Top Ten Christmas Carols for Singing

Christmas Caroling is a pastime that many still enjoy today. Rooted deep in tradition, caroling can get just about anyone in the holiday spirit. Not sure which songs would be best for a Christmas Caroling program? Here are ten traditional songs used for Christmas Caroling along with some of their histories.

10. Silent Night - This slow and steady tune, originally written in German as Stille Nacht, was the work of Father Josef Mohr and Franz Gruber. It was inspired by an incident at the priest's church where the organ stopped working. The song was written to be accompanied by a guitar instead due to the broken organ.

9. Jingle Bells - James Pierpont wrote Jingle bells in the fall of 1857. It's meant to be a jovial tune, and instead of "Jingle Bells" being a compound noun, it is instead supposed to mean an imperative verb with a noun. "Jingle, Bells." As in the singer is commanding the bells to make noise.

8. Away in a Manger - The history behind the song Away in a Manger is attributed to Martin Luther, but there is no solid evidence that he wrote it. What is well known is that the poem was part of a Lutheran children's church service booklet. What is known is that William Kirkpatrick contributed to the musical score.

7. Deck the Halls - Deck the Halls borrows its music from an old Welsh song, Nos Galan, which surprisingly means New Year's Eve. The happy melody no doubt served as inspiration for its Victorian conversion from a party song to a carol.

6. Here We Come a Caroling - Originally titled "Here We Come a Wassailing", this spirited Christmas Carol has been a caroling favorite for many generations. Wassailing in this sense means to visit houses and encourage charity.

5. The First Noel - The title for the first Noel, also known as Nowell, comes from the French word for Christmas. One of the most haunting versions comes from the group Celtic Woman. The version seemingly resurrects its classic roots.

4. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Adeste Fideles wasn't always a holiday tune. It may have been written by John F. Wade to commemorate the birth of Charles III. Later, Frederick Oakeley translated into English and added to the song, converting it into one of the most popular Christmas songs today.

3. Oh, Christmas Tree - Like Silent Night, Oh, Tannenbaum is of German origin. In Germany, like many other countries, the Christmas tree is an important part of annual holiday festivities. Often decorated with candles, fruits, and paper flowers, the trusty fir inspired Ernst Anshcutz to write lyrics of admiration for the evergreen tradition.

2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - The story of a misfit Reindeer has been a beloved holiday hit since its creation in 1939 as a promotional campaign for Montgomery Ward dreamed up by Robert May. Most recognize Gene Autry's version as the first recorded version; it was written by Johnny Marks and has been sung by many singers through the years including Bing Crosby, Harry Brannon (who was likely the first to have sung it), and of course, Burl Ives.

1. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - To close a caroling session, many carolers prefer this classic carol. Offering a blessing for the holidays and upcoming year, the song suggests the tradition of treating carolers to treats. Though few carolers these days expect to be treated with edibles or warm drinks after a caroling session, We Wish You a Merry Christmas is beloved tradition.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and may all your carols uplift spirits, provide hope, and encourage Christmas cheer year round.

**Facts about Carols available on Wikipedia.com.