If you are a connoisseur of French language and would love learning the language through their customs and traditions, the best way to do that is to learn through carols. To talk about carols in general, the word carol is supposedly derived from the Greek word ‘choros', which meant a circling dance. It is surprising to know that in the twelfth century French used to celebrate the arrival of spring through amorous songs which they called carols. Christmas carols everywhere spreads the joy of unbound love, sharing and the golden days of celebration. Though the carols are intrinsic to the rich spirituality of Christmas, yet it can tune itself to anything from a choral Christian song to any hymn sung at the church. However, it is quite strange to know that carols were once considered as a part of pagan worship and was banned by many churches then. It was St. Francis of Assisi who managed to popularize the spirit and enthusiasm of Christmas carols to the masses, through his simple words and fine tunes based on the traditional folklore which common people could relate to. The earliest true Christmas carols were forms of the traditional French carols and had that entertainment factor in them. Given here some popular Christmas carols from France
Christmas Carols Of France
Au Royaume du bonhomme hiver
Au Royaume du bonhomme hiver is a French Christmas carol, very much similar to"Winter Wonderland." Though they are sung to the same lyrics, but the literal translation is given here in English, as the French lyrics differ from the English ones.
Écoutez les clochettes
Du joyeux temps des fêtes
Annonçant la joie
De chaque coeur qui bat
Au royaume du bonhomme hiver.
Sous la neige qui tombe
Le traîneau vagabonde
Semant tout autour
Une chanson d'amour
Au royaume du bonhomme hiver.
Le voilà qui sourit sur la place
Son chapeau, sa canne et son foulard
Il semble nous dire d'un ton bonasse
Ne voyez-vous donc pas qu'il est tard?
Il dit vrai tout de même
Près du feu, je t'emmène
Allons nous chauffer dans l'intimité
Au royaume du bonhomme hiver.
Translation
Listen to the bells
Of the joyful holiday times
Announcing the joy
Of each heart that beats
In the kingdom of the winter snowman.
Under the falling snow
The sleigh wanders
Spreading all around
A love song
In the kingdom of the winter snowman.
There he is smiling in the plaza
His hat, his cane, and his scarf
He seems to tell us in an easy-going tone
Don't you see that it's late?
He speaks the truth anyway
Next to the fire, I take you
Let's go warm up privately
In the kingdom of the winter snowman.
Aujourd'hui le Roi des Cieux
Aujourd'hui le Roi des Cieux is the French version of The First Noel. They are sung to the same tune, though they have a different translation in French than the English carol The First Noel.
Aujourd'hui le Roi des Cieux au milieu de la nuit
Voulut naître chez nous de la Vierge Marie
Pour sauver le genre humain, l'arracher au péché
Ramener au Seigneur ses enfants égarés.
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Jésus est né, chantons Noël !
En ces lieux durant la nuit demeuraient les bergers
Qui gardaient leurs troupeaux dans les champs de Judée
Or, un ange du Seigneur apparut dans les cieux
Et la gloire de Dieu resplendit autour d'eux.
L'ange dit : « Ne craignez pas ; soyez tous dans la joie
Un Sauveur vous est né, c'est le Christ, votre Roi
Près d'ici, vous trouverez dans l'étable, couché
D'un lange emmailloté, un enfant nouveau-né ».
Translation
Today the King of Heaven in the middle of the night
Was born on Earth of the Virgin Mary
To save the human race, pull it from sin
Return the Lord's lost children to him.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Jesus is born, let us sing Noel!
In these parts during the night stayed the shepherds
Who kept their flocks in Judea's fields
Now, an angel of the Lord appeared in the skies
And the glory of God glowed around them.
Refrain
Refrain
The angel said, "Do not fear; everyone be joyful
A Savior is born to you, it's Christ, your King
Nearby, you will find in the stable, put to bed
Wrapped up in a flannel blanket, a newborn child."
Refrain
If you are learning a new language and if you like to learn it the classic way, here is a way to it. You can learn the French language easily through some simple French carols.