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Dec 23, 2021 · What was the first Christmas carol? It’s generally accepted that one of the first Christmas carols ever to be recorded was the 129 AD ‘Angels Hymn’, according to The New Daily. Around this time, Christianity-themed hymns started taking over the previous pagan songs celebrating Winter Solstice.
Dec 20, 2016 · Alamy. The familiar tunes never fail to get us in the festive mood – but many of them have remarkably un-Christmassy roots, writes Mark Forsyth. The Christmas carol service was invented in Truro...
Where do carols come from, how did they become so popular – and why are some carols not actually carols at all? We reveal the secret history of these festive favourites.
If you’ve ever wondered when Christmas carols first came about, the answer lies in the 14th century – although their evolution dates back even further. Even before Christianity, it is thought that midwinter songs existed to keep up people’s spirits, along with dances, plays and feasts.
- Mark Cartwright
- Origins of Carols. The word 'carol' tends to be exclusively associated with sacred songs related to Christmas, but it once had a wider meaning and referred to several different genres of music used in medieval church services across Europe.
- Carols in the 19th Century. The carol genre made a strong comeback in the latter stages of the 19th century, largely thanks to the increase in popularity of the Christmas celebration and, rather ironically for such religious music, because the holiday became increasingly secular and commercial.
- Carol Singing. People sang carols at home by the family piano, very often after dinner in the Christmas period. They also sang in taverns, a tradition that remains strong in certain counties of England, especially Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.
- Five Popular Carols. The 20th century continued to see an interest in carols, and scholars endeavoured to catalogue the original tunes and arrangements, sometimes returning them to resemble more their medieval appearance and sound.
Dec 15, 2023 · Professor Ian Russell expands upon the history of Christmas Carols and the musical traditions surrounding Christmas.
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- University of Aberdeen Alumni Relations & Development Trust
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Dec 22, 2022 · So where did Christmas carols come from? Early carols were pre-Christian songs. The earliest songs resembling carols were pagan melodies sung during winter solstice celebrations – normally around 22 December – as people danced around stone circles.
