Visiting Christmases Past, “Christmas Carols”
My gift to you this month is to share with you visits of blog posts from Christmases past on Wednesdays when time permits. No comments needed. My desire is to add holiday cheer to your day. In December 2012, I participated in a weekly hop. You might even played along, too. You’ll find credit to that particular meme near the end. I didn’t do much rewrites on the content but since publishing it some minor things needed fixed. I hope you enjoy it!
Christmas carols bring out a reverent spirit in us all during the holiday season. Even the grouchiest person cannot help, but to be moved this one time of the year. What’s the first Christmas carol that comes to mind when you think of Christ’s birth?
Whenever I think about Jesus’s birth in that lowly stable Silent Night immediately comes to mind and how beautiful the angels must have sounded on that holy night proclaiming the arrival of God’s Son in a manger in Bethlehem. Here is a darling little angel, Jackie Evancho, singing Silent Night.
The first Christmas carols depicted a musical scene of the nativity, peace, angels, baby Jesus, and the northern star and the carols date as far back as AD 129, but many people lost their interest because the songs were in latin.
Thanks to St. Francis of Assisi in the early 1200s produced Nativity Plays in Italy telling of Jesus’ birth through song. Some sung in latin but largely they were in a language suitable for the vast audience to savor. The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany, and other European communities.
Most, if not all the oldest Christmas carols were lost over time. What you and I are most familiar with today originated from the 19th century.
Silent Night that Jackie sings so beautifully was originally called Stille Nacht and was written by an Austrian priest, Father Joseph Mohr, in 1816. Since the 19th century début of this classic Christmas song it still is a popular favorite among many people around the world, including myself which I regard as perhaps my most beloved carol of all.
Another favored Christmas carol, O Come, All Ye Faithful origin dates back to the 13th century. The customary version we know was actually written in the late 19th century by an Englishman – Canon Frederick Oakeley from London.
In 1891, an Episcopal Bishop in Boston, Massachusetts wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem after his inspiring journey to the Holy Land one Christmas Eve.
John Henry Hopkins wrote the classic carol, We Three King of Orient Are, for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Seminary in NYC in 1857.
The 20th century produced a new secular breed of songs with themes that included Santa, snowmen, and reindeer, like Frosty the Snowman by Jimmy Durante, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Fred Astaire, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Gene Autry. No doubt many you and I remember from our own childhood.
Christmas carols are synonymous with this blessed, holy season filling our hearts and souls with inexplicable joy. Do you like singing Christmas carols?
Visit Miss Jenny and the rest of the Alphabe-Thursday classroom for more homework assignments of the letter “C” and while you’re hopping around, be sure to play along with Miss Amanda in her latest edition of Thursday Two Questions.
11 Comments
Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden)
I have to admit to enjoyment of both secular and religious Christmas songs, including “Oh Come Oh Ye Faithful” (sung in Latin). The recent performance of Carol of the Bells sung by the Ukrainian chidren’s choir in New York City is a must listen – I am going to look for it on You Tube and post it (perhaps Monday). A childhood memory of mine is one New York City (where I grew up) TV station playing a recording of a burning Yule Log on Christmas Eve – hours of caroling accompanied by the picture of the burning log. I loved that as a child!
Eugenia
Beautiful post and thank you for sharing.
Brian
Those were nice tunes. We listen to lots of Christmas music on SiriusXM.
John Holton
Nicely written!
15andmeowing
I like Josh Groban, he has a nice voice. XO
Kathe W.
Wonderful post- thank you!
messymimi's meanderings
Thank you for the wonderful, seasonal post!
Nicole/DVArtist
I am just not a Christmas person at all, however a chance to hear Nat is just fine with me. Have a lovely day today.
Sandee
Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful. Love your choices.
Have a fabulous day and rest of the week. Love and hugs. ♥
Tommy & Teaghan
Thanks for the lesson in Christmas songs. It’s much appreciated. The songs here definitely put us in the Christmas season mood!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
I am happy to listen to your selection of Christmas carols, dear friend! I don’t think you and I knew each other in 2012, and therefore the content of your post from that year is brand new to my eyes and ears. The Christmas carol about the birth of Christ that first comes to my mind is “O Holy Night,” but that might be the case on this particular morning because I just listened to a version of the song at BB’s place, and also because my very next post coming up this Saturday, has a version of it along with my own set of holiday songs for your enjoyment. Also, you are going to think I stole your idea, but I have an entire post devoted to Jackie Evancho coming up just before Christmas. It includes her beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.” I’ve had the Jackie tribute finished for several months now waiting for the holiday period to publish it. I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you for the history lesson about Christmas carols. Whether original Latin or translated, it is heartbreaking to know that so many were lost through the centuries. I really enjoyed Josh’s vocal on “O Come All Ye Faithful” accompanied by a choir. I strongly prefer traditional Christmas carols because, to me, Christmas is a time for quiet meditation and reflection. I do not like to hear sexy, holiday-themed romantic secular songs like “Santa Baby” and, truth be told, am not overly fond of songs about Santa Claus, reindeer and snowmen, or irreverent novelty songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” To me, songs like those break the spell of reverence, and that’s the last thing I want and need at this time of year as I remember how my dad died on Christmas Day and as I think of all the other people I have loved and lost – all those empty chairs around the proverbial table. I’m so glad your set of songs sticks to the traditional meaning of the holidays. The Nat King Cole recording of “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” brings tears to my eyes. As I listen to “We Three Kings,” I recall many Christmas eve candlelight services at church during the 1950s and 60s, singing that song, my mother standing by my side, her eyes closed, feeling its power as did I at that young age. My mother often wept in church as she sang carols and hymns and as she listened to the sermon. She was a deeply feeling individual and I am much the same.
I admire the animated scene at the end of your post showing folks coming to worship at a church on a snowy evening. That’s what it’s all about.
Thank you for the uplifting and spiritually nourishing music this morning, dear friend Cathy. Have a wonderful day and I hope to connect with you again soon!