List of Christmas carols
Originally, "Christmas carol" referred to a piece of vocal music in carol form whose lyrics center on the theme of Christmas or the Christmas season.
Musically speaking, carol has a very specific definition: a song, characteristically of religious joy, associated with a given season, especially Christmas; in which uniform stanzas, or verses (V), alternate with a refrain, or burden (B), in the pattern B, V1, B, V2 . . . B. A great deal of traditional and popular Christmas music does not actually meet the strict definition of "carol", and the term Christmas carol has come, in modern times, to colloquially refer to any song, in any of a variety of styles, which references Christmas, the Christmas season, or events in proximity to that season.
Many traditional Christmas carols are deeply religious, mainly focusing on the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many songs, both religious and secular, now regarded as "Christmas Songs" have become associated with the Christmas season even though the lyrics may not specifically refer to Christmas, for example: We Three Kings ([Epiphany song]]); Good King Wenceslas (St. Stephen's Day carol); Deck the Hall (a pagan Yuletide drinking song); O Come Emmanuel (Advent chant); etc. Other Christmas songs focus on more secular Christmas themes, such as winter scenes, family gatherings, and Santa Claus: Jingle Bells; O, Christmas Tree; Home for the Holidays; Jolly Old St. Nicholas'; etc.
The list is organized according to the presumed original ethnicity of the carol.
Arabic
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Talj, Talj" | Fairuz | Title translation: "Snow, Snow" | |
| "Ya Maryam el Bekr" | Fairuz | Title translation: "O Virgin Mary" |
Catalan
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Fum, Fum, Fum" ("El vint-i-cinc de desembre") | 16th century | The word "fum" may imitate the sound of a drum (or perhaps the strumming of a guitar). "Fum" means "smoke"(noun) in Catalan. | |
| "El cant dels ocells" (lit. "Song of the Birds") | Pablo Casals | 20th century | also known as "Carol of Birds" |
| "El noi de la mare" (lit. "The Son of the Mother") | Traditional | 17th-18th century | Also known as "Carol of the Gifts"[1] Guitar arrangement of "El noi de la mare" |
| "A Betlem me'n vull anar" (lit. "I want to go to Bethlehem") | Traditional | ||
| "El dimoni escuat" (lit. "the devil with no tail") | Traditional | ||
| "Ara ve Nadal" (lit. "Christmas is coming") | Traditional | ||
| "Les dotze van tocant" (lit. "Ringing twelve o'clock") | Traditional | ||
| "Descanseu ben alegres" (lit. "Rest very happy") | Traditional | ||
| "Pastorets de la muntanya" (lit. "Shepherds from the mountain") | Traditional | ||
| "El desembre congelat" (lit. "Frozen December") | Traditional | ||
| "Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu" (lit. "Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary") | Traditional | ||
| "La pastor Caterina" (lit. "Caterina, the shephard") | Traditional | ||
| "Anem a Betlem" (lit. "We're going to Bethlehem") | Traditional | ||
| "El rabadà" (lit. "The shephard") | Traditional |
Croatian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year
published |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "U to vrijeme godišta" ("At that time of the year") | Traditional | 12th century | |
| "Svim na Zemlji, mir, veselje" ("All on Earth, peace, joy") | Franjo Langer/Adam Alojzij Baričević | 18th century | |
| "Radujte se narodi" ("Nations rejoice") | Franjo Langer/Adam Alojzij Baričević | 18th century | |
| "Narodi nam se" ("Born unto us") | Traditional | 13th century | |
| "Tri kralja jahahu" ("Three kings were riding") | Traditional | 1912. | From Istria |
| "Veselje ti navješćujem" ("Joy I preach you") | Franjo Langer/Adam Alojzij Baričević | 18th century | |
| "O Betleme" ("Oh, Betlehem") | Franjo Langer/Adam Alojzij Baričević | 18th century | |
| "Oj, pastiri" ("Oy, shepherds") | Traditional | ||
| "Djetešce nam se rodilo" ("A child was born unto us") | Traditional | ||
| " Veseli se Majko Božja" ("Rejoice, Mother of God") | Vladoje Bersa | 1906. | From Knin |
Czech
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Nesem vám noviny" ("We bring you good news, hark!") | traditional from Bohemia | "Come, All Ye Shepherds" (Mari Ruef Hofer, 1912) German: "Kommet, ihr Hirten" (Carl Riedel, ca. 1870) | |
| "Půjdem spolu do Betléma" ("Let's all go to Bethlehem.") | traditional from Bohemia | ||
| "Štědrý večer nastal" ("Christmas Eve has come.") | traditional from Bohemia | ||
| "Pásli ovce valaši" ("The men from Valassko are taking sheep out.") | traditional from Bohemia | ||
| "Narodil se Kristus Pán" ("Jesus was born") | traditional from Bohemia | 1505 | |
| "Tichá noc" ("Silent night") | traditional from Bohemia | "Silent Night" | |
| "Jak si krásné neviňátko" ("How beautiful you are, baby (means Jesus)") | traditional from Bohemia | ||
| "Zither Carol" | Czech folk tune - Sedlák, sedlák | 1958 | English lyrics by Malcolm Sargent, set to a traditional tune.[2] "Girls and boys, leave your toys..." |
Dutch
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Nu Syt Wellekome"[3] | Traditional melody | Probably 15th Century | |
| "Eere Zij God"[4] | Attributed to F.A. Schultz, who translated ancient Latin carol, "Gloria in excelsis Deo," into German | 1857, possible previous publication ca. 1730 | translation of "Gloria in excelsis Deo" into Dutch by Isaac Bikkers |
| "Ere Zij God" | Dutch traditional | rendered into English as "Glory to God" |
English
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Adam Lay Ybounden" | Set by numerous composers, most notably by Boris Ord and Peter Warlock | 15th century | |
| "Angels from the Realms of Glory" | words: James Montgomery; music (US): to the tune of "Regent Square" (UK): a slightly different arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard on High" ("Gloria") | ||
| "Angels We Have Heard on High" | based on traditional hymn "Gloria" (a French traditional carol "Les Anges dans nos Campagnes"); English translation by Bishop James Chadwick, tune arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes | 1862 | |
| "As with Gladness, Men of Old" | William Chatterton Dix | 1867 | Set to same tune as “For the Beauty of the Earth” |
| "Away in a Manger" | First two stanzas attributed to Martin Luther; third stanza written by John McFarland (1904) | 1885 | |
| "Bethlehem Down" | Peter Warlock (composer) Bruce Blunt (poet) |
1927 | Mostly used in Christmas and Epiphany services of the Anglican church |
| "Boar's Head Carol" | English traditional | ||
| "Calypso Carol" ("See him lying on a bed of straw") | Michael Perry | 1969 | Written in 1964 for a college concert |
| "Candlelight Carol" | John Rutter | 1984 | |
| "Carol of the Bells" | Mykola Leontoyvch, Peter J. Wilhousky | 1904 | The song is based on a folk chant known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk". |
| "The Cherry Tree Carol" | English traditional | ||
| "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" | traditional African-American spiritual | ||
| "Christians Awake" | John Byrom | 1746 | |
| "A Christmas Carol" | words and music: Charles E. Ives | ||
| "Christmas Day Is Come" (also known as "The Irish Carol") | words by Fr. William Devereaux, | 18th Century | Irish traditional, Part of "The Kilmore Carols" |
| "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" | Charles Wesley | 1749 | Set to Hyfrydol |
| "Coventry Carol" ("Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child") | English traditional | ||
| "Curoo Curoo" ("The Carol of the Birds") | Irish traditional | ||
| "The Darkest Midnight in December" | words by Fr. William Devereaux | 18th century | Irish traditional, Part of "The Kilmore Carols" |
| "Ding Dong Merrily on High" | music: Jehan Tabourot, words: George Ratcliffe Woodward | ||
| "Down in Yon Forest" | English traditional | The "Corpus Christi Carol" | |
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" | written by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne | 1962 | |
| "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" | words and music: John Menzies Macfarlane | 1869 | |
| "The First Nowell" ("The First Noël") | English traditional | 1823 | First published in Carols Ancient and Modern by William Sandys |
| "The Friendly Beasts" | French Traditional | 12th century | English by Robert Davis 1934 |
| "Gabriel's Message" | translated into English by Sabine Baring-Gould | from the Basque traditional carol "Birjina gaztettobat zegoen" | |
| "Go Tell It on the Mountain" | Lyrics by John W. Work | 1865 | African-American spiritual dating at least to 1865 |
| "Good King Wenceslas" | English traditional | 1853 | John Mason Neale, Thomas Helmore |
| "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" | English traditional | 1833 | Published by William Sandys; author unknown |
| "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" | Heinrich Seuse | 1328 | English lyrics fitted to the Latin hymn-tune "In Dulci Jubilo"; also known as "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" |
| "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" | *music: Felix Mendelssohn, words: Charles Wesley, amended by George Whitefield and Martin Madan | 1739 | originally as part of Festgesang, adapted and harmonised by William Hayman Cummings; descant for verse 3 added in 1961 by Sir David Willcocks for the Carols for Choirs books |
| "Here We Come A-Wassailing" | English traditional | c. 1850 | |
| "The Holly and the Ivy" | English traditional | ||
| "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" | words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, music: Johnny Marks | ||
| "I Pray on Christmas" | written and by Harry Connick, Jr. | ||
| "I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)" | English traditional | 1833 | Published by William Sandys; parent tune "Greensleeves" dates to 17th century |
| "In the Bleak Midwinter" | words: Christina Rossetti, music: Gustav Holst | ||
| "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" ("W żłobie leży") | Polish traditional | ||
| "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" | words: Edmund Hamilton Sears, music: Richard Storrs Willis, | 1849 | |
| "I Wonder as I Wander" | John Jacob Niles | 1934 | Based on a fragment collected by Niles in Murphy, North Carolina in 1933. |
| "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" | Elizabeth Poston | ||
| "Jingle Bells" | James Pierpont | 1857 | Originally a song for Thanksgiving, now one of the most iconic Christmas carols |
| "Joy to the World" | words: Isaac Watts based on Psalm 98, music: arranged by Lowell Mason based on themes in Handel's Messiah | ||
| "Judea" | music: William Billings | ||
| "Little Donkey" | written by Eric Boswell | ||
| "The Little Drummer Boy" ("Carol of the Drum") | written by Katherine K. Davis | 1957 | |
| "Love Came Down at Christmas" | words: Christina Rossetti, music: various | ||
| "The Lord at first did Adam make" | words: West Country traditional | ||
| "Mary, Did You Know?" | words: Mark Lowry, music: Buddy Greene | 1984 / 1990 |
|
| "Mary's Boy Child" (Mary's Little Boy Child) | written by Jester Hairston | 1956 | |
| "Mother Mary" | written by Dennis Allen Cooke | ||
| "Night of Silence" | words and music: Daniel Kantor | 1981 | written to be sung simultaneously with "Silent Night" |
| "O Come, All ye Faithful" (Adeste Fideles) | 17th century carol. English translation by Frederick Oakeley in 1841. | ||
| "O come, O come, Emmanuel" ("Veni, Veni, Emmanuel") | strictly an Advent hymn | ||
| "O Holy Night" | words: Placide Cappeau de Rouquemaure, translated by John Sullivan Dwight, music: Adolphe Adam | ||
| "O Little Town of Bethlehem" | words: Phillips Brooks, music (US): Lewis H. Redner, music (UK): traditional tune: "Forest Green" (a.k.a. "The Ploughboy's Dream") | ||
| "Of the Father's Love Begotten" ("Of the Father's Heart Begotten") | music: tune from Piae Cantiones | ||
| "Once in Royal David's City" | words: Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, music: Henry John Gauntlett, (Irby) | ||
| "Past Three O'Clock" (or "Past Three a Clock") | English traditional, with verses written by George Ratcliffe Woodward | first published in The Cowley Carol Book with a harmonisation by Charles Wood | |
| "Rocking Carol" ("Jesu, Jesu, Baby Dear" or "Little Jesus") | Loose translation of Czech traditional carol "Hajej, nynej, Ježíšku" by Percy Dearmer | First published in the Oxford Book of Carols (1928); popularised by Julie Andrews (1965) & The Carpenters (1984) | |
| "Sans Day Carol" | Cornish traditional | ||
| "See, Amid the Winter's Snow" | words: Edward Caswall, music: John Goss | ||
| "The Seven Joys of Mary" | English traditional | ||
| "Silent Night" | English traditional | 1818 | Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr |
| "Sir Christmas" | composed by Rev. Richard Smart | 15th century | |
| "Star of the East" | written by Alfred Hans Zoller, translation by George Cooper in 1890, music by Amanda Kennedy in 1883 | 1890 | |
| "The Sussex Carol" ("On Christmas Night All Christians Sing") | English traditional | ||
| "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" | |||
| "The Babe in Bethlem's Manger" | Kentish traditional | ||
| "This Endris Night" | Traditional | 15th century | |
| "There Is No Rose" | written by Benjamin Britten | ||
| "Torches" | composed by John Joubert | 1951 | |
| "Unto Us a Boy is Born" ("Unto Us is Born a Son") | English traditional | ||
| "A Virgin Unspotted" ("A Virgin Most Pure") | English traditional | ||
| "We Three Kings of Orient Are" ("Three Kings of Orient") | written by Rev. John Henry Hopkins | 1863 | strictly an Epiphany carol |
| "The Wexford Carol" ("Good People All, This Christmastide") | Irish traditional | Sometimes known as the "Enniscorthy Carol" | |
| "What Child Is This?" | music: traditional English song "Greensleeves", words: William Chatterton Dix | ||
| "Whence Is That Lovely Fragrance Wafting" ("Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?") ("Quelle est cette odeur agréable?") | French traditional | ||
| "While by My Sheep I Watched at Night" | |||
| "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" | words: Nahum Tate, music (UK): "Winchester Old" from Este's Psalter adapted from Christopher Tye, music (US): adapted from Handel | ||
| "With Wondering Awe", the Wisemen Saw... | music and verse: Anon | ||
| "Wolcom Yole" | Written by Benjamin Britten | ||
| "Zither Carol" |
Filipino
Main article: List of Filipino Christmas carols
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" (Christmas Has Come) | Tagalog lyrics by Levi Celerio: adapted from Cebuano lyrics by Vicente Rubi, Mariano Vestil | 1933 | A loose translation of the original Cebuano Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa |
Finnish
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "En etsi valtaa, loistoa" ("Give Me No Splendour, Gold, or Pomp") | words by Zachris Topelius (1887; Finnish translation by Martti Korpilahti, 1909); music by Jean Sibelius (1895) | Translated from Finland Swedish "Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt" | |
| "Joulun kellot" ("Christmas Bells") | words by Helmi Auvinen (1897); music by Armas Maasalo (1914) | ||
| "Joulupuu on rakennettu" ("Christmas tree has been built") | words by Gustaf Oskar Schöneman;[5][6][7] music Finnish folk melody[8] | 1876 | |
| "Tonttu" | |||
| "On Hanget Korkeat Nietokset " | |||
| "Varpunen Jouluaamuna" (Sparrow on Christmas Morning) | |||
| "Sylvian Joululaulu" (Sylvia's christmas song) | words by Zachris Topelius | translated from Finland Swedish "Sylvias hälsning från Sicilien" |
French
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Il est né, le divin enfant" | Traditional French | c. 1875 | |
| "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" | Translated into English as "Angels We Have Heard on High" | ||
| "Minuit, Chrétiens" (Cantique de Noël) | lyrics: Placide Cappeau, music: Alphonse Adam | 1843 (lyrics), 1847 (music) | Translated into English as "O Holy Night" |
| "Noël nouvelet" | 15th century[9] | Translated into English as "Sing We Now of Christmas" | |
| "Patapan" ("Guillô, pran ton tamborin!") | Burgundian traditional | Title translation: Willy, take your tambourine | |
| "Petit Papa Noël" | lyrics: Raymond Vincy; music: Henri Martinet | 1946 | |
| "C'est Noël" | lyrics: Jean Manse; music: Henri Betti | 1956 | Song written for the movie Honoré de Marseille with Fernandel |
| "Quelle est cette odeur agréable?" | Translated into English as "Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?" | ||
| "Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle" | 1553 | Translated into English as "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" | |
| "La Marche Des Rois Mages" | 13th century traditional | Translated into English as "March of the Kings" | |
| "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris" | 13th or 16th century | Title translation: "Between the ox and the grey ass" | |
| "Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous" | music 15th/16th century; published 1701 with words by Simon-Joseph Pellegrin | Title translation: "Here, shepherds, let us gather". Adapted from "Où s'en vont ces gais bergers". | |
| "Venez divin Messie" | music 16th century; published 18th century with words by Simon-Joseph Pellegrin | Translated in English as "O Come, Divine Messiah". | |
| "D'où viens-tu, bergère?" | Title translation "Where are you coming from, shepherdess?" | ||
| "Dans cette étable" | words 19th century | Title translation: "In this stable". It is sung to the same music as "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" |
Galician
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Da Ulla a meu cabo veño" | Melchor López | 1790 | |
| "En Belén hai moita festa" | José Pacheco | 1829 | |
| "Nadal De Luíntra" ("Luintra Carol") |
Traditional | ||
| "Null'ome per ren non deve" | Alfonso X of Castile | 13th century | One of the Cantigas de Santa Maria (CSM 361) |
| "Pois que dos reys Nostro Sennor" (Since Our Lord chose to descend from the lineage of kings) |
Alfonso X of Castile | 13th century | One of the Cantigas de Santa Maria (CSM 424). It is the oldest Iberian Christmas carol written in a vernacular language |
German
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Alle Jahre wieder" ("Every Year Again") | Friedrich Silcher /Wilhelm Hey | 1837 | |
| "Am Weihnachtsbaume die Lichter brennen" ("Lights are Burning at Christmas Tree") | traditional /Hermann Kletke | 1841 | |
| "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen" ("A Rose Has Sprung Up") | Anonymous | 16th century | Translated into English as "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming", "Lo, There A Rose Is Blooming" and "There Is A Flower Springing" |
| "Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen" ("The Time Has Arrived for Us") | Swiss traditional | 19th century | |
| "Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen" ("A Ship is Coming, laden") | Andernach songbook | 1608 | |
| "Fröhliche Weihnacht überall" ("Merry Christmas Everywhere") | German and English traditional | ||
| "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" ("Praise be to You, Jesus Christ") | Martin Luther | 1524 | |
| "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" ("Oh, Come, Little Children") | Johann Abraham Peter Schulz / Christoph von Schmid |
1794 (music)/ 1798 (lyrics)/ 1832 (combination of text and music) |
|
| "In dulci jubilo" ("In Sweet Rejoicing") | traditional | 14th century | |
| "Kling, Glöckchen" ("Ring Little Bell") | traditional /Karl Enslin | 19th century | |
| "Kommet, ihr Hirten" ("Come, you Sheperds") | Bohemian traditional | ||
| "Lasst uns das Kindlein grüßen" ("Let Us Greet the Little Child") | traditional | ||
| "Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen" ("Let Us Cradle the Little Child") | Munich | 1604 | |
| "Lasst uns froh und munter sein" ("Let Us Be Happy and Cheerful") | traditional from the Hunsrück | this song is traditionally sung at Nicholas Eve on December 6 | |
| "Leise rieselt der Schnee" ("Softly Falls Every Snow Flake") | Eduard Ebel / Eduard Ebel | about 1900 | |
| "Macht hoch die Tür" ("Open the Door High") | Halle | 1704 | |
| "Maria durch ein Dornwald ging" ("Maria Walks Amid the Thorns") | traditional from Hesse | 16th century | |
| "Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben" ("Tomorrow, Children, Something Will Happen") | Carl Gottlieb Hering / Philipp Bartsch | 1850 | |
| "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" ("Tomorrow comes Santa Claus") | A. H. Hoffmann von Fallersleben | 17th century | |
| "O du fröhliche" ("Oh You Joyful") | Johannes Daniel Falk / Heinrich Holzschuher | 1816 | |
| "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree") | German traditional/ E. Anschütz, A. Zarnack | 18th century | translated into English as "O, Christmas Tree", 1824 |
| "O Tannenbaum, du trägst ein grünen Zweig" ("O Christmas Tree, you Wear a Green Branch") | Westphalian traditional | ||
| "Schneeflöckchen, Weissröckchen" ("Little Snow Flake, Little White Coat") | Hedwig Haberkern | 1869 | |
| "Still, still, still" ("Quiet, quiet, quiet") | Maria Vinzenz Süß / G. Götsch | 1865 | |
| "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" | Josef Mohr / Franz Xaver Gruber | 1818 | "Silent Night", in the English translation by John Freeman Young |
| "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" ("The Bells Never Sound Sweeter") | traditional /Wilhelm Kritzinger | ||
| "Tausend Sterne sind ein Dom" ("Thousands Stars Form a Dome") | Siegfried Köhler / Siegfried Köhler | 1946 | |
| "Tochter Zion, freue dich!" ("Daughter Zion, Rejoice!") | George Frederic Handel | ||
| "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come") | traditional / Martin Luther | 1539 | |
| "Vom Himmel hoch, o Englein kommt" ("From Heaven Above o Little Angels Come") | Cologne | 1623 | |
| "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How Lovely Shines the Morning Star") | Philipp Nicolai | 16th century |
Greek
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Πόψι Χριστός γεννήθηκε" "Καλήν Εσπέραν Άρχοντες" "Popsi Christos gennithike" |
Title translation: "Tonight Christ was born" |
Hungarian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Mennyből az angyal" ("Angels from Heaven") | |||
| "Csendes éj" ("Silent Night") | |||
| "Pásztorok, Pásztorok" | |||
| "Kis karácsony, nagy karácsony" | |||
| "Ó, gyönyörű szép" | |||
| "A kis Jézus arany alma" | |||
| "Csordapásztorok" | |||
Huron
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Huron Carol") | Jean de Brébeuf | 1643 | "Jesus, he is born". Also known as "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime" after English translation (1926) by Jesse Edgar Middleton. |
Irish
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "An Ciarrí Carúl Nollaig" ("The Kerry Christmas Carol") | Irish traditional | ||
| "Don Oíche úd I mBeithil" | Irish traditional | ||
| "Oíche Nollag" (Christmas Eve") | Irish traditional | ||
| "The Wexford Carol" | Irish traditional | ||
Italian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Gesù bambino" ("The Infant Jesus") | Pietro Yon | 1917 | "When Blossoms Flowered" in English |
| "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("From Starry Skies Thou Comest") | Italian traditional | ||
| "Dormi, dormi, bel Bambin" |
Latin
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Adeste Fideles" ("O Come All Ye Faithful") | attributed to John Francis Wade, Latin words translated by Frederick Oakeley | c. 1743 | |
| "Gaudete" ("Rejoice") | sacred Christmas carol | 1582 | re-popularized by Steeleye Span (1973) |
| "In Dulci Jubilo" | Heinrich Seuse | 1328 | Macaronic carol known in several translations; melody is also used for the English song "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" (aka, "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice") |
| "O Sanctissima" ("O du Fröhliche" or "Oh, How Joyfully") | |||
| "Veni, veni Emmanuel" ("O Come, O Come Emmanuel") |
Norwegian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Musevisa" | Alf Prøysen | 1946 | Lyrics are by Prøysen, set to a traditional tune.[10] |
Occitan
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "La Cambo me fai mau" ("My leg hurts") | Nicolas Saboly / anonymous | ||
Polish
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ach, ubogi żłobie" ("Oh, the humble manger") | Piotr Studziński / anonym | 17th century | |
| "Ach, witajże pożądana" ("Oh, to be greeting desired") | Traditional | <1908 | |
| "Anioł pasterzom mówił" ("The angel told the shepherds") | Traditional | 1551-1555 | |
| "A wczora z wieczora" ("And yesterday on evening") | Traditional | <1630 | |
| "Będzie kolęda" ("It will be a carol") | Andrzej Zieliński / Wojciech Młynarski | 1968 | Skaldowie |
| "Bóg się rodzi" ("God is born") | Franciszek Karpiński | 1792 | |
| "Bracia patrzcie jeno" ("Brothers let you look on how the sky is burning") | Franciszek Karpiński | <1825 | |
| "Cicha noc" ("Silent Night") | Franz Xaver Gruber / Piotr Maszyński | Polish version of the German carol | |
| "Do szopy, hej, pasterze" ("To the shed, hey, shepherds") | Traditional | ||
| "Dzisiaj w Betlejem" ("Today in Bethlehem") | Traditional | 1878 | |
| "Gdy się Chrystus rodzi" ("When the Christ's being born") | Traditional | 1843 | |
| "Gdy śliczna Panna" ("As the beautiful Virgin [cradled Her Son]") | Traditional | beginning of 18th century | |
| "Hej, w dzień narodzenia" ("Hey, on the day of the Nativity") | Traditional | ||
| "Jest taki dzień" ("There is such a day") | Seweryn Krajewski / Krzysztof Dzikowski | 1966 | Czerwone Gitary |
| "Jezus malusieńki" ("The wee baby Jesus") | Traditional | ||
| "Lulajże, Jezuniu" (Sleep now, baby Jesus") | Traditional | 1738 | Frédéric Chopin used this Christmas carol in the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20 |
| "Mędrcy świata, Monarchowie" ("O, Sages of the world, Monarchs") | Traditional | 17th century | |
| "Mizerna, cicha" ("Humble and quiet [shabby little stable]") | Jan Gall / Teofil Lenartowicz | 1849 | |
| "Nie było miejsca dla Ciebie" ("There was no place for You") | 1940-1944 | by polish anonym in nazi's death camp | |
| "Oj, Maluśki, Maluśki, Maluśki" ("Oh, Tiny Little [like a little glove]") | Traditional highland-style | <1808 | |
| "Pasterze mili coście widzieli" ("Kind shepherds what you've seen") | Traditional | <1752 | |
| "Pójdźmy wszyscy do stajenki" ("Let us go to the little shed") | Traditional | <1842 in Cracow | |
| "Przybieżeli do Betlejem" ("To Betlehem came [the shepherds]") | Traditional | 17th century | |
| "Tryumfy Króla Niebieskiego" ("The Triumphs of the Heaven's King") | Traditional | 1754 | |
| "Wesołą nowinę" ("The joyous news [hear, o my brothers]") | Traditional / Józef Wygrzywalski | ||
| "W kropki zielone" ("With green dotted") | Krzesimir Dębski / Jan Twardowski | 1998 | sung by Ewa Małas-Godlewska |
| "Wśród nocnej ciszy" ("In the night silence") | Traditional | <1853 | |
| "W żłobie leży" ("Infant Holy, Infant Lowly") | Piotr Skarga | 17th century | |
| "Z narodzenia Pana" ("Because of the Lord's birth [it's a joyful day]") | Traditional | 1842 | |
| "Zdrow bądź, krolu anjelski" | Traditional | 1424 |
Portuguese
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "A todos um Bom Natal" ("Merry Christmas To You All") |
César Batalha/Lúcia Carvalho | 1980 | |
| "Alegrem-se os Céus e a Terra" ("Rejoice, You Heavens And Earth") |
Traditional | 18th century | |
| "Beijai o Menino" ("Give Infant Jesus A Kiss") |
Traditional | 1934 | |
| "Eu hei de dar ao Menino" ("I Shall Give The Boy") |
Traditional | 18th century | |
| "Eu hei de m'ir ao presépio" ("I Shall Visit The Manger") |
Traditional | 19-20th century | Translated into English as "I See Your Cradle is Bare" by Lorenz Maierhofer |
| "José embala o Menino" ("Joseph Cradles The Infant Jesus") |
Traditional | 1947 | |
| "Natal africano" ("African Carol") |
Traditional | ||
| "Natal da Índia Portuguesa" ("Portuguese India Carol") |
Traditional | 18th century | |
| "Natal dos Simples" ("Carol Of The Poor") |
José Afonso | 1968 | A New Year's carol |
| "O Menino está com frio" ("The Infant Jesus Is Cold") |
Traditional | 16th century | |
| "O Menino está dormindo" ("The Infant Jesus Is Sleeping") |
Traditional | 18-19th century | |
| "Oh bento airoso" ("O Blessed And Graceful Mystery") |
Traditional | 15-16th century | |
| "Pela Noite de Natal" ("It Was Christmas Night") |
Traditional | 16th century | Translated into English as "All That Wondrous Christmas Night" by Eduardo Marzo |
| "Roxozinho está deitado" ("The Rosy-cheeked Boy Is Lying") |
Traditional | 1889 | |
| "Sã qui turo zente pleta" ("All Here Are Black People") |
Anonymous | 1643 |
Romanian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "O, ce veste minunată!" | Traditional | ||
| "Pluguşorul" | Traditional | related rather to New Year's Eve | |
| "Deschide uşa, creştine!" | Traditional | ||
| "Linu-i lin." | Traditional | ||
| "Florile dalbe" | Traditional | ||
| "Domn,domn sa-năltăm!" | Traditional | ||
| "Leganelul Lui Iisus" | Traditional | ||
| "Asta-i seara de Craciun" | Traditional | ||
| "Mos Craciun cu plete dalbe" | Traditional | ||
Slovakian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Svatý Václave" | words: John Mason Neale, music: tune from Piae Cantiones | 1853 | rendered in English as "Good King Wenceslas" |
Spanish
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Feliz Navidad" | José Feliciano | 1970 | ||
| "Arre borriquito" | Traditional | |||
| "Hacia Belén va una burra" | Traditional | |||
| "Ay del chiquirritín" | Traditional | |||
| "Ande, ande, ande la marimorena" | Traditional | |||
| "Dime niño de quién eres" | Traditional | |||
| "Canta, ríe y bebe" | Traditional | |||
| "Las doce palabritas" | Traditional | |||
| "No hay tal andar" | Traditional | |||
| "Los campanilleros" | Traditional | |||
| "Ya vienen los Reyes Magos" | Traditional | |||
| "Madre, en la puerta hay un niño" | Traditional | |||
| "Ya viene la vieja" | Traditional | |||
| "Campana sobre campana" | Traditional | |||
| "Noche de paz" (Spanish version of "Silent Night") | ||||
| "Blanca Navidad" (Spanish version of"White Christmas") | ||||
| "Los peces en el río" | Traditional | |||
| "Alepún" | Traditional | |||
| "Alegría, alegría y placer" | Traditional | |||
| "Pastores venid" | Traditional | |||
| "Mi burrito sabanero" | Traditional | |||
| "A la Nanita Nana" | Traditional | 18th century | ||
| "Vamos todos a Belen" | ||||
Swedish
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt" ("Give Me No Splendour, Gold, or Pomp") | words by Zachris Topelius (1887); music by Jean Sibelius (1895) | Finland Swedish song | |
| "Gläns över sjö och strand" ("Shine Over the Lake and the Shore") | words by Viktor Rydberg (1891) music by Alice Tegnér (1893) | ||
| "När det lider mot jul" ("When Christmas Has Come") | |||
| "Nu har vi ljus här i vårt hus" ("We have Kindled the Candles in Our House Now") | in Sweden it is tradition to dance around the Christmas tree and sing, this being one of the traditional songs sung | ||
| "Nu tändas tusen juleljus" ("We Have Kindled Thousands of Christmas Lights Now") | words and music by Emmy Köhler | ||
| "Räven raskar över isen" (The Fox Is Sliding Over the Ice) | in Sweden it is tradition to dance around the Christmas tree and sing, this being one of the traditional songs sung | ||
| "Sankta Lucia" | |||
| "Var hälsad, sköna morgonstund" ("All Hail to Thee, O Blessed Morn") | words by Johan Olof Wallin; music by Philipp Nicolai |
Ukrainian
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Бог предвічний народився" "Boh predvičnyj narodilsja" (God Eternal is Born) |
1790[11] | Probably considered the quintessential Ukrainian carol | |
| "Небо і земля нині торжествують" "Nebo i zemlia nyni torzhestvuiut" (Heaven and Earth Rejoice Today) |
1790[11] | Refrain is often sung as a round. | |
| "Бог ся рождає" "Boh sia rozhdaie" (God is Born) |
Остап Нижанківський (1862–1919) "Ostap Nyzhankivs'kyi" |
||
| "Во Вифлиємі нині новина" "Vo Vyfleiemi nyni novyna" (In Bethlehem today there are tidings) |
Остап Нижанківський (1862–1919) "Ostap Nyzhankivs'kyi" |
||
| "Добрий вечір тобі" "Dobryi vechir tobi" (Good Evening to You) |
Sung when caroling, upon arrival at a house; not used in church. | ||
| "Нова радість стала" "Nova radist' stala" (A New Joy Came) |
1790[11] | ||
| На небі зірка ясна засяла "Na nebi zirka yasna zasiala" (In the Heavens a Bright Star Shone) |
|||
| По всьому світу стала новина "Po vsiomu svitu stala novyna" (Over all the Earth a New Event Occurred) |
|||
| "Виді Бог, виді Сотворитель" "Vydi Boh, vydi Sotvorytel" (God, the Creator, Sees) |
apocryphal arr. Кирило Стеценко (Kyrylo Stetsenko) |
1790[11] | |
| Спи, Ісусе, спи "Spy, Isuse, spy" (Sleep, Jesus, Sleep) |
|||
| "Днесь поюще" "Dnes poyusche" (Singing Today) | arr. Кирило Стеценко (Kyrylo Stetsenko) | ||
| Тиха ніч, свята ніч "Tykha nich, sviata nich" (Silent Night, Holy Night) |
A translation of Stille Nacht Joseph Mohr/Franz Xaver Gruber into Ukrainian. | ||
| "Щедрик" "Schedryk" |
Микола Леонтович Mykola Leontovych |
Not truly a Christmas carol, but rather, a secular song of good wishes for prosperity, traditionally sung on Щедрий Вечір (Shchedryi Vechir, i.e. Theophany Eve). Melody used for the English "Carol of the Bells" and, in the 1970s-1980s, for André champagne commercials. | |
See also: Список українських колядок і щедрівок (List of Ukrainian carols on the Ukrainian Wikipedia)
Welsh
| Carol | Composer /Lyricist | Year published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ""Oer yw'r gŵr sy'n methu caru" | Thomas Oliphant (English lyrics) | 1862-74 | rendered in English as "Deck the Hall" |
See also
- Christmas carol
- Christmas music
- Published collections of Christmas carol scores
- List of Christmas hit singles in the United Kingdom
- List of Christmas hit singles in the United States
- Best-selling Christmas/holiday singles in the United States
- List of Filipino Christmas carols
References
- ↑ OUP
- ↑ OUP
- ↑ nl:Nu zijt wellekome accessed Oct. 16, 2014
- ↑ http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/glory_to_god_ere_zij_god.htm (accessed Oct. 16, 2014, 1:26 AM)
- ↑ Uusi Kuwa-Aapinen. Lukukirja kodille, kierto- ja sunnuntai-kouluille. P. 27. Toinen korjattu ja lisätty painos. Weilin & Göös 1876, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- ↑ Reijo Pajamo. Taas kaikki kauniit muistot. Joululaulujen taustat ja tarinat. P. 67-69. WSOY, Finland, 1982. ISBN 951-0-11444-8.
- ↑ Kalevi Toiviainen. G. O. Schöneman ja hänen seurakuntansa. Teoksessa Seurakunta kasvavassa Jyväskylässä. P. 9-27, 21. Oy Keskisuomalainen, Jyväskylä, Finland, 1975.
- ↑ Reijo Pajamo. Taas kaikki kauniit muistot. Joululaulujen taustat ja tarinat. P. 68. WSOY, Finland, 1982. ISBN 951-0-11444-8.
- ↑ The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- ↑ Aftenposten (Norwegian)
- 1 2 3 4 First printed in the "Bohohlasnyk", a collection of religious songs, late 18th century
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