LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Christmas Carols: Middle Ages
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Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived!
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Children and adults of all ages are welcome to visit Trafalgar Square and enjoy carol services in the run up to Christmas. Services will be taking place daily from Monday 10th to Sunday 23rd December 2007, between 5pm and 9pm. Please note that no service will take place on Tuesday 11th December.
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The more recent practices surrounding Santa Claus may be irrelevant to old Christmas carols. This context may be part of the tunes and ditties spread by wandering minstrels in the Medieval Ages in Europe which include particular repertoires for Christmastime. Another possible source for old Christmas carols that is popular among the masses and without or with less religious overtones are the songs of the watchmen in the wee hours of the winter nights while they patrol around the streets of medieval walled cities. The spirit of charity and gift-giving in modern practices bridge the modern practices with the older traditions. Christmas carols are not such only because they are joyful and merry. They fill the air with initiating energies of Christianity and spirituality.
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[A]t this time, many orchestras and choirs were being set up in the cities of England and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so carols once again became popular. Many new carols,such as 'Good King Wenceslas', were ... written .
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All three carols below have been arranged by Kazimierz Hubert, who at the age of 21 had already done film score and was a BAFTA nominee. They were originally arranged for a full symphony orchestra, and have been adapted to piano for this midi version.
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