It was William Chatterton Dix, a businessman from Glasgow, Scotland who crafted “What Child Is This?”, one of the most reverent Christmas carols of all time. 

William suffered from a near-fatal sickness in 1865 leading to severe depression, and this near-death experience changed him completely. While recovering, he experienced spiritual awakening which inspired him to start crafting hymns. He subsequently wrote the lyrics of “What Child Is This?” and incorporated the tune of “Greensleeves" which was already one of the most aesthetic and beloved melodies of the festive season at that time.  

The eloquent melody is a beautiful reference about the “Adoration of the Shepherds” who paid visit to Jesus during Nativity. Expert hymnologists would agree that Dix’s hymns are simple yet reverently sentimental proving sincerity of the author toward his relationship with Jesus.

"What Child Is This?" is featured in an influential collection of carols in the United Kingdom entitled “Christmas Carols Old and New" and earned popularity not only in the USA but all throughout the globe.

For the complete history of the song, please visit:
https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/story-behind-the-christmas-carol-what-child-is-this

"Up on the Housetop" also popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas" is considered to be the second oldest in the list of Christmas songs recorded in history. 

This popular Christmas carol was crafted by Benjamin Russell Hanby in 1864. Hanby, who ran a singing school and was close to children had endearing contributions to holiday music like "Jolly Old St Nicholas" another famous Christmas carol and a subsequent contemporary of "Up on the Housetop". 

“Up on the Housetop” is acclaimed as the first Yuletide song that focused fundamentally on Santa Claus. In fact, it is probably the first American song that exuberantly manifested the Santa Claus theme and accredited as one of the earliest entirely secular compositions of Christmas songs in the United States of America. 

Read more about how this song managed to leave a lasting imprint in the musical sphere at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/learn-about-up-on-the-housetop-by-benjamin-hanby

​"Silent Night" originally entitled as “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!” is an iconic Christmas carol that has a very interesting story!

It was composed by Joseph Mohr, the local priest at Oberndorf, Austria a chilly winter of 1818. Unfortunately, the church's organ was broken and it would be impossible to have it fixed due to the terrible weather and so he collaborated with Franz Gruber using a guitar accompaniment as an alternative instrument. The two men subsequently performed the carol and they did an outstanding job as they played it on a Christmas Mass so beautifully given the short notice.

That wonderful moment left a mark in the history of festive music, carved its way into the hearts of billions, and subsequently, get translated into a hundred different languages and the song is performed all over the world during Christmas celebrations.    

Know more of its background at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/the-story-behind-the-christmas-carol-silent-night

"Jingle Bells" is a wonderful carol for Christmas with immense popularity worldwide until today.

The historical facet of the song is quite rich, with its origins from James Lord Pierpont who composed it as "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857. Pierpont was from New England whose original intention behind penning the piece was for Thanksgiving, at a church program in Savannah, Georgia. After the original composition in 1857, the name was evidently changed from "One Horse Open Sleigh" to "Jingle Bells" in 1859.

"Jingle Bells" has been adapted in many art forms and media. “Home Alone”, the children’s classic movie is a fine example that narrates a young boy’s unwitting adventures, along with “A Christmas Story”, both have their own renditions of the song. Eventually "Jingle Bell Rock" emerged from the original version, giving the song a modern twist!

Extremely well-acclaimed and popularly recognized, the "Jingle Bells" is a staple hymn that adds excitement during the holidays season ever since!

Study more about its exciting history at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/about-jingle-bells

​"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas song that has its roots from Ukraine. 

The spellbinding melody was originally a folk song intended to be a winter melody of good wishes.  Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, a composer and music teacher composed it in 1916. "Shchedryk" is the song's Ukranian title which means bountiful.

The English lyrics were written by American composer, Peter J. Wilhousky. Although it was initially meant as a New Year’s celebration song, due to its widespread performances, it quickly gained recognition and appreciation especially in the  Western audiences, leading to the renaming of it into "Carol of the Bells". The lyrics are copyrighted today, but the original Ukrainian piece is not.

"Carol of the Bells" became quickly associated with Christmas and still a favorite for kids and adults alike even on today's generation!

Read more at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/about-carol-of-the-bells