Christmas Carols: a Poll

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I am buying all of my friends Jackie Evancho’s new Christmas CD for Christmas. I also love her rendition of “O Holy Night”, which is my most favorite Christmas carol. She has the voice of an angel.

There is a young man in my parish who has an amazing tenor voice, and it has become the custom for him to sing “O Holy Night” at Christmas Eve Mass. It is so beautiful that there is barely a dry eye in the congregation. The song really touches my heart.
 
One of my favorites is not on this list: Gesu Bambino (“When Blossoms Flowered 'Mid the Snows”), by Pietro Yon. To my knowledge, the only recent hymnals it has appeared in are People’s Mass Book (old brown edition), and Collegeville.

Many of the lesser known ones (Wexford, etc) are beautiful and deserve much more play than they get currently!
 
Speaking of the Wexford Carol, I’m a little surprised it only has one vote! (mine)

I always like the dual imagery in the song – the acknowledgement of Christmas present, but then the retelling of the Christmas story, along with the admonishment to remember that God sent his only son for our salvation.

Loreena McKennitt’s version is far and away my favorite – youtube.com/watch?v=CG6vOASt2RU to hear it on YouTube, but the album the song is found on is well worth the purchase, too, for those unfamiliar with her work.
 
O Come All Ye Faithful…

but shouldn’t Joy to the World be on that list as well???
 
Elizabeth779 said:
O Come All Ye Faithful…

but shouldn’t Joy to the World be on that list as well???
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I had mental block I think 😛

I forgot both Adeste Fideles AND Joy to the World.

Also, I forgot “Little Town of Bethlehem” and “While Shepherds watched their flocks by night”
 
I love all the traditional Christmas Carols.

My favorite modern Christmas carol is “Cry Out With Joy and Gladness” (the Christmas counterpart to the Advent hymn “Proclaim the Joyful Message.”
 
I have so many that it’s hard to pick. Each has their own special influence on me.

There’s nothing like singing “O Come, All Ye Faithful” at the start of Midnight Mass and ending with “Joy to the World”. We also sometimes use “Silent Night” as a meditation hymn after Communion, and it’s BEAUTIFUL!

In order, these are my favorites:
  1. O Come, All Ye Faithful
  2. Joy to the World
  3. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
  4. Silent Night
  5. O Holy Night
  6. Angels, We Have Heard on High
  7. Angles, from the Realms of Glory
  8. The Snow Lay on the Ground
  9. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
  10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
  11. Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
  12. O Little Town of Bethlehem
  13. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
  14. The First Noel
  15. We Three Kings
  16. What Child Is This
  17. As with Gladness Men of Old
  18. What Star Is This
 
I was looking at the authors of our great Advent and Christmas carols, and noticed that almost all are non-Catholic (mainly Anglican and Methodist). It prompted me to think whether there used to be Carol services prior to the church giving permission to use cross,denominational hymnody.
 
I chose O Holy Night. It is my favorite because I love the swell and strength up to ‘Fall on your knees’. I get chills and teary every single time, no matter the talent singing it.
 
So many great ones.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen I think may be my favorite. However, ones like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Adeste Fideles (I like it much more in Latin), O Holy Night, and Angels we have heard on High (who doesn’t love singing Gloria in excelsis Deo?) are also favorites of mine. I really love all of them :).

Also some Italian ones, Gésu Bambino and Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, beautiful songs.
 
I voted for “O Holy Night” which is one of my favorites but would have loved to see “What Child is This?” on the list. The lyrics are amazing and point from the nativity to the crucifixion and resurrection-I love the breadth of the vision, and the understanding of love and sacrifice. " Nails, spear shall pierce him though, his cross be born for me, for you, Hail Hail the Word made flesh, the babe the son of Mary." Meditating on that song brings it all home to me.
Rise Up Shepherd and Foller is a sentimental favorite; my dad loves to sing it and it is a Christmas staple around the piano. I love all of the traditional songs and, on the more contemporary front, have a soft spot for Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing “The Little Drummer Boy”. The counterpoint is lovely and I think that last line "Then he smiled at me…says it all…Our Savior loves us and delights in our gifts, however small and humble they are. Here’s the link:
youtube.com/watch?v=ADbJLo4x-tk

Adeste Fideles/O Come All Ye Faithful is my favorite of those sung by Charlotte Church. Here is her version, sung in Jerusalem.
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2lYhXp2X6Dk

And below, a duet of O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus by Mariah Carey and her Mother, Patricia Carey.
youtube.com/watch?v=Q6m0MKzXhNM&feature=related
 
I voted for “Oh Holy Night” The words/melody are just so holy and powerful! I always tear up when I hear it. Martina Mcbride sings it really beautifully.
 
PacoG said:
I love all the traditional Christmas Carols.

My favorite modern Christmas carol is “Cry Out With Joy and Gladness” (the Christmas counterpart to the Advent hymn “Proclaim the Joyful Message.”
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Thank you for your post – I’ll have to check out the Proclaim the Joyful Message…
 
LoyalViews said:
As CAF’s (un)official pollster, I have decided that it is my utmost duty to determine what Christmas carol is the overall favourite here on CAF. 😛

It is November, yes indeed, but only a month and an half until Christmas and I’d like to keep the poll open until then.

Besides all that, I LOVE carols and I am already listening to them year-round. If you have a favourite rendition of a carol, do post it and we’ll have a holly-jolly thread in preparation for the celebration of the blessed birth of Our Lord, and the motherhood of the Blessed Virgin to the Saviour of the World.
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👍👍:D:D:p
 
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