Traditional Latin Carols, from Family Christmas Online^TM

Most of these carols were written long after Latin had ceased to be used for daily conversation. However, throughout the middle ages (and part of the renaissance), Latin was used throughout the Western world to communicate across cultural boundaries. Not only priests, but also scientists, administrators, fleet captains, and heads of state learned to read and write in Latin as a requirement for communicating with their counterparts in other cultures and on other continents. In England as late as the seventeenth century, every young gentleman or lady was expected to be able not only to read Latin, but also to write their everyday correspondence in Latin as well.

Of course, the greatest promoter of Latin was the Church, which greatly influenced the spread of music and other cultures wherever the church had influence. As an example, a hymn or Christmas carol written in Latin and approved by the church could be used by Catholics anywhere in the world. In fact, when I was very young, the Catholic Church still used Latin in weekly worship, and I learned many hymns and carols in Latin before I knew them in English.

This page is for Christmas carols and hymns that first became well known in Latin, but which hold up well in English, too. Again, the collection is small for the moment, but it will grow.

• Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
• Veni, Veni Emanuel (O Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel)

If you have any comments, additions, or corrections you would like to make about these pages, please contact me and I will be glad to hear from you. God bless - Paul