Some of the popular Christmas carols we sing has origins only a few of us know. Here are some of the popular Holiday songs and Christmas carols and its origin in language, country and other derivations and interesting stories behind it.
Jingle Bells - Language: English - USA - written by James L. Pierpont, published under the title One Horse, Open Sleigh and first performed in 1857. Originally intended during Thanksgiving Day but eventually popular during Christmas
Silent Night - Language: German - Austria - originally titled Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht. The song was written by a priest Fr. Josef Mohr in 1816 and composed by Franz Gruber and was first performed on Christmas eve of 1818 at the St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria.
Have Yourself A Merry Christmas - Language: English - USA - debuted in the 1944 classic film, Meet Me In St. Louis
Joyeux Noel - Language: French - France
Feliz Navidad - Language: Spanish - Puerto Rico - written in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Jose Feliciano
Auld Lang Syne - Language: English - Scotland - it is a poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world, its traditional use being to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Language: English - USA - writted by James Gillespie and was first performed on American singer Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1934. However for all its mirth, its inspiration came from a place of grief. Initially, he rejected the job, feeling too overcome with grief to consider penning a playful holiday ditty. But a subway ride recollecting his childhood with his brother and his mother's warnings that Santa was watching changed his mind. He had the lyrics in 15 minutes, then called in composer John Coots to make up the music that would become a big hit within 24 hours of its debut.
Hark! The Herald Angel Sing - Language: English - England - written by Charles Wesley and first appeared in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. The melody used in the lyrics was that of Felix Mendelssohn
Deck The Halls - Language: English - Wales - The lyrics were written by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant around 1862 while its melody is Welsh in origin which dates back to the sixteenth century and belongs to a winter carol, "Nos Galan".
Petit Papa Noel - Language: French - France - it is a 1946 song recorded by French singer Tino Rossi and written by Raymond Vincy and Henri Martinet, this Christmas song was originally performed by Rossi in Richard Pottier's film Destins.
Oh Come, All Ye Faithful - Language: Latin - Various Countries - originally written in Latin as Adeles Fideles, the song has been attributed to various authors including John Francis Wade (1711–1786), John Reading (1645–1692) and King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656), with the earliest manuscript of the hymn bearing his name, located in the library of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa.
Little Drummer Boy - originally known as "Carol of the Drum", the song was written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.
White Christmas - Language: English - USA - debuted in the 1940 black and white film, Holiday Inn
O Christmas Tree - Language: German - Germany - originally named O Tanenbaum, the song's earliest version dates back to the 16th century, when Melchior Franck wrote a folk song about the tradition of bringing a small fir tree into one's home to decorate and sit beside the seasonal nativity scene. This decorating tradition and its celebratory song moved from Germany to the U.S. along with its emigrants. The modern lyrics were written in 1824, by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz.
We Three Kings - Language: English - USA - is a Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City. Many versions of this song have been composed and it remains a popular Christmas carol.
Source:
Wikipedia
The Origins of 10 Popular Christmas Carols, MentalFloss.com - http://mentalfloss.com/article/60596/origins-10-popular-christmas-carols
https://gbtimes.com/understand-words-christmas-carols
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