The fascinating origins of the Christmas carol
How was our favorite festive music created?
MUSIC History
Singing Christmas carols is one of the most cherished traditions of the festive season. In fact, we've been celebrating Yuletide in this most melodic and harmonious fashion for hundreds of years. But did you know that Christmas carols were first performed as pagan songs, or that the first Christmas hymn of the Christian Church was composed as far back as 129 CE? So, exactly how did some of the most famous Christmas carols evolve, and who composed them?
Click through and open up the hymn sheet.