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Christmas Carols Their Surprising History
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Singing Christmas carols is one of the oldest traditions associated with Christmas. Many people enjoy participating in this festive activity during the Advent season, all over America and Europe. Even people who aren't personally religious will often take part, simply to be a part of such a traditional and joyful experience. But how many of the millions of people who sing Christmas carols these days understand where the tradition comes from? Do you?
Christmas carol as a distinct form religious music go back a long way. Not all the way back to the birth of Christ, but quite a ways. About 800 years, in fact. Now, Christmas songs themselves go back even further than that. Europeans had been writing folks songs about the birth of their Savior for centuries. But, believe it or not, the church frowned on these songs and didn't allow them in religious services. By “church”, of course, we mean the Roman Catholic Church, which was pretty much the only church going in medieval Europe. Back then, the church frowned on a lot of things. It tried to prevent the common people from learning to read, for example, believing that this would lead to everyone trying to interpret the Bible for himself. So, while it may sound odd that the church at one time didn't allow caroling, it's more understandable when viewed in the context of the times.
But the people of Europe just kept writing and singing their folk songs about the birth of Jesus, and just as in modern times, the religious authorities eventually had to bow to public pressure and give the people what they want. So in the early part of the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi took the bold step of being the first priest to incorporate the people's Christmas songs into the actual church service. Slowly but steadily more and more priests allowed the practice in their own parishes, and in a few decades singing Christmas carols had become pretty much standard in almost all European churches. What was once considered scandalous is now, after some 800 years, one of the most cherished aspects of the Christian tradition.
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Eileen Zoellner writes for Sing We Now, a new website devoted to promoting good music. Check out the website to learn more about bringing back the tradition of Christmas caroling.
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