Irene's Top Ten Favorite Christmas Carols

                                         'Tis the season

Merry Christmas everyone! I wanted to have Anna write a list of her favorite Christmas carols, but unfortunately we have been very busy, and I am just now getting around to writing this little list, because hey, we need at least one Christmas post, right? Anyway, here's a list of a few of my favorite carols. I excluded songs like Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, because although they are groovy, they're not exactly carols.

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Although I am not ranking these in any particular order, I will say that this exceedingly British carol is definitely near the top of the list. It personifies the solemnity of Christmas morn. We have so many songs singing praises of the joy (which is splendid) of Christmas that it's nice to have one telling grown men to remember that if it weren't for Christ coming into the world, we'd all be in Satan's clutches. And the words are so epic, ya know! And I also have a soft spot for songs in the minor key...

'This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface!'

2. Once In Royal David's City: This is Mama's favorite Christmas carol, and I can't but agree with her that it is a beautiful hymn. So quiet, so peaceful. This one sounds like the very early morning on Christmas day, when everything is still quiet but the world knows Jesus is born.

'He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall; with the poor, the weak, the lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.'

3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing: Okay, who doesn't like this carol? It's so happy! I like how the melody builds and builds up to the last line.

'Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!'

4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear: Rather like number 2 in aura, this Christmas carol has more of an icy feeling. Like you're outside on a midnight clear, drinking it the quietness of Christmas morn. It's a lovely carol.

'It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold. "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heav'n's all gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.'

5. Angels We Have Heard On High: This carol is gorgeous, in my opinion. So clear, like bells ringing in the frosty air. I looked it up, and that one part (you know what I'm talking about) is a melisma, and it's just so beautiful. Like snow delicately falling over the sound of those crystal clear bells.

'Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.'

6. Carol of the Bells: The only negative thing about this carol is that you kinda need a large group of people to sing it correctly. But when you do, my is it beautiful! It's so haunting, like it's waiting in a dark forest filled with snow and anticipation for the coming Christmas day.

'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....'

7. O Holy Night: Although this carol isn't my absolute favorite, it stills deserves to be on this list. It's calm and serene, and then passionate and moving. 

'A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.'

8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem: This has to be the coziest Christmas carol out there. It's so dreamy, like lying before a fire on Christmas eve. It does mention the word sleep several times, so no wonder it's so dreamy.

'O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.'

9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are: My family and I sing this carol often in our morning prayers throughout the Nativity fast, so it never was exactly fresh and new, but I still thought it was awesome when I was a kid (courtesy of minor key), especially the verses. I think it's wonderful that the Three Kings finally get a song (and by finally, I mean 1863).

'Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume. Breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorr'wing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.'

10. Silent Night: Did you honestly think I wouldn't put Silent Night on here? Although this carol is sung almost too often, a good rendition of it (like the Regensburger Domspatzen version) is always beautiful. A wonderful carol to sing late on Christmas eve, it is one of the most soothing and beautiful carols out there.

'Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. 'Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.'

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

                                 'Glories stream from heaven afar, heav'nly hosts sing Allelluia; 

                                           Christ the savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.