Which is the most haunting/beautiful Christmas carol or song?

[A580Hojas]

I like the melodic slightly melancholy ones. Something in a minor key maybe?

In the Bleak Midwinter.

Coventry Carol is stunning. I like Once in Royal David's City, See Amid the Winter's Snow and The Cherry Tree Carol too.

As for modern songs, I confess to quite liking Christmas Lights by Coldplay. It starts miserable and ends up a bit happier though, so might not be what you're looking for.

O little town of Bethlehem.

Coventry Carol .. beautiful

Oh holy night

Like Silver Lamps in a distant shrine..

Firm favourite from always..

In the bleak midwinter is my favourite

Another one for In the Bleak Midwinter.

All my favourites are the less "jolly" ones:

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Coventry Carol - like travelling back through time.

The Holly and the Ivy

Coventry Carol, Noël Nouvelet and In the Bleak Midwinter.

Definitely In the Deep Midwinter

Oh holy night.

Masters in this Hall

We had to sing it one year for school and I've never forgotten it

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - very old, haunting tune.

O Holy Night

A lesser known one that I love is The Little Road to Bethlehem. Reminds me of childhood nativity plays.

A spaceman came travelling! It’s sort of about the nativity

In the Bleak Midwinter. I love the verse:

‘what can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give him; give my heart’.

It always makes me emotional.

If you're including non-religious, definitely Kate Bush's December Will Be Magic Again
(thanks to whichever MNer recommended this one a couple of years ago!)

Oh Come, Oh Come, Immanuel.

Derrin Jesus Christ the Apple Tree is the one I was trying to remember!

Or more traditional: the Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

Oh, AcrossthePond beat me to it. I love that Carol.

O Little Town of Bethlehem always gives me shivers.

A cradle in Bethlehem.

It's beautiful. Not a carol but I can forgive that. Nat King Cole sang originally but a few versions out there.

The St Louis tune to O little Town of Bethlehem.

Shepherd's Farewell.

In the Bleak Midwinter and Coventry Carol are definitely up there if you like melancholy, but I think Bethlehem Down just pips them to the post. So beautiful and sooooo sad.

Adam Lay Ybounden and Lullay my Liking are also brilliant for that medieval feel - my favourite carols are all the really old ones