Christmas Carol History
Some of our songs about Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Baby Jesus, and the holiday of Christmas are probably older than you think. Can you believe that one of the oldest Christmas carols was actually put together in the 300s? That is 1,700 years ago if you need us to do the math for you. It is believed that "Of the Fathers Love Begotten," written by Aurelius Prudentius may have been the first recorded Christmas carol.
Over the years, Christian leaders have created Christmas carols to sing with their congregations and neighborhoods during the Festival of Lights. There were songs by St. Francis of Assisi, and those by Italians during the days of the Renaissance. Even the English added some Christmas carols to the mix.
Christmas carols became more popular when the famous inventor Johannes Gutenberg created his printing press around the year 1447. This machine allowed copies to be made fairly easily, so paper copies of Christmas carols could be rolled off by the dozens, even hundreds, and passed around to celebrators looking for song and fun.
Of course, around this time Christmas and Christianity were serious business. Puritans and other very stringent folks frowned upon carols, so they were not entirely popular. Whats worse, most of these paper copies were destroyed over time, by age or on purpose. From 1649 to 1660 in England, when the Puritans ruled the country, Christmas carols were banned altogether.
But it wouldnt be too long after that that one of the most famous Christmas "carols" of all time was created, the Messiah by George Frederich Handel. Handel first performed the song in 1742 in Ireland in true Santa spirit, as a fundraiser for charities.
Another famous Christmas carol was written around this time as well. "Silent Night, Holy Night," was penned by Joseph Mohr, a priest in Austria, in 1818. He wrote the song one Christmas Eve after discovering that his churchs organ was broken. He put together a song that everyone could sing without the need for the organ, and Mohr saved Christmas for his congregation that year.
Despite all of these early songs, many of our current Christmas carols didnt start appearing until the end of the 1800s. Thats in part because the 1800s is when Christmas as a whole really started picking up steam as a holiday, and when puritanically dislike for Santa, carols, and anything fun with Christmas started to die down.
It doesnt hurt, as well, that technology now makes it so easy to spread the cheer with Christmas carols. First, there were records and radio, but now we have CDs, DVDs, MP3s, and the Internet to spread holiday cheer. Whether you favor classic carols like, "Silent Night, Holy Night" or new traditions like Bing Crosbys recording of "White Christmas" (the best selling Christmas single of all time!), Christmas carols are a long-established way to help celebrate the Christmas season.
Article written by Randy Stocklin
Randy Stocklin is the co-owner
of Mail from Santa Claus. Mail from Santa Claus offers memorable letters from
Santa Claus that helps keep the Christmas spirit alive. For more information
about Mail from Santa Claus and to purchase
letter from Santa please visit
http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/
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Explore more about Christmas Music
Christmas Carol
The tradition of caroling
and Christmas carols is believed to have originated in England when wandering
musicians would go from town to town and visit castles and other homes of the
rich to give impromptu performances.
Christmas Carols - Tradition or
Religion?
It is interesting to note that carols had nothing to do with
the birth of Christ in the past. They were actually secular dances which used
to take place at any point of the year.
Christmas Holiday Music
The
prevalence of Christmas music is what helps to create the special holiday type
of feeling or spirit that is present everywhere and among everyone. Everyone
has particular Christmas songs and carols that are favorites, maybe for the
melody, the lyrics or because they are reminders of special memories.
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dreaming of a white Christmas? Do you roast chestnuts over an open fire as part
of your familys Christmas tradition? Does caroling and gift giving go hand in
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The Hymns and Carols of
Christmas
Christmas carols and hymns are one aspect of the holiday
season that never fail to lift the spirits - and require no baking, no tree
stands, and no extension cords. While there is a body of well-known Christmas
songs that are perennial favorites, there are many more which have slipped into
obscurity.
Christmas Carols
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