During the festive season, there is nothing quite like a congregation of voices singing Christmas carols. No matter if you are listening to a choir echoing through a church or watching carols on television, there is something so heart-warming about songs that are passed through generations.
And if you're interested, the difference between Christmas songs and carols are that carols are traditional or biblical hymns.
In no particular order, we reveal our list of favourite Christmas carols to listen to over the holiday season.
1. Deck the Halls
This jolly carol is extremely well-known, whether it be sung traditionally in a service or recreated by popular musicians. In the above clip, why not have a sing-a-long with a classic from Nat King Cole.
2. Joy to the World
This song represents Christ’s return rather than his birth. Joy to the World is one of the merrier of carols and was recognised as the most published hymn ever. Watch this beautiful rendition from Celtic Woman live at The Helix.
3. Carol of the Bells
This song became popular through John Williams’ rendition for the Christmas film, Home Alone. This bouncy, catchy melody is a choir classic. Click the video above to listen to the iconic version from Home Alone by John Williams.
4. In the Bleak Midwinter
Based on the 1872 poem by Christina Rossetti this carol captures the essence of the dreary winter months. The video above is a beautiful version of the carol sung by the choir of Kings College Chapel.
5. We Three Kings of Orient Are
This melody recounts the story of the three kings that brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift for the birth of Jesus. Why not listen to it sung live by the King's College Choir.
6. O Holy Night
This song originates from France and was written to commemorate the renovation of a local church’s organ and is a popular song sung frequently at carol services. Mariah Carey covers the carol classic in the video above.
7. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
This Carol is one of the most recognisable hymns sung over the Christmas period. Here is a video of the carol being sung live by the Celtic Women, accompanied by a live orchestra.
8. Good King Wenceslas
This carol recounts the life of Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia who was killed by his malicious brother. He was then made the patron saint of the Czech Republic. Here is a version of the carol sung by the Danish National Vocal Ensemble.
9. The Holly and the Ivy
This upbeat carol is inspired by the flora, holly and ivy which manage to endure the arduous winter months. This lovely Christmas classic is sung by the Choir and Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge.
10. The First Nowell (also known as The First Noel)
This hymn is commonly mistaken for being French due to the misconception that the tile is written as ‘Nöel’, the French word for Christmas. This song actually originates from Cornwall and has the Anglo-Saxon spelling, Nowell. If you would like to listen to the cornish Christmas carol the King's College Choir have a lovely version in the video above.
11. Silent Night
Originally written in German, “Stille Nacht’ in 1818, this soft melody was translated into English in 1859. It is well known for being sung during the Christmas truce in World War I by English and German Troops. Why not give the Perry Como version a listen!
12. O Come All Ye Faithful
This is an absolute classic without which a carol service would not be complete. The video above is of the carol being sung as part of the Christmas Eve Service of Eucharist at Westminster Abbey, broadcast live on BBC. The acoustics sound beautiful echoing through the abbey.
13. Do you Hear What I Hear?
This choir classic sounds beautiful sang by a choir or covered by popular artists. Here the carol is being sung by a choir at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.
14. Ding Dong! Merrily on High
This cheery and bouncy carol will surely bring you into a festive mood. Why not listen to the The King's College choir singing the cheery carol.
15. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen!
In Charles Dicken’s novel, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge reacts irately to a carol singer chanting this song. This is one of oldest Christmas carols on this list, dating back to the 16th century. The video above is a recording taken from the choirs of Bath and Winchester cathedrals.
16. Away in a Manger
This song is very commonly sung by children in a choir or the nativity play.
17. Once in Royal David’s City
This carol allows us to reimagine the nativity to the melody of the famous hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful”. This video is sung by the Bach Choir.
18. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
This hymn is originally in Latin but is composed so that the lyrics can be sung in both English and Latin. This orchestral version is played out on the Piano and Cello by The Piano Guys.
19. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Telling the story of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the melody was first written for a local Sunday school children’s choir. Frank Sinatra sings the classic carol in the video above.
20. 12 Days of Christmas
This cumulative song which repeats simple versus with small changes is a fun and upbeat carol sang over Christmas. This jolly tune is sung by The Ray Conniff Singers.