BBB's Christmas Carols Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joseph Mohr

Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics and Franz Xaver Gruber wrote the music to this song in 1816. In 1818 the song was performed for the very first time at Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria. In 1859 John Freeman Young translated it to the English version we sing today. The melody of the English version and the original version differ slightly. Gruber's music to the tune was a dance-like song in 6/8 rather than the slower version we sing today.

In the early 1900s the Church of St. Nicholas in Austria was demolished by a flood. In its place was built Stille-Nacht-Gedächtniskapelle, Silent Night Merorial Chapel, in remembrance of the song.

Question by Jimmy(J-Zilch)

Answer: after Merry

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen". Although the author of this tune is unknown, the words of the song had a different meaning than they do in current usage.

While to rest meant "to keep", merry meant "mighty" or "strong", so that in today's English it may mean something to the effect of "God Rest You Mighty, Gentlemen" or "may God keep you gentlemen strong; (perhaps a reference to their faith).

It has been argued by some that merry simply means merry or happy, but this argument is rather weak because it does not adequately explain the positioning of the comma after the word "merry", whereas "mighty" makes a much stronger statement regarding the actual meaning.

Question by logcrawler

Answer: second birth

The correct answer is second birth. 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing' was originally written by Charles Wesley in 1737, only to be slightly re-written by George Whitefield, an old college friend of Wesley's. The music was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and then re-arranged by William Cummings. The Carol is based on the events reported in the second chapter of Luke. Wesley's brother John founded the Methodist movement within the Church of England. Many Christians believe the words 'second birth' are in reference to being born again, as per John 3:3.

Question by Cowrofl

Answer: cattle

In 'Away in a Manger' the second verse begins, "The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes..."
In the other Carol we have the "lowly cattle shed" in the first verse,
and "...the oxen standing round" in the last.
Neither Carol makes mention of any other animals.
The Bible records that Jesus was born in a stable, but doesn't specifically mention the presence of any animals (although it is quite logical to expect that some animals would have been present).

Question by Rimrunner

Answer: O Holy Night

"O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

O Holy Night was written in 1847 by Adolphe Adam. He added music to the words taken from the poem "Midnight, Christians" by Placide Cappeau.

This carol has the power to capture all listeners with its great majesty. It puts one in the vivid memory of Christ's birth - stars shining brightly in the night, thrills of hope and the world rejoicing, and a morning arrives that is new and glorious.

Question by star_gazer.

Answer: The Twelve Days Of Christmas.

The origin of the song "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" is unknown. One story associated with it is that this song was composed in France in the 16th Century during a time when Catholics were forbidden to practice their faith. Each day's gifts represented some tenet of their faith.

"1st day- A Partridge in a Pear Tree symbolized Jesus Christ.
2nd day- Two Turtle doves signified Old and New Testaments.
3rd day- Three French hens signified Faith, Hope and Charity.
4th day - Four calling birds represented the four gospels or the four Evangelists.
5th day - Five gold rings referred to the first five books of the Old Testament.
6th day - Six Geese A-laying symbolized six days of creation.
7th day - Seven Swans A- swimming signified seven gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Isaiah 11.
8th day - Eight Maids A- milking referred to the eight beatitudes.
9th day - Nine ladies dancing symbolized the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit.
10th day - Ten Lords A - leaping symbolized the Ten Commandments.
11th day - Eleven Pipers piping symbolized the eleven faithful apostles.
12th day - Twelve Drummers Drumming referred to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed."

www.christmascarnivals.com was the source for some of the information used in this question.

Question by wordwalker

Answer: Joy To The World

Isaac Watts wrote many hymns in the 17th century that are still found in the hymnals of many various denominations today. This hymn, based on Psalm 98, was intended to celebrate the anticipation of Christ's return to reign and rule the world in righteousness.

Question by wordwalker

Answer: Her Son will save her from her sins.

When one says that Jesus will "deliver" it means he will free us from our sins. The Bible says that Jesus did this by dying on the cross in our place and the rising again on the third day. (I Corinthinans 15:3-4).

"Mary Did You Know?" is a beautiful song written by Mark Lowry in 1984. The music for the song was written by Buddy Greene several years later. Lowry wrote the song when he was thinking about what it must have been like to be Jesus' mother.

Question by llona_ritter

Answer: USA

While Sears was living in Wayland, Massachusetts he wrote the lyrics to the song at the request of his friend, W. P. Lunt, who was a minister in Quincey, Massachusetts. The melody sung in the US and the melody in the UK are different. The US version was called "Carol" and was written by Richard Storrs Willis in 1850. The other was called "Noel" and was adapted from a English melody by Arthur Sullivan in 1874.

Question by aclb

Answer: O Come, All Ye Faithful

The text of this well-loved Carol has been attributed to various composers and writers dating from the 13th to the 18th Century and varying from several groups of monks to King John IV of Portugal, whose daughter, Catherine, married King Charles II of England.

Today it is regularly sung and heard at Carol services and is an invitation to all to come and worship Jesus.

Written by cal562301