Christmas Carols

                  Remember the good old days when we didn't hear Christmas carols until after Thanksgiving?
                  It seems the first one can be heard before Halloween these days!
                  At first it seems too early, then as time marches on they seem a reminder of all the things yet undone in preparation for the holiday ---- shopping, cleaning, baking, etc.  It isn't until Christmas arrives that we can take a breath and let them soothe us and cheer us.  When the sun goes down on Christmas Eve, we seem to draw a collective breath and the glory of Jesus' birth washes over us with their melodies.  What would the celebration be without Christmas Carols?
                 Carols originated in Europe thousands of years ago The word "carol" actually means dance or a song of praise and joy.  Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived!
                 Christmas carols as we know them were given life by St. Francis of Assisi, when in 1223 he started his Nativity Plays in Italy.  Francis was determined that ordinary people, who often couldn't read, should understand and love the birth of Jesus.  He set up living nativities using real people and animals and told the story of the birth of Jesus.  Songs or 'canticles' were sung telling the miraculous story.  Usually the songs were sung in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in.  People left joyfully bringing the songs with them.  The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries.  And the tradition of "carolling" began throughout Europe.
                 Some of the carols we sing today are very old, and many have interesting stories.
                 The first carol heard on the streets of London at Christmas time from the 16th century onward was "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen."  Interestingly enough, most people misplace the comma ---- thinking the opening line is "God rest ye, merry gentlemen" ----distorting the meaning of the song.  It's message is not for "merry" people only ---- but extends the hope and blessing that God's grace and mercy will cause them to be merry at Christmas.
                 "O Holy Night" (Cantique de Noel) is often said to be the most beautiful of all Christmas carols.  There is a frequently repeated story that this carol figured prominently on Christmas Eve, 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War.  In a burst of Christmas fervor, a French soldier burst out of his trench and began singing this carol.  So moved by his actions, the Germans did not fire on him ---- and a German soldier then stood and sang a traditional German carol.  Soon both sidews began singing together the well-loved "Silent Night" ---- and peace reigned for that one Christmas night!
                In fact, all sorts of legends surround the most popular carol, "Silent Night".  The traditional story is that Rev. Josef Mohr, a young pastor in Oberndorf, Austria wrote the words for the village children to sing as a surprise for their parents.  Upon discovering on Christmas Eve that the parish organ was broken, he prevailed upon his friend Franz Gruber to compose a melody to be accompanied by guitar.  Whatever the true story is, this song remains the best-loved carol in the world, having been translated into hundreds of languages.