Day 22
This year, "Today's Concert" is a chance for us to feature all 24 talented choirs and bands. Relive all their performances from Christkindl Market in 2019.
We hope you continue to enjoy a new concert each day!
Share your Christmas Choir Stories
Share your favourite Christmas choir stories, pictures, and traditions with us.
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History of Christmas Choirs
Christmas carols, as opposed to contemporary songs about Christmas, celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many carols – the lyrics and/or the music – have been written by Germans. Some of these carols may be more familiar than others, but each is a beautiful celebration of the birth of Christ and the season:
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum); lyrics by Ernst Anschütz, 1824, after Melchior Franck, 1500s.
To Shepherds, As They Watched by Night (Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar); lyrics by Martin Luther, 1543.
How Brightly Shines the Morning Star (Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern); lyrics by Philipp Nicolai, 1597.
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen); lyrics anonymous, about 1599.
The Swiss Farmer Band
The Swiss Farmer Band was originally founded in 1993 by a group of Swiss immigrants most of whom, as the name implies, were farmers or involved in farm-related businesses. The goal of the founding members was to continue the European brass band music tradition in their new homeland.
Today, the band of around 20 members has diversified and now includes Swiss, German and Canadian musicians alike. They practice weekly in Listowel or Milverton, Ontario, and come from all over southwestern Ontario to do so — from Moorefield to Cambridge, from Blyth to Grand Valley.
Fun Facts About Christmas Carols
Why do we sing Christmas carols?
When Christians began replacing pagan winter festivals with Christmas, bishops across Europe requested certain hymns to be sung at Christmas services.
Many composers wanted to write their own carols, but since they were always in Latin, they weren’t terribly popular.
Then in 1233, St. Francis of Assisi started putting on Nativity plays, which included canticles that told the story of Christ’s birth.
These were usually all in a language that audience members could understand, so they sang along.
What are the top 10 Christmas Carols of all time?
Silent Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
What Child Is This?
We Three Kings
The First Noel
Away In A Manger
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Joy To The World
History of O Tannenbaum
The modern lyrics were written in 1824, by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness.
Fun facts about some Christmas songs
Did you know that while we associate "Jingle Bells" with Christmas, the song was written by James Lord Pierpont to celebrate Thanksgiving.
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is one of the oldest Christmas hymns to still get airplay. Originally composed in Latin during the twelfth century, it was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.
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Giving Back
The photos, videos and concerts presented on this website are a chance for visitors to relive Christkindl Markets from 1997 through 2019. In 2020 we are online only.