Christmas carols

1957: Three young carol singers give their rendering of a Christmas song in the falling snow. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Carol singing: when did the Christmas tradition begin?

What is the oldest Christmas carol?

When was the first Christmas carol?

the holly and the ivy lyrics

What are the lyrics to ‘The Holly and The Ivy’?

Once in Royal David's City lyrics

What are the lyrics to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’?

'O Come all ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) lyrics

What are the lyrics to ‘O Come all ye Faithful’ (‘Adeste Fideles’)?

Hark the herald angels sing

What are the lyrics to ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’?

Who composed our favourite Christmas carols?

The composers behind your favourite carols…

Silent Night lyrics

What are the lyrics to ‘Silent Night’?

GraceEvangelineMason_cmyk

Grace-Evangeline Mason’s ‘A Winter Carol’: the exclusive score for the 2021 BBC Music Magazine Christmas carol

Best Christmas carols of all time

The 25 best Christmas carols of all time

The best Christmas classical music CDs and recordings released

The best Christmas classical music albums and recordings

Choir singers holding musical score and singing on student graduation day in university, college diploma commencement

Six of the best pieces of Christmas choral music

Ten of the best pieces of Advent music

Best Advent hymns and music

Best Christmas carols of all time

What are the lyrics to ‘Of the Father’s Heart Begotten’?

Freya Waley-Cohen new Christmas carol

‘A candle sings of simple things’ by Freya Waley-Cohen: Sing our BBC Music Magazine 2020 Christmas carol!