10 Traditional Christmas Carols to Sing Together

One of my all time favorite Christmas traditions is singing Christmas carols.  There is something so great about learning the original carols that were written so long ago.  I have included the lyrics to 10 widely known Christmas carols for kids that they can easily sing along to.  My goal is that you and your kids will be able to learn some (or all) of the songs before Christmas and can have fun learning them. Happy singing!

 

Chestnuts Roasting

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose.
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two.
Although it’s been said many times, many ways,
Merry Christmas to you.

Deck the Hall

Deck the hall with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la, la la la, la la la
Troll the ancient yuletide carol, fa la la la la, la la la la

Ding Dong! Merrily On High

Ding dong! Merrily on high, in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding dong! Verily the sky, is riven with angel singing.
Glo………………ria
Hosana in excelsis.

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say
He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around.
Oh Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.
Thumpety thump thump thumpety thump thump look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump thumpety thump thump over the hills of snow.

 

Santa Claus is Comin to Town

You better watch out you better not cry, better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin to town.
He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is comin to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.
He knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin to town

 

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a happy new year.
We all know that Santa’s coming, we all know that Santa’s coming
We all know that Santa’s coming and soon will be here.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a happy new year.
We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

A Holly Jolly Christmas

Have a holly jolly Christmas, it’s the best time of the year
I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer.
Have a holly jolly Christmas, and when you walk down the street.
Say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet.
Oh, ho, the mistletoe hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas and in case you didn’t hear,
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas this year.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow on a one horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go laughing all the way.
Bells on boptails ring, making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly Old St. Nicholas lean your ear this way
Don’t you tell a single soul what I’m going to say.
Christmas eve is coming soon now you dear old man
Whisper what you’ll bring to me tell me if you can.,
Johnny wants a pair of skates Susie wants a sled
Nellie wants a picture book yellow blue and red.
Now I think I’ll leave to you what to give the rest
Choose for me dear Santa Clause you will now the best.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree O Christmas tree you stand in verdant beauty
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree you stand in verdant beauty
Your boughs are green in summer’s glow and do not fade in Winter’s snow
O Christmas Tree O Christmas tree you stand in verdant beauty.
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree much pleasure doth thou bring me
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree much pleasure doth thou bring me
For every year the Christmas tree brings to us all both joy and glee
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree much pleasure doth thou bring me.
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree thy candles shine out brightly
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree thy candles shine out brightly
Each bough doth hold its tiny light that makes each toy to sparkle bright
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree thy candles shine out brightly.

 

 

What are your favorite Christmas carols?  Go ahead and let me know in the comments below!

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Jessica Peresta

I'm passionate about providing music teachers with the music education resources, lesson plans, teacher training, and community you've been looking for. I believe your domestic life should be spent soaking up time with family and friends and your music teacher life while at school should not leave you feeling defeated, but should be a joyful, exciting, and rewarding experience. To find out more about me and my passion behind starting The Domestic Musician, click on the "about" tab on my website.

16 thoughts to “10 Traditional Christmas Carols to Sing Together”

  1. I realize you chose music recommendations for public school but carols are technically religious songs, the rest is Christmas music. My wife has been a music teacher (mostly elementary) and has never shied away from Christmas carols if only for their historic significance. (She is inclusive of other faiths and traditions but it is called Christmas for a reason.) I realize there are watchdogs in many school districts that stage a protest anytime Jesus is mentioned, but the substantial categories of church music are important as
    genres worthy to be studied as well as the subject matter.

    1. You’re so right about carols being religious songs. When I brought my 4th-5th grade public school choir to sing in the community, they sang lots of Christmas carols, even about Jesus. I tried to pick carols that anyone could teach in this blog post, because unfortunately there are a lot of public schools that won’t let you teach music about Jesus. Lots of music teachers I work with have told me this. You’re right that church music is an important genre when teaching about the different genres in a music class. I appreciate your input. Have an amazing day!

  2. Love this! My son loves songs and music so we will definitely teach him some of these… Thanks for linking up at Working Mommy Abroad, have shared 🙂

  3. These are all great Christmas songs!! I love singing them and I’m looking forward to teaching them to my son!

    Emily Lindsey | happilylindsey.com

  4. I love that you compiled these songs with the lyrics! Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit more than Christmas music.

    1. Thank you! I love Christmas carols!

  5. This is great! There are always a few lines I forget. How I love Christmas carols!

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