I love Christmas carols. Not the songs pop culture has coined “carols” but the old traditional church carols. I attribute it to my family heritage. Nearly every Christmas I remember, my extended family gathered around the piano to sing carols. My mom passionately plays the carols on the church organ during the Advent season. She’s led many Christmas choir cantatas during my life. The carols are part of the fabric of my family.

I know many of you dread the carols, particularly when radio stations and stores start playing them in early November. Yes, some of you get tired of the songs, particularly since we have a limited number of carols and nearly every artist has recorded their rendition of the limited lot. I don’t ever tire of the church carols though.

Handel’s Messiah
One day recently I caught myself singing the very traditional Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Odd, I thought, since I’ve always equated this song to Easter, not Christmas. Then I considered the words.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Hmm. Straight out of the book of Isaiah. There are other lines that talk about the angels visiting the shepherds in the field and the virgin conceiving a child. Again from Isaiah. Definitely Christmas prophecy.

Grounded in scripture
I think this song stays with me because the words are directly out of scripture. (The linked page above gives you the scripture references.) It’s the story of God’s complete plan – from Christ’s virgin birth to the final victory over death and evil. All put to music.

It also sticks with me because it’s a song of victory. “The God omnipotent reigneth” and “he shall reign forever and forever” are repeated throughout the chorus. In the link above, Part 3 is in fact called “a hymn of Thanksgiving for the final overthrow of death.” Now that’s a reason to shout Hallelujah! And a reason to sing this song anytime of the year.

What are you favorite carols and why?