Christmas music

I still love any carol played and sung by the Salvation Army on the streets at Christmas. Don't hear them much these days, but when I was a child they were always around, and I must admit I always get a little bit teary when I stand listening to them

We sang a couple of Latin ones (Personent Hodie was my favourite) and a French one I still really like - Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant - I’d forgotten that until all this ‘school’ talk!

I enjoy cathedral choirs singing carols if I am in the house. If I am driving then it has to be ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea. It reminds me of Christmas Eve a few years ago, I had been away from home for a few months looking after my Father, he came out of hospital on 23rd December, I came home on Christmas Eve and shopped on the way home, managed with what was left on the shelves. During the long journey home this record was played several times. Still my favourite.

I love the Sally Army brass band carols, too, @starlily106.

I wonder if the local schools will have their carol singing performances in the supermarkets this year. It always brings a lump to my throat thinking of my own grandchildren. I’m afraid this year I’ll be a blubbering wreck in Tesco if I hear them.

My favourite carols were Tua Bethlem Dre ,a Welsh carol, and the Calypso Carol. I knew O come all ye faithful in Welsh and latin( for some reason) before I learned it in English.

I also love Fairy Tale Of New York and also Mary’s Boy Child by Harry Belafonte because my Mum and Dad loved it and it reminds me of them, Boney M did a good version too.

I think I've read all this thread now and am surprised no one has mentioned "Scarlet Ribbons". I think I would cry if I heard that again. Haven't heard it for ages.

Not that I particularly like it, but at this time of year I think you are allowed to indulge in some sentimentality.

We sang Britten's Ceremony of Carols a couple of years ago - it was lovely.

German carols are so terribly dreary. Our choir started to discover some English ones a few years ago and I found myself unable to sing "The First Noel", I was so choked up.

And then,of course, all those lovely Rutter carols. They are so fresh and new and yet they have the right amount of sentimentality and somehow manage to sound "traditional".

Il est nee le Divine Enfant , learnt it at school and still love it .

tiredoldwoman I love that carol. We used to sing it in French at school.

I have a recording of that Carol with voices and medieval instruments, tiredoldwoman, it’s lovely.

I also learnt il est née in French at school too & have since sung it in English with my choir, but prefer it in French.
Another French one I leant was Un flambeau Jeanette Isabella (Bring a torch) which I also prefer in French.
I have friend who love to sing Silent night in German, but I didn’t learn German...?

Starlily, I too love to hear the Salvation Army band. When I was a child they would walk round our little village at Christmas, playing at various places as they went. That sound is still the sound of Christmas for me and brings tears to my eyes.