List of Christmas carols
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:13:25 PM Wikipedia source
This list of Christmas carols is organized by language of origin. Originally, a Christmas carol referred to a piece of vocal music in carol form whose lyrics centre on the theme of Christmas or the Christmas season. The difference between a Christmas carol and a popular Christmas song can often be unclear as they are both sung by groups of people going house to house during the Christmas season. Some view Christmas carols to be only religious in nature and consider Christmas songs to be secular. Many traditional Christmas carols focus on the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, while others celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas that range from 25 December to 5 January, or Christmastide which ranges from 24 December to 5 January. As a result, many Christmas carols can be related to Saint Stephen's Day (26 December), St John's Day (27 December), Feast of Holy Innocents (28 December), Saint Sylvester's Day (31 December), and the Epiphany. Examples of this are "We Three Kings" (an Epiphany song), and "Good King Wenceslas" (a carol for Saint Stephen's Day). Nonetheless, some other categories of Christmas music, both religious and secular, have become associated with the Christmas season even though the lyrics may not specifically refer to Christmas – for example, "Deck the Halls" (no religious references) and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (an Advent chant). Other Christmas music sung by carolers focuses on more secular Christmas themes, and winter carols and novelty Christmas songs often refer to winter scenes, family gatherings, and Santa Claus ("Jingle Bells", "O Christmas Tree", "Home for the Holidays", "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", "Frosty the Snowman", "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", etc.).
Tables
· Afrikaans
| Title | Composer / lyricist | Year | Notes |
| "Somerkersfees" | Koos du Plessis | Title translation: "Summer Christmas" |
· Arabic
"Laylat Al-Milad"
"Laylat Al-Milad"
Title
"Laylat Al-Milad"
Composer / lyricist
Traditional Maronite Hymn
Notes
Title translation: "Christmas Eve"
| Title | Composer / lyricist | Year published | Notes |
| "Laylat Al-Milad" | Traditional Maronite Hymn | Title translation: "Christmas Eve" |
· Basque
"Birjina maite" ("Lovely virgin")
"Birjina maite" ("Lovely virgin")
Title
"Birjina maite" ("Lovely virgin")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Year published
19th century / early 20th century
"Hator hator" ("Come come")
"Hator hator" ("Come come")
Title
"Hator hator" ("Come come")
Composer / lyricist
Antonio and Juan Kruz De la Fuente
Year published
18th century
"Mari Domingi"
"Mari Domingi"
Title
"Mari Domingi"
Composer / lyricist
Resurreccion Maria Azkue
Year published
20th century
Notes
Carol about Mari Domingi, a prominent character in Basque Christmas tradition.
"Mesias sarritan" ("Messiah often")
"Mesias sarritan" ("Messiah often")
Title
"Mesias sarritan" ("Messiah often")
Composer / lyricist
Bartolome Ertzilla
Year published
1892
Notes
Also known as "Belengo portalian" ("In the stable at Bethlehem")
"Oi Bethleem" ("Oh Bethlehem")
"Oi Bethleem" ("Oh Bethlehem")
Title
"Oi Bethleem" ("Oh Bethlehem")
Composer / lyricist
Jose Gontzalo Zulaika
Year published
Early 20th century
"Olentzero joan zaigu" ("Olentzero has left us")
"Olentzero joan zaigu" ("Olentzero has left us")
Title
"Olentzero joan zaigu" ("Olentzero has left us")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Notes
Carol about Olentzero, the most important character in Basque Christmas tradition, similar to Santa Claus in other countries.
| Title | Composer / lyricist | Year published | Notes |
| "Birjina maite" ("Lovely virgin") | Traditional | 19th century / early 20th century | |
| "Hator hator" ("Come come") | Antonio and Juan Kruz De la Fuente | 18th century | |
| "Mari Domingi" | Resurreccion Maria Azkue | 20th century | Carol about Mari Domingi, a prominent character in Basque Christmas tradition. |
| "Mesias sarritan" ("Messiah often") | Bartolome Ertzilla | 1892 | Also known as "Belengo portalian" ("In the stable at Bethlehem") |
| "Oi Bethleem" ("Oh Bethlehem") | Jose Gontzalo Zulaika | Early 20th century | |
| "Olentzero joan zaigu" ("Olentzero has left us") | Traditional | Carol about Olentzero, the most important character in Basque Christmas tradition, similar to Santa Claus in other countries. |
· Catalan
"Fum, Fum, Fum" ("El vint-i-cinc de desembre")
"Fum, Fum, Fum" ("El vint-i-cinc de desembre")
Title
"Fum, Fum, Fum" ("El vint-i-cinc de desembre")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Year published
16th century
Notes
The word "fum" may imitate the sound of a drum (or perhaps the strumming of a guitar). "Fum" means "smoke"(noun) in Catalan.
"El cant dels ocells" (lit. "Song of the Birds")
"El cant dels ocells" (lit. "Song of the Birds")
Title
"El cant dels ocells" (lit. "Song of the Birds")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional; Pablo Casals arranged the song for cello
Year published
Lyrics are printed in 17th century
Notes
also known as "Carol of Birds"
"El Noi de la Mare" (lit. "The Son of the Mother")
"El Noi de la Mare" (lit. "The Son of the Mother")
Title
"El Noi de la Mare" (lit. "The Son of the Mother")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Year published
17th-18th century
Notes
Also known as "Carol of the Gifts"
"A Betlem me'n vull anar" (lit. "I want to go to Bethlehem")
"A Betlem me'n vull anar" (lit. "I want to go to Bethlehem")
Title
"A Betlem me'n vull anar" (lit. "I want to go to Bethlehem")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"El dimoni escuat" (lit. "the devil with no tail")
"El dimoni escuat" (lit. "the devil with no tail")
Title
"El dimoni escuat" (lit. "the devil with no tail")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Ara ve Nadal" (lit. "Christmas is coming")
"Ara ve Nadal" (lit. "Christmas is coming")
Title
"Ara ve Nadal" (lit. "Christmas is coming")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Les dotze van tocant" (lit. "Ringing twelve o'clock")
"Les dotze van tocant" (lit. "Ringing twelve o'clock")
Title
"Les dotze van tocant" (lit. "Ringing twelve o'clock")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Descanseu ben alegres" (lit. "Rest very happy")
"Descanseu ben alegres" (lit. "Rest very happy")
Title
"Descanseu ben alegres" (lit. "Rest very happy")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Pastorets de la muntanya" (lit. "Shepherds from the mountain")
"Pastorets de la muntanya" (lit. "Shepherds from the mountain")
Title
"Pastorets de la muntanya" (lit. "Shepherds from the mountain")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"El desembre congelat" (lit. "Frozen December")
"El desembre congelat" (lit. "Frozen December")
Title
"El desembre congelat" (lit. "Frozen December")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu" (lit. "Saint Joseph and the Mother of God")
"Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu" (lit. "Saint Joseph and the Mother of God")
Title
"Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu" (lit. "Saint Joseph and the Mother of God")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"La pastora Caterina" (lit. "Caterina, the shepherd")
"La pastora Caterina" (lit. "Caterina, the shepherd")
Title
"La pastora Caterina" (lit. "Caterina, the shepherd")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"Anem a Betlem" (lit. "We're going to Bethlehem")
"Anem a Betlem" (lit. "We're going to Bethlehem")
Title
"Anem a Betlem" (lit. "We're going to Bethlehem")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
"El rabadà" (lit. "The shepherd")
"El rabadà" (lit. "The shepherd")
Title
"El rabadà" (lit. "The shepherd")
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Caga Tío”
Caga Tío”
Title
Caga Tío”
Composer / lyricist
Traditional
Notes
A song sung when beating Tio de Nadal.
| Title | Composer / lyricist | Year published | Notes |
| "Fum, Fum, Fum" ("El vint-i-cinc de desembre") | Traditional | 16th century | The word "fum" may imitate the sound of a drum (or perhaps the strumming of a guitar). "Fum" means "smoke"(noun) in Catalan. |
| "El cant dels ocells" (lit. "Song of the Birds") | Traditional; Pablo Casals arranged the song for cello | Lyrics are printed in 17th century | also known as "Carol of Birds" |
| "El Noi de la Mare" (lit. "The Son of the Mother") | Traditional | 17th-18th century | Also known as "Carol of the Gifts" |
| "A Betlem me'n vull anar" (lit. "I want to go to Bethlehem") | Traditional | ||
| "El dimoni escuat" (lit. "the devil with no tail") | Traditional | ||
| "Ara ve Nadal" (lit. "Christmas is coming") | Traditional | ||
| "Les dotze van tocant" (lit. "Ringing twelve o'clock") | Traditional | ||
| "Descanseu ben alegres" (lit. "Rest very happy") | Traditional | ||
| "Pastorets de la muntanya" (lit. "Shepherds from the mountain") | Traditional | ||
| "El desembre congelat" (lit. "Frozen December") | Traditional | ||
| "Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu" (lit. "Saint Joseph and the Mother of God") | Traditional | ||
| "La pastora Caterina" (lit. "Caterina, the shepherd") | Traditional | ||
| "Anem a Betlem" (lit. "We're going to Bethlehem") | Traditional | ||
| "El rabadà" (lit. "The shepherd") | Traditional | ||
| Caga Tío” | Traditional | A song sung when beating Tio de Nadal. |
· Cebuano
"Kasadya Ning Taknaa" (lit. "How Merry is This Hour")
"Kasadya Ning Taknaa" (lit. "How Merry is This Hour")
Title
"Kasadya Ning Taknaa" (lit. "How Merry is This Hour")
Composer / lyricist
Vicente Rubi / Mariano Vestil
Year published
1933
Notes
More popularly known by its loose translation in Tagalog as "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" (lit. "Christmas Has Come").
| Title | Composer / lyricist | Year published | Notes |
| "Kasadya Ning Taknaa" (lit. "How Merry is This Hour") | Vicente Rubi / Mariano Vestil | 1933 | More popularly known by its loose translation in Tagalog as "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" (lit. "Christmas Has Come"). |
References
- 680 Newshttps://toronto.citynews.ca/2011/12/17/christmas-carols-vs-christmas-songs-do-you-know-the-difference-between-the-two/
- El Noi de la Mare (Carol of the Gifts)https://global.oup.com/academic/product/el-noi-de-la-mare-carol-of-the-gifts-9780193365537?cc=us&lang=en&
- Zither Carolhttps://global.oup.com/academic/product/zither-carol-9780193419841?cc=us&lang=en&
- Folkehøjskolens Sangbog
- wwwhttp://www.dendanskesalmebogonline.dk/salmeoversigt
- "Den yndigste rose er funden", text and melodyhttps://www.dendanskesalmebogonline.dk/salme/122
- "Glory To God / Ere Zij God", (accessed 16 October 2014)http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/glory_to_god_ere_zij_god.htm
- Song of Americahttps://songofamerica.net/song/christmas-carol-1/
- Husk, William Henry. Songs of the Nativity, London: John Camden Hotten, Chiswick Press, 1884, p. 150 (first part of bookhttps://archive.org/details/songsofnativityb00husk/page/150
- The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits
- wwwhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181231022656/http://www.negrospirituals.com/songs/404.htm
- SoundCloudhttps://soundcloud.com/david-lawrence-824503445/the-apple-white-carol
- usi Kuwa-Aapinen. Lukukirja kodille, kierto- ja sunnuntai-kouluille. p. 27. 2nd revised and expanded edition. Weilin & G
- Reijo Pajamo. Taas kaikki kauniit muistot. Joululaulujen taustat ja tarinat. pp. 67–69. WSOY, Finland, 1982. ISBN 951-0-
- Kalevi Toiviainen. "G. O. Schöneman ja hänen seurakuntansa". In Kasvavan Jyväskylän seurakunta. pp. 9–27, 21. Oy Keskisu
- Reijo Pajamo. Taas kaikki kauniit muistot. Joululaulujen taustat ja tarinat. p. 68. WSOY, Finland, 1982. ISBN 951-0-1144
- wwwhttp://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/noel_nouvelet.htm
- Alkitab by Sabdahttps://alkitab.app/BE/57
- GBKP KM 8https://www.gbkpkm8.com/2019/03/kee-114-sendah-jumpa-kita-wari-raya-e.html
- Alkitab by Sabdahttps://alkitab.app/BN/57