One of my favorite traditions during Christmas is listening to Christmas carols while baking deserts with my mom in the kitchen.
My mom would play songs like “Silent Night” and “O Come Let Us Adore Him”--those were her favorites. Mine were “Away in a Manger” and “Mary, Did You Know?” This got me thinking though, what is the history behind Christmas carols? Also did anyone else have a tradition like mine or share similar favorite carols?
Carols have been sung for hundreds of years all throughout the world. They would even be sung in every season, each bringing a different carol and perspective. However, something about the carols sung during the Christmas season stuck. Maybe it’s the hopeful words being sung about the birth of Jesus? Or maybe it's the catchy words and sounds that get stuck in your head that people love?
My family never went caroling, but I have heard of many families and churches that do. I think it’s a beautiful tradition that is becoming rare in our world filled with the hustle and bustle of this stressful season.
Speaking from personal experience, I think individuals love Christmas carols because they give them a feeling of joy that they long for. It reminds them to slow down, and to think about Jesus who was sent to our world as a baby to save us. Our lives can become so busy, stressful, and chaotic that we forget what is so special and true about this season. I think if we all stopped to truly listen to these carols and apply them to our lives, we would be much happier during this season, and the ones to follow.
That’s why I love singing them with my mom because we would truly sing them. We would sing the carols as a praise to Jesus because that’s what they are! I found that many other people also thought this way, and their favorite carols reflected a lot of these same themes.
I had an overwhelming number of people who said that their favorite carol was “Silent Night.” I had many votes for “Mary, Did You Know?” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” They sing of who Jesus was going to be and all that He represented. They are songs that give us hope for the future. No matter how hard life seems, we have promises from the lord that we can hold onto.
So, this Christmas season, try singing these carols a little differently. Really dissect the lyrics, and understand what you’re singing about. It will give a whole different reality to them, and you might find yourself feeling a little more hopeful and joyful for the future and the year that is to come!