Christmas music is a major part of the holiday season. Pop stars release Christmas albums and shops and restaurants play the songs for their customers. These carols appear in many places and make a familiar mood for shoppers and diners.
According to a short summary, the history of carols spans almost 2,000 years. A music professor, Ariana Wyatt, studies why carols stay popular. She says the music is unusually steady, and that stability helps carols remain part of public and commercial life.
Difficult words
- carol — A traditional song sung at Christmas timecarols
- span — To reach across a period of timespans
- professor — A teacher who works at a university
- familiar — Easy to recognize because seen before
- stability — The quality of being steady or not changing
- commercial — Related to business, shops, or selling things
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you hear Christmas songs in shops or restaurants where you live? Where?
- Do you like hearing the same Christmas songs every year? Why or why not?
- Do you prefer new holiday songs or traditional carols? Explain.
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