Christmas Carols, Part One

 

It would seem that December is upon us. And thus Christmas season. Accompanied by all the things typically associated with Christmas. Lights, candles, trees, mistletoe, wreaths, trees, present shopping, Christmas carols, hot cocoa, fruitcake, figgy pudding, eggnog, hot cider, trees, Santa, candy canes, nativity scenes... Did I mention trees?

Christmas is one of the most commercialized times of the year. Its also one of the few times some people ever grace a church pew. To which point it is in our interest to be the most theologically solid we possibly can be during this time. 

A lot of the popular Christmas traditions are drawn from pagan celebrations that date to the B.C., including Germanic celebrations of Yule, and the Roman celebrations of Saturn. These traditions were copied over to the Christian holiday by the Catholic church and some by the Lutheran church, in order to make it more appealing to the pagans.

 I could say a lot of things about Christmas. I could say a lot of things about why I personally choose to not recognize it. Or at least not as a December holiday, and not with the traditional methods of celebration. I think the birth of Messiah is worth recognizing. But if God in human flesh is worth celebrating, isn't it worth doing so with a bit more reasoning and wisdom than performing pagan traditions during a season where the pagans are doing the same traditions for their own holiday? Be in the world and not of it. At least that's my reasoning. Still, let every man be convinced in his own mind whether he considers one day more holy than another or whether he considers all days alike.

But the controversial topic I would like to get into today, regardless of when or how you celebrate Christmas, is the carols that accompany the season. Again, I say, if we are doing this as an act of worship toward God born to mankind for the remission of our sins, shouldn't we take our Christmas carols under careful consideration? All our music, really. But in this season, especially Christmas carols, because a whole lot of them take a whole lot of "creative liberties". But these are only my thoughts. Not getting on a soap box right now. Simply stating, here is my position, and here is why I am convinced as such.

For the purpose of this discussion, we will define carols as "a song in carol form whose lyrics center around Christmas and which is religious in nature". Thus distinguishing between "religious" Christmas songs and "secular" Christmas songs.

First off, let me just go on a little personal rant here. For the love of all that is pure and holy, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is not a carol and the tune is just outright annoying! Some people try to go out on a limb and create Christian symbology. Twelve disciples. Ten commandments. Eight beatitudes in the sermon on the mount. Six days of creation. Three magi. One Jesus crucified on a tree. And so on and so forth.

But let's be real honest here. If we want to have a song that symbolizes all these things, can't you even try to create slightly more accurate symbolism than twelve lords leaping, six geese laying, eight ladies dancing, and such? The imagery is not remotely connected to the religious symbolism being claimed. And how about a tune that doesn't pull equal rank with Baby Shark? Can we please have a tune that isn't as annoying as Baby Shark?

In actual reality, the song first appeared in publication in England in 1780, though it's thought that the song was originally French. The origin of the absurd presents is unknown. And the idea behind a twelve day celebration? Germanic/Scandinavian celebrations of Yule.

Okay, rant over. Lets look at the theology of some actual religious carols. Each volume will consist of ten well known and highly common songs. Rated 1-10, based only on my evaluation of the theology, not rated according to personal music tastes.

And I will take requests! If you don't see a carol that you think out to be considered a carol, shoot me a message or leave a comment, and I'll give my thoughts on it in a future edition!

Away In A Manger, published 1882 (9.5/10)

Nothing drastically theologically wrong, other than "no crying he makes" is maybe mildly unrealistic. Jesus is God, but he was also human flesh. Infantile human flesh laying in a pile of straw amidst barn animals. One could argue that the song is not saying Jesus didn't cry as a baby, its only suggesting that at some point, he fell asleep and was later awakened by the cows, at which point he did not cry. Even still. I work around cows. They generally don't make a lot of noise unless they are upset about something. Not sure a baby would be chill about a hungry cow bellowing cuz its feed trough has a child laying in it. Just saying.
Still, not theologically erroneous. Just possibly a smidge misleading.

Do You Hear What I Hear?, published 1962 (6.5/10)

Very loosely, this is a narrative of the nativity as told in the Gospel of Matthew. Very loosely. The wind talks to a lamb. The lamb talks to a shepherd. The shepherd talks to a king. Considering wind wasn't involved, sheep weren't talking, and the wise men and shepherds probably didn't cross paths, the whole song kinda loses meaning in the midst of the nonsensical imagery.

Go Tell It On The Mountain, published 1865 (9.7/10)

Mostly theologically accurate, other than "God sent us salvation, that blessed Christmas morn." may or may not be completely accurate. Now, very technically, Jewish tradition considers the new day to start immediately after dusk. So the shepherds could have been in the fields in the evening and Jesus could've been born shortly after dark and thus "the morning" of the next day.

But then again, there were shepherds watching their flocks by night" and the angels said "unto you this day." And this account was written by a Greek, to a Greek, by which we can reason that it was actual night. Jesus was born at night and people only write "morn" cuz they need something to rhyme with "born".

So. Great song, theologically solid. But maybe we can come up with a rhyme that is more accurate with reckoning of time?

I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day, penned 1863 (10/10)

The song tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War, but despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men". After much anguish and despondency the carol concludes with the bells ringing out with resolution that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep" and that there will ultimately be "...peace on earth, good will to men". 

Overall, not explicitly a lot to do with Christmas itself. However, the song is nonetheless a solid theological reminder. God is not dead or sleeping, and ultimately there will be peace on earth.

I Wonder as I Wander, penned 1933 (9.7)

I have told quite a few people that this is actually my favorite Christmas song. And quite a few are surprised that when it is sung, it it is often done so as a Christmas carol. The imagery is a deep reminder of the whole purpose for the birth. "Jesus my Saviour did come forth to die".

That being said, there are officially three verses, and the second one talks about cow stalls and farmers and implies the shepherds and wise men were all there at once. Probably not super accurate. But cutting out that specific verse altogether, it's a wonderful song.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, written 1849 (9.7/10)

Well, we can't say for sure that Jesus was born at midnight, but at least its more probable. Mainly, my analysis is the line "from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold". Never are angels depicted in the Bible with harps. They are always depicted as being terrifying in appearance, and most commonly are depicted as deadly warriors. Also, never are harps depicted as being made of gold. Considering gold is allegedly used as street pavement in Heaven, any harps are just as likely to be made out of something completely different.

Outside of that minor complaint, theologically solid.

The Little Drummer Boy, recorded 1957

No. Just no. Sure, the rum-pum-pum-pum is cute. But even being a drummer myself, I have no reason to believe there is any theological accuracy in this song. Nor are drum solos particularly pleasant to the ear. Especially to a newborn baby.

O Little Town of Bethlehem, penned 1868 (10/10)

No theological errors or nonsensical references in this one!

 We Three Kings, written 1857 (5/10)

For the last time, three gifts doesn't imply three kings! Also, Orient. Historically, orient was used to refer to the area consisting of parts of Northern Africa and the Levant. Aka western Asia or Middle East. Probably historically consistent. But in the modern context, Orient typically refers to China and the southeastern Asian countries. The magi were likely Persian, considering that the Persians would reasonably have knowledge of the Jewish scriptures after all the captivities and exiles. Also, we are not three kings of the Orient, following a star. Overall, it has never particularly struck me as a song of worship.

Fum Fum Fum, translated from Catalan to English in 1953 (1/10)

Rather a ridiculous carol. 

"On December five and twenty,
fum, fum fum.
Oh, a child was born this night
So rosy white, so rosy white"

First off, no. assigning specific dates to Jesus' birth with no actual mathematical record... Comes close to being as ridiculous as the people who keep trying to predict his return. Secondly, what are we calling rosy white? the night, or the child? Shepherds definitely wouldn't have been keeping sheep out in the hills if everything was blanketed in white snow. And Jesus was most definitely not Irish or Scandinavian.

So there we have it! The first ten carols.