1.  This carol is a favorite among Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. (We Three Kings)

2. This carol was originally in German, and started “How true are your leaves!” (O Tannenbaum)

3.  This shiny carol hails from the land of yellow and blue. (Carol of the Bells)

4.  This carol is a “macronic song”, which means that combines two different languages in the same song, in this case, English and Latin. (In dulci jubilo)

5.  This carol wishes for “God to be with us”.  (O Come, O Come Immanuel)

6.  This carol was based on the French poem called “Minuit, chrétiens”. (O Holy Night)

7.  This Irish carol is one of the oldest European carols in existence. (The Wexford Carol)

8. This Catalan carol doesn’t fa, la, la, la, la. Instead, it uses another word that begins with F.  (Fum, Fum, Fum)

9.  This carol has two versions, one which you might see in a Polish songbook and other in a children’s songbook. (Infant Holy, Infant Lowly)

10.  This carol was based on a real man, one who only obtained a new title after his death. (Good King Wenceslas) 

11. This somber carol mourns the passing of those killed by a Roman’s murderous rage. (Coventry Carol)

12. The music for this carol was written by a German composer with a Roman last name. (Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming)

13. Charles Dickens featured this Christmas carol in his book “A Christmas Carol”. (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen)

14. This carol was written by a long fellow who experienced a great deal of personal loss, and found comfort in Christmas.  (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day)

15. This Christmas carol mixes Christian and pagan imagery for fertility. (The Holly and the Ivy)

16. You won’t get through Christmas without hearing this hymn, which was based on themes from Handel’s Messiah.  (Joy to the World)

17. This hymn was arranged in its current upbeat version in a cantata to celebrate the invention of the printing press. Its original author wanted a solemn musical setting, but he and Felix didn’t eye to eye.  (Hark the Herald Angel’s Sing)

18. This carol was one of the favorite things the Trapp Family Singers in the 1950s. (Yep, the Sound of Music family), though it is based on a Czech carol, not an Austrian. (The Little Drummer Boy)

19. This carol was based on a poem and then turned into a hymn. Thanks Christina and Gustav!  (In the Bleak Midwinter)

20. The melody to this hymn was originally collected by the composer from a vagrant girl on the street. The composer paid the girl a quarter to repeat the song each time for enough times so that he could remember it. (I Wonder as I Wander)

21. This carol from the 1850s was originally meant to be sung for the American Thanksgiving season.  (Jingle Bells)

22. This carol of written for a Christmas Eve service and played with guitar accompaniment because the church organ broke. It has been played on many organs ever since. (Silent Night)

23.  This ringing carol makes reference to the two the two Anglican services of Morning and Evening prayer. (Ding Dong Merrily on High)

24. This 1940s carol was written in the middle of the summer as an effort to “stay cool by thinking cool”. (The Christmas Song)

And to all a good night!