It`s christmas-time and what is christmas without good old songs from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Elvis Presley to name a few?
And what are they actually singing? It`s old songs!
The fist known Christmas hymns may be traced to fourth century Rome. Christmas carol is also called a Noel, from the French word meaning «Christmas», and carol is a song or hymn whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas.
(Picture: Angels singing)
Silent Night (1818)
The words behind Silent Night is Josef Mohr. Music; Franz Xaver Gruber. I assume you have heard the song many times, and the song «Silent Night» was written in 1818. This is one of the world`s most popular Christmas carols and this song comes in several different translations from the German original.
It started out as a poem by the Austrian Catholic priest Father Josef Mohr in 1816. He made the song two years later in 1818. Josef Mohr was curate at the parish church of St Nicola in Oberndorf when he asked Franz Xaver Gruber (organist and local schoolteacher) to make some music to his words of Silent Night.
Silent Night was first performed at midnight mass on Christmas eve 1818 by Mohr and Gruber themselves. The song played a key role in the unofficial truce in the trenches in 1914 because it was one of the only carols that both British and German soldiers knew. The first English translation was in 1871.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1739 or earlier)
Charles Wesley wrote as many as 9,000 hymns and poems, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of his best known. Charles, (the brother of Methodist founder John Wesley), originally entitled the song Hark How All the Welkin Rings, and Welkin is an old word meaning sky or heaven.
God rest you merry, Gentlemen (Origin unknown)
This is one of the Victorians` favourites and this one is thought to have originated in London in the 16th or 17th centuries before running to several different versions with different tunes all over England.
Christmas carols were mostly a Victorian tradition along with trees, crackers and cards, and songs like The Holly and the Ivy reminds us of more ancient yuletides. Most carols are less than 200 years old, but Christmas was celebrated in song in the Middle Ages.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was first published in 1833 when it appeared in “Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern,” a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the author is unknown.
It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. The lyrics to this simple carol are reputed to be one of the oldest carols, and goes like this;
(Picture: Jesus)
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
(Picture: Satan)
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Ket Garden
Shiny bull 