By the 19th century, carols were being collected and printed in popular collections. Reformers like Martin Luther liked music and encouraged the use of songs in worship. In Germany especially, carols increased in popularity during the Reformation. Most of these early songs were originally communal songs sung during celebrations such as harvest time it was only later that they began to be sung in church and specifically associated with Christmas. It wasn’t until the 13th century, when popular Christmas songs in regional languages began to develop, that Christmas carols really took off and began to spread across Europe.
Over time, more and more Christmas carols were composed, but as they were mostly written and sung in Latin (a language that most normal people couldn’t understand), they weren’t hugely popular. In 129 AD a bishop decreed that a song called Angel’s Hymn should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome - that song is generally regarded as one of the first ever Christmas carols.
At the time, singing celebrations were actually held during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing carols at Christmas has really survived.Īs Europe was gradually Christianised, the birth of Jesus began to be celebrated around the same time as the Winter Solstice, and Christianity-themed hymns overtook the pagan songs. In pre-Christian times, pagans would sing songs at celebrations that marked the changing of the seasons, including at the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.
The idea of singing carols at Christmas dates back thousands of years. Whether you're singing together with friends and family or just belting out some of your favourite German Christmas carols at home on your own, here is an overview of 10 of the most popular Christmas carols, with their original lyrics in German and an English translation. People in Germany traditionally sing carols in the run-up to the Christmas holidays, either at their local church, or at home around the Christmas tree.
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