This Is Why Christmas Carols Are Still So Charming And Popular
I don’t know if it’s because I was in choirs right into early adulthood or because I’m generally just such a softie, but I cannot get enough of Christmas carols and Christmas music in general.
I know that it’s cringe and many people deride it but even after working in retail over Christmas periods, I still can’t get enough and anyway, who cares about being cringe? As Robbie Williams said this year, “Cringe is courage”.
That being said, why are these tunes so enduring? Why are Christmas songs the main thing I have in common with older relatives? What’s the secret sauce here?
How Christmas carols started
According to English Heritage, Christmas carols actually started out in the 14th century, however, the evolution goes back even further than that.
On their website, English Heritage explain: “Even before Christianity, it is thought that midwinter songs existed to keep up people’s spirits, along with dances, plays and feasts.
“Christianity spread across Europe from the fourth to the 14th centuries, and the first carols were produced by Franciscan friars, who were followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. These took the form of a dance in a circle with linked hands and everybody singing the song. Huge numbers of Christmas carols survive from the 15th century, making it the best-preserved aspect of English medieval music.”
Historian Professor Ronald Hutton spoke with English Heritage and said the dances associated with early carols died out as people were ‘bored with it’, which is such a shame because wouldn’t a good boogie to these songs just be the perfect finishing touch?
Why carols and Christmas music are so popular
Ariana Wyatt, a professor of voice with the Virginia Tech College of Architecture, Arts, and Design spoke with Futurity and said: “While popular music constantly evolves, Christmas music stands out for its remarkable stability and enduring appeal.”
She adds that Christmas songs themselves tell a story of recent history in their themes, saying: “Remarkably, most of today’s secular Christmas classics were written between 1940 and 1970.
“Post–World War II economic growth fuelled songs that openly celebrated the commercial side of the holiday—gifts, shopping, and Santa Claus. A third category also emerged with Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas —romantic Christmas songs set against winter backdrops.
“The most famous of these, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, remains the best-selling Christmas record of the 21st century over 30 years after its release.”
Brb, time to put my Christmas playlist on.