A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character. Today the carol is represented almost exclusively by the Christmas carol, the Advent carol, and to a much lesser extent by the Easter carol; however, despite their present association with religion, this has not always been the case. The word carol is derived from the Old French word carole, a circle dance accompanied by singers (in turn derived from the Latin choraula). Carols were very popular as dance songs from the 1150s to the 1350s, after which their use expanded as processional songs sung during festivals, while others were written to accompany religious mystery plays Words and Lyrics of Popular Carols A Boy Is Born in Bethlehem It's Christmas Day - Watch the Video Angels from the Realms of Glory Kings of the East are riding Angels we have heard on high Joy to the World As with Gladness Men of Old Little children, rise and sing Away in a Manger Love Came Down at Christmas Carol of the Bells O Christmas Tree Christians Awake salute the Happy Morn O Christmas night Christians, lo, the star appeareth O Come All Ye Faithful Coventry Carol O Come O Come Emmanuel Cradled in a Manger, meanly O Holy Night Deck the Halls O Little Town of Bethlehem Ding Dong Merrily on High On a Christmas morning From the Eastern Mountains Once in Royal David's City Glory be to God on High Past three o'clock Go tell it on the Mountain Ring out the Bells for Christmas God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen See amid the winter’s snow Good Christian Men Rejoice Shepherds! Shake off your drowsy sleep Good King Wenceslas Silent Night Hark the Herald Angels Sing Songs of Praise the Angels sang I heard the bells on Christmas day The First Noel I love to hear the story The Holly and the Ivy I Saw Three Ships The Wassail Song In a lowly manger sleeping Unto Us A Boy Is Born Infant holy, infant lowly We Three Kings of Orient are In the bleak midwinter When Christ was born in Bethlehem It Came Upon the Midnight Clear While Shepherds Watched Wonder of the Story It's Christmas Day Lyrics Lyrics written by: Dougie Campbell A baby boy was born one day In a stable far away He nestled in a manger bed On straw he laid his tiny head (Chorus) It's Christmas Day all over Earth Let the bells ring out for Jesus's birth The shepherds came from near and far Guided by a lonely star The Wise men travelled night and day To Bethlehem where Jesus lay (Chorus) It's Christmas Day all over Earth Let the bells ring out for Jesus's birth They looked upon that infant face Saviour for the human race So every year on Christmas Day We'll thank dear God in our own way (Chorus) It's Christmas Day all over Earth Let the bells ring out for Jesus's birth. Carol of the Bells Lyrics: Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold. Ding dong ding dong that is their song with joyful ring all caroling. One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere filling the air. Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale. Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here. Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas. On on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home. Ding dong ding... dong!