Back to: The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols
What we sing is a 19th-century version of a hymn written in the 18th century.
O Come all you faithful is often used as a processional hymn which sets a triumph mood for Christmas. It is one of the most widely recorded hymns, translated into more than 150 languages, used in thousands of cantatas and musical productions. There are at least 8 verses
In America, as in most of the world, the song was adopted by many Christian churches before 1900. It was also one of the focal points of the caroling movement that swept the country.
Trivia
With the popularity of this carol, one would be surprised that the author remained unknown just after WWII. Read on!