carols were written.

War Time Inspiration

The War between the States was a time that inspired the writing of many hymns and carols.  When soldiers were faced with the atrocities of war, many of them turned to their faith for solace and beautiful songs came from this turmoil.  In fact, many famous Christmas carols were originally penned during the war.  “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a tune that was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1862.  There is sadness in the song that mirrors the sadness Longfellow must have had after the passing of his second wife.  “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written by Phillips Brooks, who served as a pastor in Philadelphia during the course of the war.

Take a moment during this holiday season to reflect on or learn about your favorite Christmas carols.All of these charming tunes and the words that accompany them was created by people, often those who were dealing with despair.  Finding beauty and hope from their faith gave them a way to deal with their problems and have a happy Christmas.  The carols still hold messages of hope, love, and peace on Earth which are necessary to keep in mind during the trying moments of the modern world.  Keep these beautiful and faithful images in mind during your Christmas season.