"Christmas Carols"... They have endured...part one

I think the commercialism that comes with Christmas...puts a damper on enjoying what we are suppose to be doing. It's a time to receive Hope, to receive Peace, to experience Joy, and to express Love with your family, friends, and neighbors. Christmas is a fast and fleeting time in the year, yet with all the constant modern day pressures we face during this festive season...it has the potential to take the "fun" out of what the intent of the season is really about.. Instead of Hope...we worry, Instead of Peace...we experience anxiety, instead of Joy...we face depression, and instead of Love...we fear rejection.
 Along with all these "ups and downs" this season brings...Christmas carols are even looked upon  with disdain and attitudes that respond: "I don't want to hear it". Why?...because they are not true...right? Christmas is no longer a "happy family gathering", no longer a time to enjoy relationships, and instead of the simplicity of life... we experience pressures, ongoing plans, and  never ending parties, planning, and meetings that drain "the life out of you". 
 So, what about these songs we know as "Christmas Carols?"

 The word "carol" is an old word....dating back to European cultures thousands of years ago. It's original definition actually means to "gather in a circle and perform a dance." It was a time of "pressures" as well...getting through the winter season and having enough food to tell about it in the Spring. Long before Christianity made it's mark in the known world, cultures of different regions and religions were aware of what this time of year meant.
 The Winter Solstice could be a fearful time of year. During Christmas time in the Dark and Middle Ages throughout Europe, it was the time the winter season was about to go into high gear...particularly in the upcoming months of January, February, and on into March. Members of families and various tribes throughout the northern regions of Europe could lose as many as 50% of their people due to malnutrition and the severe cold. Along with that, there was always a concern of food shortage...to make it through the winter. Scurvy, the dreaded disease stemming from lack of vitamins found in fruits and vegetables was common, along with the general food supply.
 As a result, many cultures offered sacrifices to their gods during this time we call Christmas, and this festival activity would bring hope to the calamities of winter.
 The Feast of Juul is a festival during the Christmas season that was celebrated long before Christianity arrived in Scandinavia. It's where we get the "Christmas Yule Log" from, and in ancient times this celebration was dedicated to the god Thor. The French believed gathering the ashes from a Yule Log and placing them under your bed would protect you from lightning and thunder.
 In the days of ancient Rome Saturnalia was the winter festival during our Christmas season that was celebrated and included forgiveness from quarrels and grudges, gifts exchanged (usually in hope of fertility), candles were lit, and some other customs that we celebrate in our Christmas season even today. Saturnalia was a winter festival dedicated to Saturn, the father of the gods. 

 The Roman Catholic church...as Christianity spread throughout Europe, particularly in areas like the Scandinavian countries and the British Isles, began to replace these "pagan" festivals with this relatively new idea...the celebration of Jesus birth. It really wasn't a concept spoke of in the Scriptures, in particular the New Testament, yet the motive was to turn people's eyes away from other gods to the Lord Jesus.
 The other problem was...Jesus was most likely not born on December 25th...more likely in April or early May. The Scriptures are silent on the date of His birth...yet those who study the area in Galilee of Israel...December 25th was not the time of year shepherds would be "watching their flocks by night"....it was not the season to graze.
 Yet, the idea of replacing these festivals in various lands with the birth of Jesus...was the "perfect solution" to what the Roman church intended to do.

 It is recorded that as early as 129 A.D., a Roman bishop of the Christian church announced a hymn should be sung entitled " Angel's Hymn" during Christmas...in the church at Rome.
 The idea seemed to be of little interest to the Christian community and later...in 760 A.D. the Greek Orthodox church began to insert Christmas Carols during the Celebration of the Virgin's birth and include these carols in the church calendar year.
 Yet...there was a problem.
 These "Christmas Carols" were in ancient Latin...not the vernacular...so again the songs at Christmas did not generate public appeal...no one spoke Latin. By 1200 A.D., the whole idea of Christmas Carols had become a thing of the past.
But wait......

 In 1223 A.D., Saint Francis of Assisi introduced Christian "plays" in Italy...including the Nativity Scene. These Christmas plays brought another round of Christmas carols...and were even sung in Italian! Yet, there arose another problem.
 During this Middle Age time period, the Roman Catholic church had established two conditions with its followers in regards to the Sacred Scripture: 1) The Scriptures remained in Latin...so the common man did not understand it's meaning 2) the Church felt one must be "qualified" to read and understand Scripture...like a trained priest or monk ( even many of the local priests could not read and understand Scripture ). So, as Christmas Carols were written during this time, many were loosely connected to the Scripture or....just flat out untrue altogether in light of the Scripture itself. So, once again Christmas Carols faded from the mainstream.
 In the 1500's The Reformation had begun throughout Europe led by Martin Luther. Luther favored Christmas time...and Christmas Carols...he wrote some of his own.
 Yet, there arose another problem.