What was the very first Christmas song?

The first known Christmas song is likely the 4th-century Latin hymn "Jesus Refulsit Omnium" ("Jesus, Light of All the Nations"), written by St. Hilary of Poitiers, or "Corde natus ex Parentis" ("Of the Father's heart begotten") by Roman poet Prudentius, with both texts still appearing in services today. These early hymns were theological rather than singalong carols, with popular caroling traditions developing much later, around the 12th-13th centuries in Europe.

What was the original Christmas song?

"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé.

What was the first Christmas number one song ever recorded?

The history of the Christmas number one - now one of the great festive traditions - begins with Al Martino and his ballad Here In My Heart. This topped the charts in 1952 and was not only the first Christmas number one, but also the first ever UK number one.

What is the oldest Christmas song still played?

The Wexford Carol, music from 12th century Ireland, the oldest Christmas Carol still sung today.

What is the oldest song still played today?

The oldest surviving song is the Hurrian Hymn No. 6, a nearly complete piece of music from around 1400 BCE, found on a clay tablet in ancient Ugarit (modern Syria), dedicated to the goddess Nikkal, and featuring musical notation for a nine-stringed lyre, though interpretations of the melody vary. For a complete ancient song with clearer notation, the Greek Seikilos Epitaph (c. 100 CE) is a well-known example. 

The Very First Christmas | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO | Bible Story | LifeKids

What is the #1 song of all time?

There's no single "number one song of all time" because it depends on the criteria (sales, streams, cultural impact, critical acclaim), but Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is often cited as the best-selling single ever by sales, while Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" holds records for streaming/digital certifications, and critics' lists (like Rolling Stone's list) favor songs like Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".

What's the most famous old song?

The "most popular old song" depends on the metric, but Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the Guinness World Record holder for best-selling single ever (before modern charts), while songs like Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", and The Beatles' "Hey Jude" consistently top "greatest" or "most recognizable" lists for their era. For sheer ubiquity, Disney's "It's a Small World" is likely the most played song in history. 

What is the oldest Christmas song in the UK?

The oldest one used as a congregational Christmas hymn is Corde natus ex parentis, sung in English as Of the Father's heart begotten (link is to a video of a Christmas service at an English cathedral). The words are from a 5th century poem by Prudentius, and the melody has been unchanged since Piae cantiones (1582).

Why was O'Holy Night banned?

"O Holy Night" was banned by French church leaders in the 1850s due to its controversial origins: the lyrics were written by an atheist poet (Placide Cappeau) and the music by a Jewish composer (Adolphe-Charles Adam), leading some to deem it too secular and politically radical, especially the lines about liberation from oppression. Despite the ban, the French people continued to sing it, and American abolitionists later embraced its powerful message of freedom, eventually making it a beloved classic worldwide.
 

What is the #1 Christmas song of all time?

The number one Christmas song of all time by sales is Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling single ever, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide, and remains a top seller annually. In modern digital streams, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" dominates, earning the most revenue and dominating charts in recent years, making it a huge contemporary hit, says Wigan One Radio.

What is the only Christmas song to reach number 1 twice?

It's 50 years since Bohemian Rhapsody was Christmas number 1. It took the Christmas top spot twice, in 1975 and 1991.

What were jingle bells originally called?

James Lord Pierpont originally copyrighted the song with the name "The One Horse Open Sleigh" on September 16, 1857.

What song kept Last Christmas off number 1?

On release, "Last Christmas" spent five consecutive weeks at number two on the UK singles chart. It was beaten to Christmas number one by the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, on which Michael also performed. Wham! donated their royalties to relief efforts for the Ethiopian famine.

What is the rarest Christmas song?

Rare & Unusual Christmas Songs

• We Need a Little Christmas (From "Mame") ...
• Boogie Woogie Santa Claus. ...
• The Sound of Christmas. ...
• Don't Think I'm Santa Claus. ...
• Stuck in the Chimney. The Surf Boys.
• Papa Ain't No Santa Claus (Mama Ain't No Christmas Tree) Butterbeans & Susie.
• I Got a Cold for Christmas. The Ames Brothers.
• Mr. Santa Claus.

What was the first famous Christmas song?

Benjamin Hanby's "Up on the House Top" and Emily Huntington Miller's "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" were among the first explicitly secular Christmas songs in the United States, both dating to the 1860s; they were preceded by "Jingle Bells", written in 1857 but not explicitly about Christmas, and "O Christmas Tree," ...

What country banned Christmas for 30 years?

After Fidel's revolution, Cuba was declared to be an atheist nation, formerly having been Catholic like most Latin American countries. In 1969 Christmas was banned mostly because it got in the way of the sugar harvest.

What is the darkest Christmas song?

“Coventry Carol“

No Christmas carol can hold a candle to the darkness that is “Coventry Carol.” This English carol dates back to 1534 and stems from the Biblical story of the Massacre of the Innocents, wherein King Herod ordered all of the male babies in Bethlehem to be killed.

Does the Bible say "don't celebrate Christmas"?

The Scriptures neither command nor forbid the celebration of Christmas.

What is the most played Christmas song of all time in the UK?

Going off their records, here are the top 10 most popular Christmas songs in the UK.

• Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade. ...
• Do They Know It's Christmas – Band Aid. ...
• Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin' Stevens. ...
• Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea. ...
• Stay Another Day – East 17. ...
• Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee.

What is the second oldest Christmas song?

🎄 The oldest Christmas hymns with surviving texts date to the 4th century, with 'Jesus Refulsit Omnium' ('Jesus, Light of All the Nations'), written by St. Hilary of Poitier, and 'Corde natus ex Parentis' ('Of the Father's Love Begotten') which was composed by Roman Christian poet Prudentius.

Which 70s song is the catchiest?

While "catchiest" is subjective, scientific studies and cultural impact often point to Queen's "We Are the Champions" (1977) as a top contender, due to its unifying, anthemic chorus perfect for group singing, while other highly catchy options include Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" (1974) for its memorable stuttering hook, and M's "Pop Muzik" (1979) for its irresistible synth-disco pulse. 

What is the most played song ever in history?

There's even a dispute over the exact title. Yet “It's a Small World,” also known as “It's a Small, Small World” and “It's a Small World (After All),” is very likely the most played song in music history — nearly 50 million times.