Christmas carols are a cornerstone of the
holiday season, and hearing your favorite jingle can instantly fill you with
holiday cheer. Everyone has their own personal favorite, and your kids will
likely find themselves smitten with their own favorite songs. Whether
you’re just starting to teach your kids different carols or trying to put together
a medley so that you can go caroling around the neighborhood this year, there
is no shortage of songs to choose from. Here is a list of the top 10 Christmas
carols kids should learn and a little of their history.
1.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Robert May created the story Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer for the retailer Montgomery Ward in 1939.
May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks then turned the story into a song. The
song was recorded by the legendary Gene Autry and the song went to #1 on the
music charts during the week of Christmas in 1949. It has since sold over
25 million copies. The story was later made into a cartoon in 1944 and
the song was added in 1948.
2.
Frosty the Snowman – This song happened in reverse
of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The song was recorded by Gene Autry in
1950 following the success of Rudolph. A little golden book of Frosty
the Snowman was adapted from the song in 1950. The cartoon version
came out in 1969.
3.
Away in the Manger – This song was first published in 1885
and the words have been attributed to Martin Luther, however, there is some
skepticism about whether or not he really wrote the poem that became this
song. There is nothing hard and fast that says who really wrote it.
Charles Gabriel added the third verse of “Be near me Lord Jesus” in 1892.
It’s been voted one of the best carols ever written.
4.
Deck the Halls – A very old song, the tune dates back to the
16th century. Mozart used the tune in Sonata No. 18. The
lyrics are believed to be American.
5.
Silent Night – This German song was first performed
in 1818 in Austria by father Joseph Mohr. This song is so popular that it
has been recorded by nearly every artist that has ever recorded a Christmas
album. There are various stories about this song’s history, but most
think Mohr just needed another song he could play on his guitar.
6.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas – Going back to 16th century
England, this was a popular carol sung through the streets, and the wealthy
used to give the carolers figgy puddings for their singing efforts. This
song was typically the last song sung.
7.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – This traditional song was written by
John Coots and Haven Gillespie and was first performed on a radio show in
1934. The song was very popular, and has been recorded by many artists
over the years.
8.
Jingle Bells – A well-known secular song, Jingle
Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1850. Funny as it sounds,
this song was actually written for Thanksgiving and not Christmas. The song
was originally called “One Horse Open Sleigh.”
9.
Joy to the World – This song is based on Psalm 98 from
the Bible and written by a hymn writer named Isaac Watts in 1719. Watts
actually wrote the hymn to celebrate Jesus’ return, not his birth. Only
the last part of Watts’ original lyrics are used today.
10.12 Days of Christmas – Not
a lot is known about the origins of this song. It is believed to be
French originally, but was sung a lot in England as well. Common belief
is that it may have started as a game, where one person started and then the
next person had to say what the first person said and then add on to it.
The game continued until someone made a mistake. The 12 days of Christmas
start on Dec. 25th and end on Jan. 5th. All of the
gifts are believed to cost $24,263.18 in 2011. The gifts have almost
doubled in price since the 1984 estimated cost.
These 10 songs are some of the most well-known
Christmas carols, and are beloved by many. Your kids will have a blast singing
these popular favorites, and if they learn them well enough you might just have
to take the kids Christmas caroling this year to show them off.
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