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

[A580Hojas]

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

It came upon the midnight clear

Ah - so many.

Another vote for O Holy Night, but I also feel very deprived if I go to a Carol Service and don't hear
Once in Royal David's City
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a Manger
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.

One I love that I haven't seen mentioned, is 'Born in the Night, Mary's Child'

I learned a new one a couple of years ago that is quite funky - the Camel Shuffle (more Epiphany I guess)

See amid the winters snow and Creator of the starry heights

Totally with Bumblebean on that verse.

I'm horribly jealous of everyone with dc in carol services and concerts. Neither of mine will join the choir, even though dd2 has a decent voice . Many of my best Christmas memories are of singing carols.

Silent Night and Away in the Manger I think. I do not like In the Bleak Midwinter, especially if played too slowly.

The Coventry Carol, without a doubt.

The Sans Day Carol and O Holy Night are beautiful as well.

And of course In the Bleak Midwinter.

And yes, O Come O Come Emmanuel is an advent Carol, not a Christmas Carol.

Another one for ' It was on a starry night' usually sung in school nativities by children who do actions to the words. Never heard it anywhwere else. Always brings a little tear to the eye . I'm not a bit religious but I love the beauty of carols and hymns.

Stable no school Carol service for us so I take myself off to one in a cathedral with a pal.

Tar barrel in dale by The Unthanks

Heard it late at night on R2 driving over the Penines on way home for Xmas - the hairs on the back of my neck stood up

Tar Barrel in Dale

Stable, you can still go to your local Churches and join in, you don't need to have dc in choirs.

I love Torches, I’m not sure if anyone’s mentioned it yet. I think it’s a round.

Lully lullay, thou little tiny child.
AKA the Coventry Carol.

Haunting and beautiful.

O Holy Night
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells

'Sing we the virgin Mary'
I like the female voices version
(Appalachian traditional, supposedly collected by John Jacob Niles in 1933 from the Mathers family.)

I like the Wexford Carol (ancient Irish) too. There is a version with Yo-yo Ma and Alison Krauss

O Magnum Mysterium by Laurisden.

Or ‘Sure on this Shining Night’.

This version of Carol of the Bells sung by Libera. My kids love to listen to it on Xmas eve as part of their bedtime routine.

'It was on a Starry Night' my absolute favourite. Just such a lovely hymn.

This is one I keep returning to: a heart warming rendition of Hallelujah by

I love this thread!! I sing in two choirs (church and chorus) and love Christmas singing!!

Quelle est cette odeur agreable? Is s fave from my school choir days but I've never sung it since. It's haunting - m.youtube.com/watch?v=pbTSK3eEPaI

Also love Oh Come Emmanuel but it's very definitely and advent carol.

Also love The Angel Gabriel, O Holy Night - and Christmas isn't Christmas without John Rutter - love them all but his Candlelight Carol makes me well up every time (even when I'm singing!) I recommend listening to it if you've not heard it! Ultimate Christmas tingles!! m.youtube.com/watch?v=2C4aHEh0j1U

Tom Chaplin's Midnight Mass is beautiful. And a wonderful video if you have a pet.

The Power of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Don't think I've seen All Bells In Paradise mentioned. Heard it for the first time thanks to kids' school and loved it.

Not melancholic but I love Carol of the Bells