Christmas music is a pervasive feature of contemporary holiday life. Pop artists continue to release holiday albums, and stores and restaurants routinely play carols to create a familiar atmosphere for shoppers and diners. The wide presence of these songs has made caroling an important cultural phenomenon.
The canonical summary says the history of Christmas carols spans almost 2,000 years and that their development took many turns across the centuries. It also notes that the short piece does not give specific dates or events but traces a long unfolding story.
Ariana Wyatt, a professor of voice with the Virginia Tech College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, studies why carols retain such broad appeal. She writes that "while popular music constantly evolves, Christmas music stands out for its remarkable stability and enduring appeal." That stability helps keep carols in public and commercial life and gives them a clear place in cultural celebration and memory.
- Pop culture presence
- Almost 2,000 years of history
- Expert commentary by Ariana Wyatt
Difficult words
- pervasive — present in many places or situations
- canonical — generally accepted and authoritative summary
- span — cover a particular length of timespans
- unfold — develop or become clear over timeunfolding
- retain — keep something and not lose it
- endure — last for a long time despite changeenduring
- appeal — quality that attracts interest or support
- commercial — related to business or selling goods
- carol — a song sung at Christmas celebrationscarols, caroling
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Discussion questions
- Do you think playing carols in shops changes how people feel about those songs? Why or why not?
- How might the long history and stability of carols affect cultural memory and celebrations today?
- Should pop artists focus on creating new holiday songs or preserve traditional carols? Give reasons.
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