The original Christmas songs were the pagan chants of the Winter Solstice festival. Songs were used to celebrate all four seasons, but winter is the only one that is still part of modern culture.
In the early days of Christianity, the church frowned upon carol singing, as it was an extension of a pagan custom. However, inspired by their new religion, peasants began to create simple folk songs telling the story of Christmas.
Saint Francis of Assisi was the first person to use songs as part of the Christmas church service. In 1223, he used music and lyrics in the Christmas Eve Nativity play, making Christmas carols an official part of the service.
Before it become popular for groups of people to sing Christmas songs in public, traveling minstrels would pass the time singing carols for those passing by. They would wander from home to home, entertaining people, in hopes of receiving a small reward in return.
Today, singing Christmas songs has become an essential part of the holiday season, with numerous carol singing events being planned each year all over the world.