Some of Our Favorite Christmas Carols Quiz

Answer: after the word Merry

'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen' is one of the oldest carols known to exist, dating back to the 16th century or even earlier. In the Middle English, the words themselves had a different meaning than they do today, at least slightly.

For example, the word "rest" meant something akin to "cause to remain" or simply "to keep". The word "merry" would have meant "mighty", "bountiful" or even "prosperous".

Thus, it modern English, the comma would make sense as it might best be translated as "God Keep You Mighty, Gentlemen" or with a meaning to that effect.

Here are the words to 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'.

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy."

Question by Logcrawler

Answer: second birth

The missing words in the Christmas carol are "second birth".

In addition to writing 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', Charles Wesley is credited with writing more than 6,000 hymns, and many of them remain popular today. A website operated by Reigate Methodist Church reports congregation members as well as other Christians in the community were surveyed to determine Wesley's top ten hymns. The top ten are:
1.) 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'
2.) 'And Can It Be That I Should Gain'
3.) 'O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing'
4.) 'O Thou Who Camest From Above'
5.) 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today'
6.) 'Ye Servants of God'
7.) 'All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord'
8.) 'Jesus the Name High Over All'
9.) 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'
10.) 'Rejoice the Lord is King'

Reigate Methodist Church is in the heart of Reigate, a market town in Surrey, England.

According to Christianity.com, Charles Wesley, like Martin Luther, believed hymns were a means of teaching theology.

"He composed an average of three hymns a week," the Website reports. "They covered every area of theology as well as every season of the liturgical year."

Here are the words to 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing':

"Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!'
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th' angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem!'
Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the new born King!'

"Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the new born King!'

"Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the new born King!'"

It's interesting to note: FunTrivia member and fellow teammate Logcrawler points out nowhere in the Bible does it state angels 'sang' when they announced the birth of the Savior of the world. In the KJV and NKJV, for example, it states the angels praised God when they made the announcement. (The NIV uses similar language.)

Question by Cowrofl

Answer: In sweet rejoicing

This carol 'In Dulci Jubilo' was originally written in German and Latin by Heinrich Suso, a Dominican friar and mystic, in the 14th century. In a vision, he saw angels dancing and was invited to cast off his sorrows and join them, while they sang 'In Dulci Jubilo'. So even if the Bible does not mention angels singing (see note to previous question), this medieval tradition joins many other carols in believing they do sing!

The third verse was possibly added by Martin Luther in the sixteenth century. The carol was soon translated into English and other languages besides German, sometimes retaining Latin phrases, other versions all in English.

R. L Pearsall's eighteenth century translation is still in use:

"In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O!

O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee,
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.

O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria!

Ubi sunt gaudia,
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing7
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there!"

Question by Mfc

Answer: He was actually a duke, not a king

'Good King Wenceslas' followed a storyline of a Czech duke, who legend has it, walked through the snow to deliver alms to a poverty-stricken peasant on the day after Christmas, known as the Feast of Stephen. The song alludes to the fact the peasant was about to give up his struggle against the cold, but when the "king" appeared, he was able to muster his courage and follow in the king's footsteps through the snow.

Although the duke of Bohemia was represented in the song as a king, his mother was a pagan, unlike her son, who had converted to Christianity. Some time later, his brother, Boleslav, plotted with others to kill the duke, and almost immediately after his death, Wenceslas was venerated as a martyr and saint by the Catholic church.

A cult of Wenceslas began in both Bohemia and in England, and the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I proclaimed him to be a "king", posthumously, as the legend surrounding Wenceslas had become generally accepted as undisputed fact.

Here are the words to 'Good King Wencelas':

"Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

'Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?'
'Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain.'

'Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither.'
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

'Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.'
'Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.'

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing."

Question by Logcrawler

Answer: German

'Silent Night' was originally written in German by Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Mohr was born at Salzburg, Austria, on Dec. 11, 1792 and was ordained a priest in 1815. He wrote other hymns as well, but 'Silent Night' is the only one that was translated into English.

Often when I hear 'Silent Night' I am reminded of a story by Lester B. Pearson, former prime minister of Canada. Pearson, speaking in a documentary broadcast many years ago on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, recalled being in London during the Second World War. One particular night there was intensive bombing of the city by the German air force and after the raid, Pearson said he turned on the radio in his apartment to soothe his nerves. He turned the dial and ended up hearing a German boys' choir singing impeccably the words 'Silent Night'. With the classic Christmas hymn being performed so beautifully in German, it was in stark contrast to the carnage the Luftwaffe had just wreaked on the city.

Here are the words to 'Silent Night':

"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!"

Question by Cowrofl

Answer: What Child is This?

The words to 'What Child is This?' were written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and set to a traditional English folk tune called 'Greensleeves', which is popularly attributed to King Henry VIII, although there is no firm proof of this claim.

'Once in Royal David's City; was first published in 1848 and is now the usual hymn for the entry procession at a Christmas festival of lessons and carols. 'The First Nowell' goes back several centuries to its roots in Cornwall, and its words have been altered several times during the years. ''Twas in the Moon of Wintertime' or 'Huron Carol' is Canada's oldest Christmas song and was written in the 1640s by Father Jean de Brebeuf, one of the Jesuit martyrs.

Here are the words to 'What Child Is This?':

"What Child is this
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come Peasant, King to own Him
The King of Kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Oh, raise, raise a song on high,
His mother sings her lullaby.
Joy, oh joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe,
The Son,
Of Mary.

What Child
Is this
Who laid
To rest
On Mary's lap
On Mary's lap
He is sleeping

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe,
The Son,
Of Mary

The Babe, the Son of Mary

The Son of Mary."

-- Question by Ampelos

Answer: Away In a Manger

Legend has it Martin Luther wrote the classic Christmas carol 'Away In a Manger', but various websites report such a view is incorrect. The consensus is the carol was probably written in the mid-1800s by an anonymous American.

The words for 'Away In a Manger' were first published in the May 1884 issue of 'The Myrtle', a periodical of the Universalist Publishing House in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Although we may never know who wrote the song we can still find inspiration in the story of the song itself," states the Website Bibleheartburn.com. "It tells us of the incredible humble birth of the greatest man who ever lived and the more I think of it the deeper in awe I fall. This song for children also reminds me of Jesus' words teaching us that to such belong the kingdom of heaven. We must learn to become like children in order to commune with God."

Here are the words to 'Away In a Manger':

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there."

Question by Cowrofl

Answer: Joy to the World

The ever-popular Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' was written by Englishman Isaac Watts in 1719. According to Wikipedia, Watts based the carol on the second half of Psalm 98. "The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody." Wikipedia reports.

Watts, of course, is known as the father of hymnody. Before him, Christians sang only hymns directly from the Psalms in the Old Testament.

As of the late 20th century, 'Joy to the World' was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

Here are the words to 'Joy to the World':

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love."

Question by Cowrofl

Answer: Angels From the Realms of Glory

'Angels From the Realms of Glory' was written by the Scottish poet James Montgomery in 1816, but not published until 1825. It is usually sung today to the hymn tune, 'Regent Square', written by Henry Smart in the 19th century.

Here are the words to the carol 'Angels, From the Realms of Glory':

"Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!"

Question by Ampelos

Answer: Little Drummer Boy

In case you were wondering, there are no less than twenty-one 'rum pum pum pums' in the Christmas carol 'Little Drummer Boy'. Three people are credited with writing the words and composing the music in 1958. According to Carols.org.uk, the trio comprised Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone.

The song was originally titled 'Carol of the Drum' and is based on a traditional Czech carol.

Here are the words to 'Little Drummer Boy':

"Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum."

Question by Cowrofl