Christmas Songs

Christmas songs mark the celebrations during Christmas. Read on to know more about the significance of Christmas songs. Music has been an essential part of the flavour of the Christmas season. They can belong to a wide array of genres that are played or performed especially during the Christmas season and in fact, they are mostly heard weeks leading to the actual Christmas holiday. They set in the festive mood and are a harbinger of fun and happy times coming. In this articleThe History Behind Christmas SongsSome Popular Christmas SongsThe Essence of the Christmas songs The History Behind Christmas Songs If we take a look at the earliest recorded documents that speak about the celebrations during Christmas, we find that many chants, hymns and litanies were amongst the Latin music fare that were practiced and propagated by the church liturgy. They were not as such a part of the popular music category. Then carols got to be written during the 13th century. Later in the middle ages, these carols were sung in circle dances in the English societies to mark the festive season. These songs spread around in Italy, Germany and France too. John Audelay was the writer of the first Christmas carol in 1426. Thereon, there have been numerous lyricists and musicians who have composed some of the most memorable and popular Christmas songs. Some Popular Christmas Songs There are innumerable Christmas songs that have become popular right from the day they were first performed and some through the years. There are some that belong to the category of classic carols that were sung by women during the 13th century with ‘wassail bowls’, in which they were offered alms by householders after they performed and sang the carol at their doors. Then there are others that became popular with their winter themes and have been used by various media like the radio, television and stage performances. Here we mention just a few of them. White Christmas – This is perhaps the most popular amongst the Christmas songs and it is sort of immortalised by Bing Crosby in the film titled the same. T’was The Night Before Christmas – This is another popular Christmas song sung beautifully by Clement Clarke. Jingle Bells Silent Night Silver Bells Holly Jolly Christmas It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Come All Ye Faithful Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Here Comes Santa Claus The Essence of the Christmas songs The above-mentioned are just a very few of the popular Christmas songs and we may find an interesting point here. There is a certain theme that recur in all the Christmas songs, be it the winter theme, the theme of the Santa Claus and his bringing of gifts and a bagful of joy to people around, to the reindeer sleigh that Santa travels in, the description of the silent and starry night when Jesus was born, the description of the manger, the birthplace of Jesus, the Christmas tree and so on. Again, the emphasis is solely on how this Christmas is an occasion when we choose to impart joy to everyone and wish that each one lives a blessed life. The songs carry the message of goodness and perpetual hope. Right from the period when Christmas songs became a part of the service of the church by Saint Francis Assissi during the 12th century, we now see that they have travelled a long way. From the middle ages to the Victorian era, and then rolling into the modern times, we have always soaked the warmth and joy of the Christmas songs through the years. We can only work towards preserving and taking this wonderful tradition forward through our encouragement and participation of spreading joy.

Christmas songs mark the celebrations during Christmas. Read on to know more about the significance of Christmas songs.

Music has been an essential part of the flavour of the Christmas season. They can belong to a wide array of genres that are played or performed especially during the Christmas season and in fact, they are mostly heard weeks leading to the actual Christmas holiday. They set in the festive mood and are a harbinger of fun and happy times coming.

The History Behind Christmas Songs

If we take a look at the earliest recorded documents that speak about the celebrations during Christmas, we find that many chants, hymns and litanies were amongst the Latin music fare that were practiced and propagated by the church liturgy. They were not as such a part of the popular music category. Then carols got to be written during the 13th century. Later in the middle ages, these carols were sung in circle dances in the English societies to mark the festive season. These songs spread around in Italy, Germany and France too. John Audelay was the writer of the first Christmas carol in 1426. Thereon, there have been numerous lyricists and musicians who have composed some of the most memorable and popular Christmas songs.

Some Popular Christmas Songs

There are innumerable Christmas songs that have become popular right from the day they were first performed and some through the years. There are some that belong to the category of classic carols that were sung by women during the 13th century with ‘wassail bowls’, in which they were offered alms by householders after they performed and sang the carol at their doors. Then there are others that became popular with their winter themes and have been used by various media like the radio, television and stage performances. Here we mention just a few of them.

• White Christmas – This is perhaps the most popular amongst the Christmas songs and it is sort of immortalised by Bing Crosby in the film titled the same.

• T’was The Night Before Christmas – This is another popular Christmas song sung beautifully by Clement Clarke.

• Jingle Bells

• Silent Night

• Silver Bells

• Holly Jolly Christmas

• It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

• Come All Ye Faithful

• Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

• Here Comes Santa Claus

The Essence of the Christmas songs

The above-mentioned are just a very few of the popular Christmas songs and we may find an interesting point here. There is a certain theme that recur in all the Christmas songs, be it the winter theme, the theme of the Santa Claus and his bringing of gifts and a bagful of joy to people around, to the reindeer sleigh that Santa travels in, the description of the silent and starry night when Jesus was born, the description of the manger, the birthplace of Jesus, the Christmas tree and so on. Again, the emphasis is solely on how this Christmas is an occasion when we choose to impart joy to everyone and wish that each one lives a blessed life. The songs carry the message of goodness and perpetual hope.

Right from the period when Christmas songs became a part of the service of the church by Saint Francis Assissi during the 12th century, we now see that they have travelled a long way. From the middle ages to the Victorian era, and then rolling into the modern times, we have always soaked the warmth and joy of the Christmas songs through the years. We can only work towards preserving and taking this wonderful tradition forward through our encouragement and participation of spreading joy.