While many carols originated as hymns, “The First Noel” began as a folk song. “Silent Night” was composed just hours before Christmas Eve Mass.

The First Noel

“The First Noel” is among our oldest carols. It dates back at least 500 years, though it was not written down and published until the 1800s. Most music historians believe the song originated in England, though it has been attributed to both England and France. The word “Noel” fits easily into both languages as a shout of joy at the birth of Christ. Some sources trace “Noel” to a Latin word meaning “birthday.” First sung at a time when few people could read and few Bibles were in circulation, the words are based more on stories people heard about the birth of Christ than on exact scripture.

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