Christmas carols

The origins 

Christmas, as a religious festivity, was introduced in Great Britain in 596 A.D. by Augustinian monks. However the origins are dated back to the Druids, priests of the ancient Celtic populations, who used the mistletoe and the holly as perennial bushes, during their rituals. 
These folk customs continued to be celebrated during the Christmas festivity in the Anglo-Saxon countries. Indeed groups of men usually went door to door, singing Christmas carols, and exchanging evergreen twigs.
It was only in the 18th century in England that women took part of this custom too. They travelled from home to home ("gooding") and offered green bushes in exchange for money and food.  

In the popular beliefs women and children were associated to characters, such as "St. Nicole, Santa Claus, infant Jesus and Befana". 
Nowadays Christmas carols are traditionally sung in the period immediately surrounding the Christmas festivity. They are sung all over the world in English because it is still the most spoken language. 

                                             Paron Anna.