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