The history of Christmas song is lost in the mists of time. The celebration of Christmas is more than 4000 years old, but very early celebrations did not have any carols. Singing carols originated from the pagan practice of chanting. Though the church was decidedly against it in the beginning, gradually the church accepted the practice.
Late Maria Augusta von Trappe was an expert in Christmas carols and from her account much can be known about the history of Christmas songs. This is one of the many folk customs that have been practiced through the centuries. Early Christmas carols were considered as chants and hymns. The simple folks in the countryside can be credited with heralding the Yuletide spirit with songs.
Christmas carols celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus and his message of universal love and peace. It is the common practice to sing the carols in the church services preceding twenty-fifth December, and on the Christmas Day special service. Over the centuries carols have become so much a part of Christmas that today it is unthinkable of having any Christmas without carols. As mentioned before, the chants and hymns got converted to carols and over the years, there have been many additions to it. The very famous "Silent Night, Holy Night" is a good example of this. Though not originally a carol, it is now entwined in the history of Christmas songs. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is another famous carol exceedingly popular with children.
Small children standing in rows in pews singing the carols with great gusto is a familiar sight of any Christmas festivities. History of Christmas song tells us that the custom of singing carols was started in 1223. Enjoy Christmas carols with Christmas Carnivals.
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