<P> The first known Christmas hymns may be traced to 4th century Rome . Latin hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism . Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father's heart begotten) by the Spanish poet Prudentius (d . 413) is still sung in some churches today . </P> <P> In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Christmas "Sequence" or "Prose" was introduced in Northern European monasteries, developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed stanzas . In the 12th century the Parisian monk Adam of Saint Victor began to derive music from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditional Christmas carol . </P> <P> In the 13th century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of Francis of Assisi a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in regional native languages developed . Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty five "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung by groups of' wassailers', who went from house to house . The songs we know specifically as carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as Christmas . It was only later that carols began to be sung in church, and to be specifically associated with Christmas . </P> <P> Many carols which have gained popularity today were printed in Piae Cantiones, a collection of late medieval Latin songs which was first published in 1582 . Early, Latin forms of carols such as "Christ was born on Christmas Day", "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and "Good King Wenceslas" can be found in this book . "Adeste Fideles" ("O Come all ye faithful") appears in its current form in the mid-18th century, although the words may have originated in the 13th century . The origin of the tune is disputed . </P>

Where does the word christmas carol come from