The most popular Christmas carols
For centuries, people have gather with their loved ones to sing Christmas carols. Whether it’s around a fire, in a church, or on the streets of New York City, singing with those we love is a cherished tradition that dates back to the 16th century. Below, the top 7 Christmas carols of all time are listed, along with some background information about each one:
In 1857, James Lord Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells.” James lived in Medford, Massachussetts and likely wrote the song about the sleigh rides in that area. Originally, the song was not intended to be a Christmas carol, and was written to celebrate Thanksgiving. Over time, the song became popular to sing during the Christmas season.
In 1818, Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber wrote “Silent Night.” The lyrics were written by Mohr and the melody was composed by Gruber. On Christmas Eve 1818 in Austria, the song was performed for the first time. Later in 1914, during World War I, the song was translated in many languages, and in 1914, both sides of the troops sang the carol on Christmas Eve, establishing what became known as the “Christmas Truce.”
In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Wesley created the melody based on the song written by Felix Mendelssohn, “Vaterland, in deinen Gauen.” The song was originally intended to be a hymn, but over time, the tune became a popular Christmas carol.
In the 18th century, the Latin hymn, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was written. John Francis Wade wrote the original Latin text and it was later translated into English by Frederick Oakeley. The song is also known as “Adeste Fideles” which translates to “Come, all ye faithful” in Latin.
In 1719, Isaac Watts created the hymn, “Joy to the World.” The lyrics are a paraphrase of Psalm 98 in the Bible and the melody is based on an older song from Handel’s Messiah. While the song is understood to be a hymn, it is written in the form of an anthem, and is one of the reasons it is the most-published Christmas hymns in the United States.
In the 16th century, a traditional Welsh carol, “Deck the Halls” was created. The lyrics are English and the melody is Welsh. The song is known for its upbeat and catchy melody about decorating for Christmas and the New Year.
In 1942, Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas.” The song became popular when Bing Crosby sang it in the movie, “Holiday Inn.” Since it’s creation, the song became the best-selling single of all time and has been covered by many popular artists. Many consider this song to be the best Christmas carol of all time!
Sit back, grab a cup of coco, and sing your favorite tune with your family or friends!