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"Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh."
How many times have we heard this Christmas Carol during the festive season? Innumerable, could be an answer. Christmas carols like `Deck the halls`, `Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer`, `It came upon a midnight clear` are exclusively sung at Christmas time. The ritual of singing Christmas carols dates back to the thirteenth century.

Foundation of Carols

The word `carol` is taken up from the Latin word `choraula` which means a ballet performed in a circle along with singing. Carols were originally dance songs which were sung during festive celebration, especially during the 1100s to the 1350s. Later on, the songs were used in church plays and also during religious parades.
A song that is sung during festive season is called a `Carol`. The carol has religiously inclined lyrics but is not essentially a part of church prayers. Most of the Christmas carols are playful songs with fast beats which describes a popular character or any cheerful event. Conventionally, carols were sung at other times like Easter, harvest season, etc and are not only for Christmas occasion. In due course of time, these songs have lessened in quantity and in the contemporary scenario they are only related to Christmas which comprises biggest collection of these songs.

Christmas Carols

A Christmas carol is also called a Noel. The librettos of a Christmas carol do not have to be exclusively about Christmas. They can also illustrate special winter goings-ons or about the winter season in general. The initial Christmas carols were not used to celebrate Christmas but were community songs. Over the years these songs started having greater importance in the church prayers.
An archetypal Christmas carol comprises of at least one poem and a chorus. The carol will have a different tune based on musical arrangements and musical tones of the Medieval era. This is the reason why carol tunes are alike western classical songs.
In recent years carols have started segregating. Those jingles that do not have spiritual words are often named as `Christmas songs`. This was done chiefly as a politically correct practice. Since a Christmas song is more cheerful rather than spiritual, it allows people of other religions to participate in group singing occasions without being discourteous to their own spiritual beliefs.

Christmas Carols over the Years

Under the leadership of Martin Luther, the restoration movement began to gain importance in the sixteenth century. During this era there was division in the Catholic Church resulting in the configuration of new holy societies.
The restoration movement was carried out, chiefly to `restore` the Church and eliminate those practices, which were not regarded important to the religion. Under these pre-requisites, Christmas carols were also regarded as unimportant. Slowly they started losing their recognition in the religious community. However the carols themselves were not prohibited by any of the well-known leaders related with the movement. Later, Christmas carols managed to survive among the rural groups and lost its appeal in urban surroundings.
Again, in the nineteenth century, Christmas carols steadily started gaining importance. Since most of the customary carols were forgotten in due course of time, new ones were compiled to substitute them.
To guarantee that the carols were not lost again, they were maintained in print format. `Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern` is the earliest evidence of carols compiled by William B. Sandys. Its first edition was printed in 1833. The evidences were afterwards tailored and published as auxiliary editions.
In the contemporary scenario, carols still have a major role in Christmas festivities. They have managed to sustain their unique resonance and are essential in making the people slip into the holiday mood.

Christmas Carols Songs

Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
(Chorus)
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
A day or two ago, I thought I`d take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright, was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank and we got upshot.
(Chorus)
A day or two ago, the story I must tell
I went out on the snow, and on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by, in a one-horse open sleigh;
He laughed as there I sprawling lie but quickly drove away .
(Chorus)
Now the ground is white, go it while you`re young
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty as his speed; Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you`ll take the lead.
(Chorus)
Silent Nights
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavely hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love`s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Oh Holy Night!
Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior`s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear`d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He`s making a list,
He`s checking it twice,
He`s gonna find out
who`s naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He sees you when you`re sleeping,
He knows when you`re awake.
He knows when you`ve been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!
So...You better watch out,
You better not cry
You better not pout,
I`m telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Little tin horns,
Little toy drums.
Rudy-toot-toot
and rummy tum tums.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Little toy dolls that cuddle and coo,
Elephants, boats and Kiddie cars too.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
The kids in Girl and Boy Land will have a jubilee.
They`re gonna build a toyland town all around the Christmas tree.
Oh....You better watch out,
You better not cry.
You better not pout,
I`m telling you why. Santa Claus is comin`
Santa Claus is comin`
Santa Claus is comin`
to town.