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Where does the word 'carol' come from?
What does Carole mean?
What is a Christmas Carol?
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Where did the 'Coventry Carol' come from?
When were Christmas carols written?
The word carol is believed to derive from Late Latin choraula, a word for a choral song that was earlier applied to a musician who accompanied a chorus on a reed instrument.
Nov 9, 2022 · carol (v.) c. 1300, "to dance in a ring," from Old French caroler, from carole (see carol (n.)). As "to sing with joy or festivity" from late 14c. As "go around from place to place in a group singing Christmas carols" it is from 1879, said to be a Victorian revival of an older English custom. Related: Caroled; caroling; caroler.
- 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.
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.
During the golden age of the English carol (c. 1350–1550), most carols could be defined by the burden-verse form. In addition, the carol seems to have crystallized in the early 14th century essentially as a popular religious song. A handful of carol tunes and about 500 texts survive from the period.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
From 1700, and for many years, the only Christmas song (or carol) which was allowed in Anglican churches was 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night' because its lyrics come from the Bible, telling the story of the Shepherds visiting the baby Jesus.
Dec 23, 2021 · ‘Coventry Carol’, for example, is believed to have originated from Medieval Coventry Mystery Plays, traditionally performed in the middle of the summer. And there are instances of carols being used in different contexts that take them outside Christmas.
