A STUDY of the history of Carols would reveal that in the early 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi adorned his tableau of Mary, Joseph and the Christ-child with gifts and songs. The Christian world has since used songs to commemorate the blessed birth.The word "carol" is derived from the Italian "carola" meaning ring dance. The rhythm and tempo of the original Christmas carols are integral to the Christmas festival. Carols are songs with a strong religious impulse with the elements of simplicity, hilarity and popularity covering the period of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany in the church year. Carols are used to express the emotions of people with music to be shared by all.
After many years of decadence, the carol was revived in the 15th century and the oldest carols are from that period. Carols take many forms with the ballad being one of the traditional carols such as the Cherry-Tree Carol the story of Joseph and Mary and the cherry tree. Another form is the macaroni in which Latin or other foreign words are interspersed with the English words for example "In Dulci Jubilo".
There are lullably carols including Hush my dear, lie still and slumber by Isaac Watts and the popular Silent Night by Joseph Mohr. There are also secular carols such as carols in praise of the holly and ivy, wassailing songs and the Boars Head carol, one of the earliest 15th century carols ushering the Christmas banquet.
Carols continue to cover the events of the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the virgin Mary, the nativity, the shepherds and the wise men. Traditional and popular tunes from various countries have been adapted in order to effectively communicate the message of the text.
There are areas where carols overlap with hymns for example While Shepherds watched their flocks, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmas Awake Salute the Happy Morn. Based on cultural experiences of the people there has been a proliferation of new carols to enrich the Christmas season as we sing to commemorate the blessed birth in Bethlehem.
"Rejoice and be merry, set sorrows aside,
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide"
