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The coming of carols 

Carols are joyful Christmas hymns or songs. Although the origin is not very clear, some say that it came from the word chorus. The earlier carols were Latin hymns paired with popular tunes. The Germans called them  Wiegenlieder. The French translation was  noel and in English 'carol.'

In the early days, cribs were placed in the center of the church and the people joined hands and danced around the cribs, singing in chorus. The church fathers put an end to such dances and songs. In the early 1200's in Europe, cribs were placed near the altar and a more religious atmosphere emerged.

The very first Christmas 'carol' was heard by the shepherds of Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago. Since then, men have been trying to imitate these praises to God when Christmas comes around, and numerous Christmas carols have been composed.

Silent Night

Silent Night was composed by a young priest and an organist. Francis Xavier Grubber was the organist at St. Nicholas' Church in Oberndorf, Austria. Father Josef Mohr was a young priest in this church. Love of music made Franz and Father Josef inseparable friends. In the evening of December 23, 1818, Father Josef was very unhappy because they would have to celebrate Christmas Mass without any instrumental music. Rats had made holes in the bellows of the organ and no one could be found to repair them. Father Josef was forced to write a carol of their own for midnight mass with only a guitar for accompaniment! So Stile Nacht  (Silent Night) made its public debut.

Hark The  Herald  Angels  Sing was composed by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. While walking across his home and the church on Christmas morning in 1795, the ringing of the church bells reminded him of the voices of angels as they sang on the first Christmas. Once In Royal David City was written by Francis Alexander, a former Protestant archbishop  in  Ireland.

Adeste Fidels

Adeste Fideles, a Latin hym, was translated into O  Come All Ye Faithful by Frederic Oakeley. It is believed that this was composed by St. Bonaventul who in 1223 erected a representation of the stables and manger with a live ox and ass.

The other favourite carols and their composers are:

While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks By Night -  Nahuma Tate, 18th century.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Phillips Brook of Boston.

Joy To the World - G.F. Hendel

We Three Kings Of Orient  - John Hopkins

Angels We Have Heard On High and The First Noel are French carols.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is an English carol. Others  are Come To The Manger and Drummer Boy.

- Neville Perera

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