Spain’s Christmas Carols: Origins and History

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* Villancicos are popular: “Villancicos” are the Christmas carols that will be playing in most Spanish households during Christmas.
* Spanish carols vs. other carols: Spanish carols (villancicos) tend to have more upbeat and faster-paced melodies than carols sung in places like the UK.
* Childlike quality: they often have a childlike quality and are frequently sung by children.
* Origin of the word “carol”: The word “carol” comes from “villa” and the latin “a villain” – meaning inhabitant of a village.
* Original purpose: Originally, carols were folk songs about all aspects of life in rural communities, not specifically Christmas songs.
* Past period of popularity: They gained popularity in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
* Early themes: Early carols covered a wide range of topics, including the capture of Granada and longing for one’s homeland, with love being a popular theme in the 16th century.
* Church adoption: The Catholic Church in Spain adopted carols to spread religious messages, frequently enough using existing tunes and replacing lyrics with religious ones about Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.