Non-Christmas Christmas songs....

[1monster]

I was listening to the radio the other day on my way to work when DECK THE HALL came on with someone singing all the verses.

It struck me then, that this "traditional Christmas song" had nothing to do with Christmas at all. It is a song celebrating the Pagan holiday of Yule (Old Norse Religion).

Are there other non-Christmas Christmas songs out there?

DECK THE HALLS
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

[mcscajun]

1. "The Holly and the Ivy"

as a carol, has its roots in Pagan lore as well; both being symbolic plants for pagans.

The lyrics got recast for Christian use...gee, what a surprise. :P

The first 'carols' were Wassail (from the Anglo-Saxon toast "waes hael" or "good health" songs (i.e., drinking songs) to celebrate the Yule; carolers would go from door to door carrying their Wassail bowls with them to drink with the householders.

[HEyHEY]

2. ANything to do with Santa or Frosty

Whtie Christmas

[Left Is Write]

3. So, fundamentalists Christians who object to the pagan

traditions of the holidays should stop singing that song. :) (Even though it was the early Christians who co-opted pagan and Roman traditional celebrations, not the other way around.)

I am a Christian who does celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas. However, I also enjoy the traditions that sprang from celebrations that were around long before the dawn of Christianity. The boughs of holly, the mistletoe, the pine trees, the trappings that sprang from the winter celebrations that predated Jesus' birth.

Some of my ancestors were likely the Norsemen celebrating Yuletide.

[baba]

4. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

All of the snow related songs are really just winter songs.

[RevolutionaryActs]

5. Winter Wonderland.