Covenant-First Presbyterian Church will perform Christmas carols with the theme: “Ol’ Fashion Carol Sing” on the church's front steps on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The church announced they want to extend their Christmas spirit to adore Jesus with songs and celebrate His birth. They added that members put on their favorite stocking caps and participate in their singing of Christmas songs.
Besides, they noted that the Covenant-First Presbyterian Church would provide homemade cookies for everyone.
Story of Christmas Carols
According to the Why Christmas Carols website, thousand years ago, Europeans introduced melodies, but these were not Christmas songs. They explained that people sing pre-Christian or pagan music during Winter Solstice celebrations.
They said that individuals danced round stone circles to celebrate the event. As further revealed, the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, which occurs around Dec. 22.
The website stated that the term “carol” means to dance, a song of praise, or a song of joy. They added that they use carols to sing or write in all four seasons.
They emphasized that Christmas is the only time to sing them as part of their customs. They said that these practices were the only ones that were preserved.
Birth of Jesus at Solstice
The same website explained that Christmas is about simultaneously celebrating Jesus’ birth and Solstice. The early Believers began singing Christian music instead of pagan songs, as mentioned on the website.
Moreover, a Roman Bishop asked people to sing “Angel’s Hymn” during their Christmas mass in Rome in 129, as noted on the website. Also, they stated that the Comas of Jerusalem wrote another famous Christmas Hymn in 760.
The website said that Comas wrote the song for the Greek Orthodox Church.
The Why Christmas Carols revealed that there were a lot of composers around Europe that started to write “Christmas carols.”
The website exposed that not everyone like these songs because they are all written and sung in Latin. This language is rare for some, as explained on the website.
In addition, the website said that in the Middles ages, most individuals began to be interested in celebrating Christmas.
Local Leaders's Carols
Meanwhile, the website emphasized that the official carol singer called “Waits” before carol singing took place in churches. They noted that significant local leaders, such as council leaders, led the Waits band.
They explained they call them Waits” because they sang carols on Christmas Eve. They added that this term was commonly known as “watch night” or “wait the night.” They believed that shepherds were looking after their sheep when the angels appeared to them.
More importantly, the website emphasized that these local authorities had the only rights in the towns and villages to take money from the public.
Orchestras, Choirs
According to the same website, nowadays, there are many singing groups, such as orchestras and choirs, who sing Christmas carols in the cities of England. They added that people like Christmas songs and became known in churches and concert halls.
In addition, they noted that they have written many modern carols like “Good King Wenceslas.” It was written during the Victorian period, as further explained on the website.
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