Do you know that we have St. Francis of Assisi to thank for initiating our current tradition of singing Christmas carols? Although much has changed in our song choices since the 13th century, in honor of this year’s Go Caroling Day, celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 20, we thought we’d take a quick look at the origins of five traditional Christmas songs and carols.
1. Jingle Bells
This popular Christmas song was originally created to celebrate Thanksgiving. Savannah, Georgia resident James Lord Pierpont wrote this song in the 1850s with the original title of "The One Horse Open Sleigh." Despite conflicting stories that claim Pierpont birthed his catchy tune while living in Massachusetts, historians do agree that the song was officially dubbed “Jingle Bells” upon publication in 1857.
If you’re up on your music trivia, you may remember the historic moment on December 16, 1965 when “Jingle Bells” became the first song broadcast in space. The crew of Gemini 6 reported a Santa Claus sled sighting followed by a bell-and-harmonica-infused rendition.
2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Chances are good that you remember this moment, too, when Singer Eddie Cantor debuted this song on his 1934 American radio show. Vaudevillian-turned-songwriter James "Haven" Gillespie wrote this song for Cantor from a place of deep grief. Experiencing personal and financial difficulties at the time, Gillespie received word that his brother had died. He turned down the assignment at first, believing himself to be too upset to turn out a joyful and light-hearted holiday tune. But memories of childhood warnings from his mother that if he and his brother did not behave, Santa would know about it, inspired him. Gillespie wrote the lyrics in 15 minutes, composer John Coots provided the music, and 24 hours after Cantor debuted the song, an annual tradition was born.
3. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Episcopalian preacher Phillip Brooks was so moved by a life-changing experience in Israel that he was compelled to pen this religious hymn. An 1865 horseback ride from Jerusalem to Bethlehem followed by a five-hour-long Christmas Eve ceremony at the Church of the Nativity inspired Brooks to compose the work after returning to the United States. Fittingly, the song’s first public performance in 1868 was staged in Phillips’ own church, sung by the children’s choir.
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The first iteration of this religious favorite was a poem written by Charles Wesley, brother of Methodism’s founder John Wesley. However, the 1739 version opened with, "Hark how all the welkin rings." Anglican preacher George Whitefield rewrote the opening line into the one we still sing today. The carol enjoyed numerous changes in tune and tempo over the years, but English musician William H. Cummings set the lyrics to a Felix Mendelssohn cantata in the mid-1800s, and this version has been with us ever since.
5. All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
Surely a favorite of children everywhere, grade school teacher Donald Yetter Gardner penned this whimsical song in 1944 with help from a group of New York second-graders. Gardner was tickled by the children wishing for presents as they lisped through missing teeth, and later that night it took him just half an hour to create his “silly little song,” and Spike Jones and his City Slickers recorded it in 1948. Gardner traded teaching for music consulting, and received royalties until he died in 2004 at age 91. Perhaps Gardner’s life of constant learning and creativity enhanced his brain fitness and contributed to his longevity.
Celebrate Go Caroling Day and Enjoy Better Brain Fitness
Much like physical exercise tones the body, exposure to music can increase brain fitness. Numerous studies show that learning to play a musical instrument creates exciting changes in the brain that improve learning, increase speech comprehension, and facilitate learning a foreign language.
Cognitive therapists use music therapy because:
- The rhythmic stimulation improves walking and movement
- Listening to music provides distraction from pain
- Singing improves speech and voice quality
- Musical expression helps with emotional needs
- Calming music promotes relaxation and well-being
So this holiday season, enjoy your favorite Christmas tunes—and an extra dose of brain fitness.
