The term carol is derived from a French word, carole, and these songs were very popular as dance songs from 1100 to 1300, after which they were used as processional songs during festivals. Others were written for religious mystery plays.

They were usually sung in Latin but after the Protestant Reformation, reformers believed that they were for everybody to sing and they were written and performed in the native tongue.

When I was a child, people would go round carol singing at Christmas, raising money for charity or themselves, and to me, nothing depicts Christmas more than The Salvation Army Band on the High Street playing and singing carols. This you don't seem to get any more. I think it has something to do with being classed as begging, a law which has spoilt a lot of things.

There is the Midnight Mass at Church, which is a beautiful carol service, but sadly that isn't that well attended now. It's such a shame when these old traditions die out because it's what makes Christmas Christmas. Whether religious or not, there is nothing like a good sing-song to a good old-fashioned Christmas Carol!

OK, Christmas isn’t just about Christmas Carols, it’s about Christmas music, so please join in and post any Christmas music you like, and remember “I wish it could be Christmas everyday”!

All are welcome. And please feel free to recommend and share all discussions you enjoy.

There is no obligation to follow any of our informal themes. They are simply for fun. This is an open topic chat thread, so please just post or talk about anything you like!