Advent Hymns and Christmas Songs


compiled by Catherine Fournier

As Advent progresses, we add an Advent hymn to our evening prayers. This is making some wonderful memories for our family, not because these are touching beautiful moments of family harmony, but because we all have terrible memories and some of us are tune-deaf. One year it took the whole of Advent to memorise 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'!

In the past, I've found it difficult to find the words to Advent hymns and Christmas carols. I can always remember the tune, but never the second verse. When I do find a collection of Christmas songs, it's all cluttered up with 'Deck the Halls', 'Jolly Old Saint Nicholas' and other secular songs. I'd like to have a gathering of true Christmas carols, all centred on the Nativity.

Here are some of my favorites.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem
Angels We Have Heard On High
Silent Night
O Holy Night
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Carol of the Bells
The Huron Carol
Go Tell It On The Mountain
We Three Kings of Orient Are
What Child Is This?
Once In Royal David's City
Joy to The World
Rise Up Shepherd and Follow
Mary's Boy Child
Mary had a Baby
O, Come All Ye Faithful

And a pdf format Advent and Christmas Song Book of all these lyrics.

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