Carols originated with folk and popular forms of music in the Middle Ages. People used to dance to carols as well as sing them. During this period, and later during the Renaissance, carols were written down in manuscripts along with other secular and sacred musical forms. These early prototypes of the Christmas carol came from diverse regions, and the lyrics were in multiple languages, including Latin, English and French.
The prototype of the carol is the Italian "lauda," a religious folk song that originated in Italy. The Franciscans are credited with bringing the carol to England, where it became established as a popular religious song, usually with a Christmas theme, but also at times celebrating the secular joys of the season as well. During the Reformation, the singing of carols was banned, although Christians in Germany continued to sing them.
In 1660, the English government lifted the prohibition against carol singing, and one of the earliest collections dedicated exclusively to Christmas carols was published, "New Carolls for This Merry Time of Christmas." However, the Church of England continued to disapprove of carols. So, during the Christmas season, people sang them at home, in the public squares and while visiting friends .
During the 19th century, British musicologists and folk song collectors were concerned that Christmas carols were dying out. As a result, a series of new collections of carols appeared, notably "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," published by William Sandys in 1833. In addition, the Church of England had relaxed its restrictions on singing carols and allowed them into the liturgy.
Interest in collecting and preserving English carols continued into the modern era. Well-known composers and musicologists such as Ralph Vaughan Williams were part of a folklore revival, which also included collecting and publishing Christmas carols. Concurrent with this revival was the publication of carol books such as the "Oxford Book of Carols" (1928) and the more scholarly and detailed "New Oxford Book of Carols" (1992).
Thanks to the work of many folklorists and music scholars, books of Christmas carols abound. And composers and songwriters continue to create new carols. Some of the most recent published books include pieces from a variety of world cultures and languages, thus returning to the spirit of diversity found in the earliest manuscripts.