As a homeschool mom, I always try to take my kids’ interests and use what they love to help teach them. Since our whole family loves Christmas songs, I thought it would be interesting to use this in our homeschool curriculum, which is how I came up with this list of best Christmas songs to learn and study in homeschool. In this post you’ll find a brief history of Christmas songs as well as links to listen to these classics.
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Best Christmas Songs to Learn and Study in Homeschool
Christmas is such a joyful time of year, and one of the most joyful things about Christmas is listening to Christmas songs! There’s nothing like hearing your favorite Christmas carol on the radio as you drive down the road. What many people don’t know about their favorite Christmas songs is that many of them have a rich and interesting history. This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission when you click on them and purchase. Please see my disclosure for more information.
1) White Christmas
This favorite Christmas song has a rich but sad history. The song was written by Irving Berlin in memory of his 3 week old son who had passed away on Christmas day years ago. In 1941, it was then sung on the radio by Bing Crosby, just 18 days after Pearl Harbor. Because of this, the lyrics and soulful singing greatly affected listeners all over the nation. Since then, this song has been sung by many famous artists, making it a song that has been a Christmas favorite throughout the decades.
2) The Nutcracker
The story of the Nutcracker is a Christmas favorite for many people. The Nutcracker was created by Tchaikovsky, a 19th-century Russian composer. In this play, you get to see Clara’s wonderful adventures on a memorable Christmas Eve. The songs in this play are beautifully composed. Coupled with the iconic ballet, The Nutcracker is one of the best Christmas soundtracks of the season!
3) Joy to the World
If you’re a Christmas carol fan, then you’ve heard Joy to the World. This popular Christmas carol was written by Isaac Watts and is based on a verse in the Bible, Psalm 98. It celebrates the second coming of Christ, making it a unique song of the time. Over the centuries, this song has changed from a worship song into a favorite Christmas song.
4) O Holy Night
Here is a popular Christmas song that has a unique history! Placide Cappeau, at the request of a priest, wrote the words to O Holy Night with the intent of it being a poem. After writing it, Cappeau believed that the words would best be communicated through song. He then asked Adolphe Adam to write the musical score for it, creating the finished product of Cantique de Noel, or O Holy Night. What’s interesting about this Christmas song is that the lyrics and musical score were written by two people that you wouldn’t expect. Cappeau was a known atheist with anti-clerical views, while Adam was a man of Jewish ancestry, an interesting combination to create such a well-known Christmas song.
5) Silver Bells
Another popular Christmas song is Silver Bells. This song has a different history than others since it is relatively modern. Jay Livingston and Ray Evans wrote this song in the 1950s for the movie The Lemon Drop Kid. They based it on the Salvation Army Santas that stood outside of department stores, ringing their silver bells for donations, hence the name. Initially, Silver Bells was sung by the stars of The Lemon Drop Kid, but later, Bing Crosby, a popular vocalist, also sang it. This cinched it’s popularity with listeners, and it quickly became a timeless Christmas classic.
Learn the Best Christmas Songs for Study in the Music of Christmas Mini-Course
If you’re looking for a way to teach your kids about Christmas songs in your homeschool curriculum, Music of Christmas Mini Course is ideal. The curriculum is found on Music in our Homeschool, and includes lessons for the best Christmas Songs to learn and study in homeschool. This includes the popular songs:
- White Christmas
- The Nutcracker
- Joy to the World
- O Holy Night
- Silver Bells
- In the Bleak Midwinter
- Handel and his “Messiah”
- Amahl and the Night Visitors
- Silent Night
- Carol of the Bells
What’s even more amazing about this mini-course is that it is only $17 for a limited time! When using this mini-course, you’ll notice the quality of each lesson, which also includes videos, printables, and an online quiz to test your child’s knowledge. By the end of the course, your kids will be experts on these popular Christmas songs!
PLUS – the coupon code 15OFF2018 (expires Dec 31st) will work for this as well, so customers can get it for $14.45, not $17!
Using these best Christmas songs to learn and study in homeschool, you’ll give your children a fun way to learn something interesting. Your kids are sure to remember these lessons since they’ll hear these songs year after year. This Christmas, you’ll get to celebrate the holiday with plenty of music and joy!
