The minstrels played their Christmas tune
To-night beneath my cottage-eaves;
While, smitten by a lofty moon,
The encircling laurels, thick with leaves,
Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen,
That overpowered their natural green.
William Wordsworth
Christmas carols, song and dance, may have the longest history of the traditions associated with the Christmas season.
The word carol comes from the old French "carole", which means a kind of dance and from the Lation word, "choraula", a dance to the
flute, and even earlier to a Greek word meaning the same thing.
It seems that carols started out as ring dances, a group type of dance in which people danced in a ring to the music of the time.
Chaucer and other old writers refer to carols as songs with with dancing, which were entertainments at Christmas feasts.
Minstrels and troubadors would also perform songs to entertain the guests at the celebrations.
During the 12th Century, St Francis of Assisi inspired the composers of the time to write Christmas music
for church services. These were much more solemn and there was no dancing associated with them.
By the end of the 13th century, carols were very popular at Christmas time, both as religious works and folk type songs associated
with the Christmas season in general, notably the practice of singing for wassail.
Christmas carols were thought to be far too frivolous mid 1600s and so they were banned, along with most Christmas celebrations.
Caroling still continued, but not in public places, gradually returning to favor. By the Victorian era they had once again become popular.
The Victorians loved Christmas caroling, and in the the weeks before Christmas the streets filled with many groups of music makers and caroler.s
People wanted Christmas songs and many new carols were written, orchestras and choirs started up and Christmas music was carried
into homes, Churches and Christmas celebrations.tmas carol, called Jesus is Born.
The vintage postcards of the late 19th century and early twentieth century often portray carol singers
walking through the snow, going house to house, angels singing with song sheets and groups of children singing Christmas songs.
