Christmas Carols Year-Round
Why do we sing Christian Christmas songs/carols only during the season when we commemorate Christ’s birth? These sacred hymns proclaim such beautiful and meaningful messages–appropriate for year-round singing!
“The first noted Christmas-related hymn was written and sung to celebrate Jesus’ birth at a church service in 129 Rome! The Christmas carol received more wide-spread writing and singing as early as the fifth century. Francis of Assisi began writing “nativity plays” in the 13th century.”
“The people in the plays sang songs or ‘canticles’ that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries.”1
“The word “carol” came from “carola” which means ring dance– first known as an early form of folk music. Some reports say it dated from the medieval church custom when the carols were sung between scenes of the church drama productions conducted to teach Biblical lessons.” 2
But in 1627 the Puritan parliament in England abolished the celebration of Christmas and other “worldly festivals.” During the remainder of the seventeenth century and into the eighteenth century there was a scarcity of folk-like carol hymns in England. 3 People sang them in private so Christmas carols didn’t disappear, but they weren’t sung in public for many years.
Charles Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, wrote the words to “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” in 1739 during this time and his song was widely accepted. (It was altered by George Whitfield in 1758, by Martin Madan in 1767, and many others since).
When we read all verses we notice the focus shifts from angels, to us, to nations. One author explains: “This text is really a condensed course in Biblical doctrine in poetic form. Following the re-telling of the angelic visit to the shepherds, the succeeding verses teach such spiritual truths as the virgin birth, Christ’s deity, the immortality of the soul, the second or new birth, and a concern for Christ-like living.” 4
Hark! The herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Refrain: “Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” (public domain)
How about the well-loved “Silent Night” Christian carol? Joseph Mohr, a young priest in Austria wrote the lyrics in 1816 after taking a night walk in winter through a town when all seemed calm and silent. It was first performed for the public two years later on Christmas Eve when Mohr himself played the guitar and Franz Xaver Gruber, the choir director who had composed the melody, sang along with him.
It was eventually translated into over 300 languages with many different arrangements–sung in churches, town squares, schools, even on the battlefield during World War I when there was a temporary truce on Christmas Eve. The English version is typically sung in three verses–not all of the original six verses. “Christ our Savior is born” remains the center theme of this classic carol.
According to a recent poll “Silent Night” is considered “the most liked” Christmas song in the United States. 5
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Savior is born, Christ, the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. (public domain)
I think we need to break tradition and sing carols in church or musical performances more often and not wait until December–they are so full of the wonderful gospel message!
Prayer: Lord, help us remember the age-old Biblical messages that are included in our Christmas songs, and may we enjoy them year-round as we continue to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Thank You for the men and women who wrote the lyrics and composed the music for us to sing today. Thank You for anointing them, giving them inspiration. Amen.
Footnotes:
- Michelleule.com
- Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories, Grand Rapids, MI:, Kregel, Inc. Publishers, 1985, page 110.
- Ibid.
- Ibid, 108.
- Poll conducted by YouGovAmerica Inc.
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