Have you ever wondered where beloved Christmas songs have originated from? Or perhaps wanted to know the history and inspiration behind each merry carol? Look no further! Christmas songs have actually been around for a long time. The exact time period of origin is debated, with some believing St. Hilary of Poiters’ hymn “Jesus Refulsit Omnium” in the fourth century was the oldest Christmas song, while others believe the first carol ever recorded was “Angels Hymn” in 129 A.D. According to the University of Plymouth, carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago but were not Christmas-themed. They were pagan songs that were meant to celebrate the winter solstice, typically sung when people danced around stone circles. 

Carols used to be sung during all seasons of the year, but the ones that prevailed were mainly ones sung during the Christmas season. 

Early Christianity made the pagan solstice celebrations into a Christmas tradition, and carols were sung in church. Composers from all across Europe began to make Christmas songs, but they were not well liked since most were written in Latin, and most people could not understand it. A lot of people lost interest in Christmas celebrations because of this. Yeah, maybe some people enjoyed just the melodies, but it’d probably be nice to know the words, too. 

However, in the 9th and 10th centuries, the “Christmas sequence” was introduced to northern monasteries in northern Europe. Songs became more structured and utilized rhymed stanzas. In the 12th century, the Parisian monk Adam of Saint Victor began to make songs that were inspired by popular music at the time, and his songs bear similarity to the traditional Christmas carol. When church services declined in the 17th century, carols did too, mainly because of the ban on Christmas celebrations after the English Civil Wars took place. But after the Stuart Restoration of 1660, carols began to interest more composers. Bach even composed several pieces for the purpose of celebrating not just Christmas but also winter festivities like New Year. Then in the 1800s, it is said that the Victorians completely reinvented Christmas. More and more carols were being written, and they quickly surged in popularity after their previous decline. The Victorians were quite passionate about the holiday and made sure to take good care of the carol collections they assembled in order to save them for generations to come. During this time, Christmas cards with song verses written inside were also common to receive. It’s crazy to think that the holiday cards we see today at convenience stores like CVS date so far back, right? 

While I offered only a small glimpse into the history of Christmas festivities, hopefully it was interesting to learn about! Today, carol services continue to be offered and make the winter season one full of laughter and cheer. Who knows, maybe you’ll also find yourself caroling and continuing the cherished holiday tradition this winter!