Christmas Classics: Goats, Cuba, and Heat Waves

'Tis the season for some holiday facts about our Christmas music. What do goats, Cuba, and heat waves have to do with Christmas? While we sing and listen to these songs all season long, how much do we really know about our music. Enjoy these 10 facts and histories behind these classic Christmas tunes

"Jingle Bells" 

Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, “Jingle Bells” has been a Christmas favorite for generations. Originally published as “One Horse Open Sleigh” the location of its writing have been debated for years. However, the song’s history is a multi-faceted one. This now cherished song began as a song in a minstrel show by a man who spurned his father’s abolitionist stance. 
 
James Pierpont (J. P. Morgan’s uncle) was Northern born but rejected his family’s beliefs and instead would join up with the South during the American Civil War. His song was popular in minstrel shows practically from its inception and was one of roughly a dozen written from minstrel shows. However, while the minstrel show is often associated with the South, “Jingle Bells” was first performed in Boston. 
 
The September 14, 1857, Boston Evening Transcript reports that Pierpont had just released the song, and the following day it was first performed publicly (hence the belief that it was released for Thanksgiving and not Christmas [which is mostly true, although it may be more correct to say for autumn rather than winter]). The first published sheet music was also dedicated to the man who ran a minstrel show, although subsequent printings removed that acknowledgement. Today, “Jingle Bells” is enjoyed by many around the globe as a Christmas classic, although few know its origin story.

Bonus fact: "Jingle Bells" was one of the first songs broadcast from space. During the Gemini 6 mission, the astronauts played a Christmas-themed joke that included playing the song.

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"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" 

To many, this song elicits thoughts of a fast-paced, powerful melody. However, it may also cause pause when one considers the first few words: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.” What does that mean?
 
First appearing in the 1600s, this carol quickly became a favorite among Christians. It should be noted that early texts have the wording “Sit you merry gentlemen.” The first printing of the song that is able to be dated can be found in the early 1760s and had already changed the wording to what it is today. In popular literature, this song appears in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and George Eliot's Silas Marner.
 
The phrase God rest you merry was a common greeting in Tudor England; but today, the meaning is lost to most of us. The idea behind the phrase was “may God keep you in a pleasant state, gentlemen.” Because of the confusion of centuries-old expressions, many write the title wrong. The correct writing is with the comma AFTER merry: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”

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"O Holy Night" 

The classic hymn “O Holy Night” is a beloved hymn to many Christians. However, while it is popular in the United States, its origins lie in Europe. In 1847, French poet Placide Cappeau was tasked by a local priest to write a poem in honor of their new organ. While Cappeau was not a particularly religious man, his poem has resonated throughout Christendom.
 
The poem Minuit, Chrétiens (Midnight, Christians) was set to music a few weeks later under the name Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night). The Catholic church would shortly thereafter ban the song as the lyricist had renounced his faith, however, the song gained popularity throughout the masses. In 1855, the slightly reworded song was brought to the American public.
 
During the American Civil War, the third verse helped expand its popularity in the United States.  
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Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Today, many hymnbooks change the third line, however, in doing so, they miss the powerfulness of the statement. While “Jingle Bells” was grounded in minstrel merriment, “O Holy Night” was an abolitionist rallying cry.

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"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” comes to us from the Catholic tradition. It is also one of the older Christmas songs still sung. Its origins lie in Advent, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. The lyrics themselves took form, still in Latin, in the earl 1700s although the musical roots can be traced to the 1400s. “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel” was based on the “O Antiphons” which was sung in Vespers during Advent.
 
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” would be translated into English in 1851 with the opening line “Draw Nigh, Draw Nigh, Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale. Neale was also the writer of the Christmas classic “Good King Wenceslas.” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a paraphrase of the “O Antiphons” as many of them are paraphrased in the within the verses of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” 
 
By 1861, the song began with the now-used “O Come, O Come.” Depending on the hymnal, anywhere between 4 to 8 verses may be present. The song, has a rich heritage dating back over a millennia and is sung by many denominations around the world.

"The Christmas Song"

One of the most popular Christmas tunes today is “The Christmas Song” (also “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” or “Merry Christmas to You”). The song calls to mind cold winter days warmed by a fire and the Christmas season. However, the origin of the song is ironically much different.
 
Mel Tormé and Bob Wells were good friends and one day in summer, Tormé was visiting his friend Bob. While there, Tormé observed a few lines scrawled on a notepad and upon further inquiry learned Wells was working on a new song. Within 45 minutes, they had written the lyrics to “The Christmas Song.” While a seemingly uninspired origin for a song, it should be noted that this classic was written in the middle of an intense heatwave.
 
The heatwave was so bad, that Bob Wells admitted he wrote the first few lines as a way to cool down, even if only psychologically. From this came a finished song less than an hour later. When a music publisher turned them down, they went to see Nat Cole instead. The rest is history. So, the next heat wave you’re in just belt out a few lines of “The Christmas Song” to help cool you down.

Soviet missile capability during the Cuban Missile Crisis

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” 

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” was first released after Thanksgiving 1962. It was written by husband and wife duo Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne. A popular song, many miss the fact that its context was actually the Cuban Missile Crisis.
 
Based loosely off of the Biblical account, the song progresses from a wind to a king proclaiming Christ’s goodness and light (Although Christ is never mentioned in the song). When the couple were commissioned for a song, it was at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It should also be noted that the song, with clothed in religious symbolism was in reality a political statement. It was a plea for peace at the height of a very real, present danger.
 
The lamb was a symbol of peace. The star was representative of bombs/ missiles in the sky. Children shivering were literal representative of real children shivering in the cold (the authors were inspired by real events in NYC) . Referencing silver and gold calls to remembrance the cost of war. In case these were not too obvious to the people of the day, the writers clearly declared “Pray for peace people everywhere!”
 
The song gained permanent Christmas status following Bing Crosby’s recording of it. While a popular song today, it takes on even more meaning when one knows the context surrounding the song. The emphatic cry for peace only becomes more powerful when it is remembered that it was done when much of the world was worried about a nuclear war.

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German and British soldiers during the Christmas Truce

"O Come All Ye Faithful" 

While the Christmas hymn “O Come , All Ye Faithful” has been attributed to people ranging from anonymous monks to the king of Portugal, it first appeared in print in the 1750s. Since then, it has been performed across the world at Christmas time. Perhaps the most unique occurrence coming during World War I.
 
While World War I was a time of great tragedy and loss of life, there were a few humane moments that appeared. One of these was the informal Christmas truce in 1914. Although not a complete truce, there were many sports along the Western Front where the two sides came together to celebrate Christmas: exchanging gifts, getting haircuts, playing soccer, and singing carols.
 
In one spot, it was “Silent Night,” although sung by the Germans. One carol that both sides could sing together was “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Albert Moren recalled:
 
First the Germans would sing one of their carols and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words Adeste Fideles. And I thought, well, this is really a most extraordinary thing ­– two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.
 
Thus, this song brought unison to the two opposing sides. Only one’s imagination can now bring to life the Western Front where young boys and old men, with gruff and high pitched voices, in English and Latin unified together to sing and recall better times. Next time you hear the song, remember those who over 100 years ago took time to stop fighting, enjoy Christmas, and sing this classic hymn.

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"Away in a Manger"

One of the simplest, calmest, and best-loved hymns is “Away in a Manger.” This hymn was, from its inception, misattributed. Upon its publication in the 1880s, it was listed as being written by Martin Luther and noted that Germans still sung it. The third verse would be added a decade later. 
 
In early texts, the poem and song were often titled “Luther’s Cradle Song/Hymn.” However, a search into Luther’s voluminous writings reveals that no such song was ever written. There is a carol written by Luther for his son, however, it is a completely different song. Also, the first known German version of the song appeared decades after the American version. 
 
And while the lyrics are popular, its writing style has allowed it to be set to over 40 different songs, meaning that depending on the hymnbook one uses, a person could sing many variations of the classic. The true origin is believed to be a wholly American concept from within the Lutheran Church.

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Angus Wielkopolski (Lorne Campbell, Fair Use)

"All I Want For Christmas"
 
Since 1994, people everywhere have been enjoying the song “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Originally performed by Mariah Carey, over the past few decades several other singers have given their rendition of the Christmas favorite. And while the song gets people into the Christmas spirit, it also gets animals into the proper mindset as well.

Scientists in the early 200s, determined that music at a certain speed would increase milk production in animals. In England, Angus and Kathleen Wielkopolski took the idea to the maximum in order for their goats to better produce milk. Their song was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The result was a 16% increase in milk production for the goats!
 
Compounded by several thousand goats, this increase greatly increased the farms profitability, although the works could use a new song. The discovery also allowed the farm to branch out into other goat-Christmas related activities over the years. So just remember that if you like “All I Want for Christmas” you have the same tastes as thousands of goats everywhere.

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“Santa Baby” #2 

A complete list of Christmas music, secular or sacred, would be incomplete without mentioning Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby.” While it quickly became a Christmas classic, the suggestive tone of the song led it to be banned in parts of the U.S. South. Even the royal family of Greece hated the song. The song remained in the Christmas canon but got a second wind when Madonna performed it (although according to some it could have disappeared with Michael Bublé’s rendition). 
 
However, what you might not know is that Eartha Kitt recorded another song the following year titled “This Year’s Santa Baby” hoping to replicate the previous year’s success. Billboard reported that “All that is necessary to say about this year’s ‘Santa Baby’ is that it is the same tune with new and intriguing lyrics sung by Eartha Kitt.” This new rendition recalls last year’s items while adding new items like land in Florida, Queen Elizabeth, a pet charity, and stocks. Unfortunately for Kitt, “Santa Baby” #2 did not take off. Kitt would eventually go on to have a successful career in television and Broadway.    

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