Introduction

All around the world, Christmas carols are an important part of the Christmas season. They have been written and sung for hundreds of years. We all have our favorite carol. Often when we hear the music start, we drift into nostalgic memories of childhood wonder.

Christmas carols have sprung from a variety of inspirations. Some started out as folk songs and were given Christmas words. A true Christian Christmas carol is one that describe or honors Christ’s birth. The word “carol,” until the fourteenth century, was associated with dancing and derived from the Italian “carolare,” which was an Italian dance song.

The most likely origin of the tradition of Christmas caroling was that the churches thought the music or words were not reverent enough to be sung inside the church. They considered such songs to be too peppy and not holy enough. Since the songs were so enjoyable, their banishment from the church did not get rid of them, but merely pushed them to the outside. In England, the groups of singers are called “waits.” These groups went around neighborhoods on Christmas Eve singing in front of doors and windows and receiving goods and money from the residents. In Wales, carolers begin their rounds at dawn, awaking the residents, who in turn invite them in for refreshments.

Many Christmas carols have interesting histories. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written by Episcopalian preacher, Phillip Brooks. He was inspired after making a horseback journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he joined others in a five-hour long Christmas Eve celebration at the Church of the Nativity, which is the location revered as Jesus’ birthplace.

“Good King Wenceslas” commemorated the charitable acts of Wenceslaus 1, Duke of Bohemia, who ruled from 924 to 935 A.D. The carol tells the story of a kind man going out in terrible weather on St. Stephen’s Day to give help and cheer to poor neighbors. He was declared a king after his death, and eventually was declared a saint. Presently, he considered the patron saint of the Czech Republic.

Many of us recognize the name Isaac Watts as the author of “Joy to the World.”  In 1719, he wrote a poem based on Psalm 98. More than 100 years later, Lowell Mason came upon the poem and set it to music. The song hit public popularity when the Trinity Choir performed it, and it has been a must–sing carol ever since. Joy to the World was intended to be about Christ’s second coming. We can accept it amongst the Christmas carols by the truth that without a first coming of Christ, there could be no second coming. In that way, during the Christmas season, we can celebrate the birth of the One who will one day return. It is also interesting to note that in his day, Isaac Watts was looked upon as a maverick, He wrote new songs for the church after getting tired of hearing the monotone strain of the voices and the glazed, sour looks on the singers’ faces.

The following YouTube video gives a history of Christmas carols:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pYQjHTF3h4U.

This website gives information about the origins of some popular Christmas carols.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60596/origins-10-popular-christmas-carols

Activities 

Clap-a-Carol

Pass out paper and pens and have everyone write down their favorite carol. One person starts the game by clapping out her favorite carol. The one who guesses correctly then gets to clap her carol.

Name that Carol

Play the beginnings of any traditional carol. The first person to guess correctly gets a point. The person with the most points at the end is the winner.

Picture Depiction

Ahead of time, see how many pictures you can find that can match up with carols. For example, a picture of a drum could depict the “Little Drummer Boy.” Put a number in the corner of each picture. Pass out lists of the Christmas carols used and invite the women to match the carol with the picture.

Cookie Exchange

Invite the women to participate in a Christmas cookie exchange, which is a fun way to share Christmas favorites. Easy recipes can be found at https:/www.myrecipes.com/holidays-and-occasions/easy-christmas-cookies-with-few-ingredients?

Go Caroling 

Compile a list of shut-ins and plan a night to carol at their homes leaving a bag of Christmas treats. You could also carol indoors at the local nursing homes leaving Christmas treats for the residents.

All Christmas Music

Every year, I look forward to one of our local radio stations who turns into an “All Christmas music” station. The first time I hear a Christmas song, no matter which one, my mood lifts. I’m not quite sure what it is about the first Christmas song that has this power. If it is “White Christmas,” it instantly brings me back to my childhood days when my dad sang along with Bing Crosby as he crooned from the console record player. If it is “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” I imagine the scenes around Jesus’ birth and my heart swells with gratitude. When I hear “Deck the Halls,” it fills my imagination with upcoming warm and joyous times with loved ones. Which Christmas carols evoke memories or emotions for you?

There’s no doubt, songs can be powerful. “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 95:1-2).

In this passage, the psalmist invites us to join with him in singing joyfully and thankfully to our Lord. We all love to sing songs that spring from the good parts of our being—our joy and thankfulness.

Sometimes, though, even during the Christmas season, we may not feel like singing.Trials, difficulties, uncooperative people, long lines at the grocery store, lack of sleep and bad weather does not take a break for Christmas. To top it all off, December has the fewest hours of sunlight of the year. During times like these, we have more reason to turn on the Christmas channel.

In Psalm 30, we see that the act of singing praises to God was significant to David. He found many reasons to sing, and on those difficult days when he was filled with dismay, he reminded the readers of God’s care and intervention of the past. He chose to dwell on God’s faithfulness, believing that God will continue to take care of him. May we, too, bring forth songs and carols, of praise to our God. He is faithful!