"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." ~ Colossians 3:16
"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." ~ 2 Corinthians 13:11
How beautiful are Christmas hymns for getting into the spirit of the holiday and praising the glory of Jesus Christ! Listen to these classic Christan songs through the advent season in joyful anticipation of Christ's birth and the fellowship of Christmas. Also, take time to thank God with Christmas prayers and refresh your knowledge of the Christmas Bible story.
10 Traditional Christmas Hymns
We hope you enjoy these wonderful performances of the best Christmas hymns of all time. Be inspired by the power of music to rejoice and give thanks for our Savior, Jesus Christ!
10. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is a hymn and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Wayland, Massachusetts. Sears' lyrics are most regularly set to "Noel," modified by Arthur Sullivan from an English melody, or to "Carol," arranged by Richard Storrs Willis. This hymn centers around the theme of angelic singers sharing the message of "Peace on earth, good will to men." Discover the lyrics and story of this renowned hymn at Godtube.com.
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol, written by Phillip Brooks in the 19th Century. The lyrics refer to the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born of Mary. This hymn describes the setting of Christ's birth and the wondrous gift that would be his life, teachings, and sacrifice.
8. Coventry Carol
The "Coventry Carol" is an English Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. The song originates from an English Christmas play about the Bible story of Jesus' birth. Find the lyrics of this hymn plus the background story at Godtube.com.
7. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a Christian hymn for Advent and Christmas written by John Mason Neale. This glorious hymn calls upon various divine bodies to give wisdom, salvation, victory, and safety among other requests. Listen to a beautiful traditional version of this renowned hymn below:
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
This popular Christmas Hymn harkens to the biblical story of the birth of Christ. It is considered a reference to the shepherds, after hearing the angels singing, coming to Bethlehem to adore their new-born savior. Today this hymn signifies and celebrates our coming together in worship to adore the loving blessing of Jesus, as he sacrificed himself for our salvation.
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5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
There's nothing better than hearing a beautiful hymn right around Christmas time. 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' is an all-time classic and it's been performed by numerous different artists over the years from a variety of genres. Today, we're learning more about this powerful Christmas hymn and the story behind its origins. There's truly nothing like singing these words with all your heart to our Father in Heaven above. Amen!
4. In the Bleak Mid-Winter
"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a popular Christmas carol that was written by Christina Rossetti in the 19th century. Its lyrics poetically describe the birth of Jesus and the scene of His nativity. In verse one, Rossetti describes the physical circumstances of the Incarnation in Bethlehem. In verse two, Rossetti contrasts Christ's first and second coming. Listen to the popular version by Gustav Holst in the video below:
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen" is a traditional English Christmas carol. It is also known as "Tidings of Comfort and Joy", the phrase that ends each stanza of the lyrics. This carol is an affirmation of the birth and salvation in Christ, recounting His nativity event and the love of God. Listen to a beautiful performance of this Christmas hymn by the family band The Petersens below!
2. Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a well-known Christmas hymn with lyrics written by Joseph Mohr in 1816. Inspired by the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, Mohr wrote this hymn as a celebration of the anticipation of the arrival of the newborn savior. Discover the lyrics and story of "Silent Night" on Godtube.com. We included another great performance by The Petersens for this famous Christmas hymn, enjoy!
1. O Holy Night
There's truly nothing better than hearing an old-fashioned Christmas song right around the holidays. One of those classic hymns is 'O Holy Night.' It brings up such great memories and thoughts of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was truly a glorious night when Jesus was born. The angels rejoiced and the whole world received their King. God granted us eternal salvation when He sent His Son to die for our sins. Now that I know the story behind this powerful hymn, I'm even more in awe of this song.
Find more popular hymns and carols from Godtube with song lyrics and the stories of the authors.
Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash
This article is part of our larger Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his Son Jesus Christ!
What Is Advent: Definition & Meaning Behind Christmas Tradition
What Is an Advent Wreath?
Advent Week 1: The Candle of Hope
Advent Week 2: The Candle of Peace
Advent Week 3: The Candle of Joy
Advent Week 4: The Candle of Love
Listen to our FREE Christmas Podcast: The Characters of Christmas - The Surprising People in Jesus' Family: