Christmas: 'O Holy Night' crowned nation's favourite carol in poll

Christmas: 'O Holy Night' crowned nation's favourite carol in poll
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Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 19/12/2021

- 07:43

'Silent Night' and 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' both make the top 5

O Holy Night has topped a poll to find the nation’s favourite Christmas carol, beating Silent Night to the top spot.

Gustav Holst’s version of In The Bleak Midwinter came in at number three and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing was in fourth, in an annual survey by Classic FM.


O Holy Night, believed to be the first ever carol played on the radio, holds on to the top spot for the sixth year in a row.

Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, broadcast the first medium wave radio programme on Christmas Eve 1906, during which he played O Holy Night on the violin.

Over the years, the carol has been covered by music superstars including Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.

The words for O Holy Night come from a French poem, while the music, composed by Adolphe Adam, followed later.

Howard Darke’s version of In The Bleak Midwinter is fifth place in the poll, while O Come All Ye Faithful, Carol Of The Bells, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Once In Royal David’s City, and Away In A Manger make up the rest of the top 10.

More than 17,000 votes were cast in the 20th year of the Classic FM poll.

Alice McGregor, (left) and Renee Confrey (right) members of Memory Lane Choir, a choir for older people that welcomes members living with dementia, during their Christmas carols recital at Busaras in Dublin.
Alice McGregor, (left) and Renee Confrey (right) members of Memory Lane Choir, a choir for older people that welcomes members living with dementia, during their Christmas carols recital at Busaras in Dublin.
Brian Lawless

There is one new entry this year – Angels From The Realms Of Glory – at number 27, while the highest climber is We Three Kings, which is up three places to number 21.

The Coventry Carol is the biggest faller, down four places to number 19.

The countdown of the top 30 carols will be broadcast in a special Christmas Day programme – The Nation’s Favourite Carol – presented by John Brunning from 1pm on Classic FM and Global Player.

Brunning said: “Carols have been at the heart of Christmas for hundreds of years and continue to be enjoyed – and sung – by millions of people across the UK at this time of year.

“As a carol, O Holy Night has got it all. It has a beautiful melody, powerful words and, at its core, a story of hope and the promise of redemption.

“Its enduring popularity over the past years – through the good times as well as the challenges that we’re facing – is undeniable and it deserves its place as the nation’s favourite.”

The top 20 carols in the Classic FM poll are:

O Holy Night

Silent Night

In The Bleak Midwinter (Gustav Holst version)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

In The Bleak Midwinter (Howard Darke version)

O Come All Ye Faithful

Carol Of The Bells

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Once In Royal David’s City

Away In A Manger

Joy To The World

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Ding Dong! Merrily On High

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The Holly And The Ivy

Good King Wenceslas

In Dulci Jubilo

Gaudete

Coventry Carol

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.

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