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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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carols
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The carols widely sung in the Christmas season today (most often in public places to collect money for charity) are of two distinct kinds.
Some are survivals of the original carols which flourished in Britain from about 1300 to 1550. These were popular songs on biblical themes, with catchy tunes. They tended to concentrate on the events connected with the twelve days of *Christmas, and to include much verbal repetition for ease of memory. A good example is God rest you merry, gentlemen, which tells the story of the shepherds and the Nativity in a mood of cheerful conviviality, with the chorus repeating its 'tidings of comfort and joy'.
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These traditional carols were suppressed in the *Reformation, surviving only in folk memory and on cheap broadsheets, printed to meet a continuing popular demand. But the 19C revival of interest in the Middle Ages and in folk music led to their being collected and published. A great many pastiche carols were also written in the same Victorian burst of enthusiasm, but they have mainly been discarded by now in favour of the traditional ones.
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The other main element in the modern repertoire of carols is hymns borrowed from the Christmas section of the hymnal, such as *O come, all ye faithful or *Hark! the herald angels sing.
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