Have you ever wondered how Silent Night came to be written on Christmas Eve because a church organ broke? Or why Joy to the World wasn’t originally about Christmas at all? In this episode of the Music in Our Homeschool Podcast, Gena Mayo reveals the fascinating true stories behind five of the most beloved Christmas carols ever written.
Each carol has a history filled with creativity, faith, and surprise — perfect for turning into mini music appreciation lessons during your homeschool Christmas School!
🎶 You’ll hear about:
- Silent Night — born from an organ malfunction and a humble guitar.
- Joy to the World — a paraphrase of Psalm 98, not the Nativity.
- O Holy Night — the first song ever broadcast over radio airwaves.
- The First Noel — a folk carol carried through generations before hymnbooks existed.
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing — how “welkin” became “the herald angels” and why a Mendelssohn melody made it soar.
Through these stories, Gena shows how Christmas carols connect us to history, scripture, and timeless beauty — giving your homeschool a richer way to celebrate the season.
🎄 Visit the accompanying blog post for listening links, printable activities, and simple ideas to turn this episode into a full lesson: MusicinOurHomeschool.com/ClassicChristmasCarols
If you’re looking for ready-to-go lessons, explore Music of Christmas inside the Music in Our Homeschool membership — three years of 15-minute Christmas lessons for every age!
Find links to all resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/ClassicChristmasCarols
Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review and comment if you liked this episode! Find all courses at https://Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com ,free music lessons here: https://MusicinOurHomeschool.com/FreeMusicLessons , and lots more links here: https://linktr.ee/genamayo !
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