Christmas Carol Facts: “The First Noel”

The sound of Christmas is everywhere: on the radio in my car, the music in the mall. The familiar tunes even loop in my mind all night long. Joy to the world—the Lord is come! My Christmas season wouldn’t be complete without the singing of “The First Noel.” This is the one Christmas carol that narrates the whole story of the birth of the Lord Jesus.

There are six verses in this song, and all verses are needed to complete the entire account of the birth. It is thought that the song was brought across the English Channel by wandering troubadours. The song became a great favorite for Christmas Eve when an entire village would celebrate and sing the ringing in of the yule log. These carols were thought of as popular songs sung and were sung outside of the church instead of within.

Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning birthday, believed to have had its rise in France during the first century. The repetition of the joyous “noel” in the refrain is equivalent to our singing out “Happy Birthday” to someone. When you sing “The First Noel,” this Christmas, you’ll be wishing your king a great big happy birthday!

Can you take a break and refresh your spirit by listening to the story of Christ in “The First Noel?”

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