187:
197:
The greeting "a merry
Christmas and a happy New Year" is recorded from the early eighteenth century; however, the history of the carol itself is unclear. Its origin probably lies in the English tradition wherein wealthy people of the community gave Christmas treats to the carolers on
311:
Various sources place this version of the song in different parts of
England during the nineteenth century. Several versions survived into the twentieth century and were recorded by folk song collectors in England, such as those of George Dunn and Mary Evans of
58:
286:
When at last they were all ready, off they marched, with all the little boys and girls running behind them; and went straight to Farmer Buller’s door, where they knew they should find a welcome. They all stood in a row, and began to sing as loud as they were
214:
of
England, "figgy pudding" referred to a raisin or plum pudding, not necessarily one containing figs. In the famous version of the song, the singer demands figgy pudding from the audience, threatening to not "go until we get some".
107:
from 1909, arranged the tune for his own
University of Bristol Madrigal Singers as an elaborate four-part arrangement, which he performed with them in concert on December 6, 1935. His composition was published by
901:
hen little children came round to our doors, and lisped their
Christmas greeting, the which seems to have sadly degenerated into a scuttling round the first thing on Christmas-morn and a shouting at the doors
980:
The special form of asking for
Christmas-boxes generally runs in rhyme, and varied in different parts of the country. That in Leeds, which is bellowed in a quick, hoarse voice through the keyhole, is:
246:
much used by wassailers and other luck visitors"; no source or date is given. The famous version of the song was completely unknown outside the West
Country before Arthur Warrell popularised it.
57:
178:. There are several supposedly traditional recordings which follow the famous version exactly, but these are almost certainly derived from Arthur Warrell's arrangement.
174:
sang a version called "The
Singers Make Bold" to Bob and Jacqueline Patten in 1973 which again used a similar chorus to the famous version and can be heard via the
20:
146:
Many traditional versions of the song have been recorded, some of which replace the last line with "Good tidings for
Christmas and a happy new year". In 1971,
637:
585:
558:
103:-based composer, conductor and organist Arthur Warrell (1883–1939) is responsible for the popularity of the carol. Warrell, a lecturer at the
559:"The singers make bold – Bob and Jacqueline Patten English Folk Music Collection – World and traditional music | British Library – Sounds"
805:"untitled [Welcome given by the people of Llandyssil to the newly-married Mr and Mrs John Glynne Mytton on December 31st 1835]"
624:
390:
329:
163:
76:
1097:
1092:
462:
410:
1102:
175:
223:
1087:
481:
reprint, but not in the 1935 original, the option of replacing "I wish you a Merry
Christmas" by the more common "
274:– townsfolk who would go about singing from door to door to request gifts. An example is given in the short story
1082:
234:
228:
804:
341:
661:"A 'figgy pudding'; a pudding with raisins in it; a plum pudding", from "Devonshire and Cornwall Vocabulary",
971:
147:
109:
718:
158:
singing a version close to the famous one, which had a familiar version of the chorus, but used the song "
735:
947:
694:"Figgy Pudding ... the ordinary name for plum-pudding. Also a baked batter pudding with raisins in it",
104:
937:
373:, 1939. Served as organist and choirmaster at several Bristol churches. Subsequently, taught music at
186:
774:
720:
Some ancient Christmas Carols, with the Tunes to which they were formerly sung in the West of England
676:"Plum-pudding and plum-cake are universally called figgy pudding and figgy cake in Devonshire", from
279:
80:
649:
881:
856:
159:
703:
608:
374:
871:
846:
115:
Warrell's arrangement is notable for using "I" instead of "we" in the words; the first line is "
760:
662:
458:
386:
380:
207:
121:
681:
A dialogue in the Devonshire dialect, by a lady: to which is added a glossary, by J.F. Palmer
679:
943:
877:
852:
756:
606:"a merry X'mas and a happy New Year", letter of Samuel Goodman dated December 20th 1710, in
321:
47:
346:
325:
72:
37:
697:
332:. These versions use completely different tunes to the now famous West Country variant.
239:
226:(1833), as well as from the great anthologies of Sylvester (1861) and Husk (1864), and
219:
1076:
317:
203:
199:
190:
155:
84:
305:
211:
88:
112:
the same year under the title "A Merry Christmas: West Country traditional song".
56:
366:
313:
151:
586:"'We Wish You a Merry Christmas': what are the lyrics and who wrote the carol?"
377:
and founded the Bristol University Choir, Orchestra, and Madrigal Singers. See
119:
wish you a Merry Christmas". It was subsequently republished in the collection
1052:
1028:
1004:
534:
510:
638:"Why Does Santa Wear Red?: And 100 Other Christmas Curiosities Unwrapped"
171:
370:
271:
167:
100:
684:. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman. p. 46.
382:
Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland
328:(1966), all of which are publicly available online courtesy of the
185:
411:"Arguably most famous Christmas song was written by a Bristolian"
1053:"We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Roud Folksong Index S415451)"
826:"The 'Compliments of the Season;' and 'Obliging Inquiries'".
650:"We Wish You a Merry Christmas! – Christmas Songs of England"
1029:"We Wish You Merry Christmas (Roud Folksong Index S415452)"
242:
describe it as "English traditional" and "he remnant of an
218:
The song is absent from the collections of West-countrymen
320:(both recorded in 1971), as well as Miss J. Howman of
254:
A closely related verse, dating from the 1830s, runs:
535:"The Singers Make Bold (Roud Folksong Index S415287)"
162:" as the verses; this recording can be heard on the
141:
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
43:
33:
28:
954:A pocket full of money, and a cellar full of beer;
137:We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
753:A Garland of Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern
308:, the boys are served beer by the farmer's maid.
511:"Christmas Rhymes (Roud Folksong Index S231282)"
952:I wish you a merry Christmas, a happy New Year,
793:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 529.
289:
284:
256:
193:is referenced in the latter verses of the carol
130:
972:"Christmas Melodies: The Carols of the Season"
499:. Publisher:Mel Bay Publications. p. 238.
21:We Wish You a Merry Christmas (disambiguation)
1005:"Open the Door (Roud Folksong Index S247999)"
625:"Storybook Advent Carols Collection Songbook"
8:
613:. Madras: Government Press. 1931. p. 3.
789:Keyte, Hugh; Parrott, Andrew, eds. (1992).
610:Letters to Fort St. George: vol. xii (1711)
497:Ancient Christmas Music for Acoustic Guitar
580:
578:
25:
942:. London: Trübner & Co. p. 317.
139:Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
956:A good fat pig to last you all the year.
666:vol. 29/6, no. 199, June 1, 1810. p. 435
379:Humphreys, Maggie; Robert Evans (1997).
304:After they are allowed in and perform a
992:Please will you give us my Kersmas-box.
358:
128:The popular version begins as follows:
990:A big fat pig to serve you all t'year,
976:Weekly Supplement to the Leeds Mercury
436:Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror
125:(1961), and remains widely performed.
1057:The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
1033:The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
1009:The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
936:Burne, Charlotte Sophia, ed. (1883).
702:. London: Trübner & Co. pp.
539:The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
515:The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
485:wish you a Merry Christmas" is given.
206:" that was very much like modern-day
7:
958:Please to give me a New Year's gift.
737:Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern
404:
402:
779:, London: John Camden Hotten, 1864.
457:. London: Oxford University Press.
696:Elworthy, Frederic Thomas (1875).
442:(25, 920). Bristol: 4. 1935-12-06.
14:
330:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
164:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
385:. London: Mansell. p. 351.
54:
751:Sylvester, Joshua, ed. (1861).
453:Warrell, Arthur (arr.) (1935).
296:A pantryful of good roast-beef,
238:(1992), editors Hugh Keyte and
876:. London: Mozley. p. 93.
851:. London: Mozley. p. 87.
755:. London: John Camden Hotten.
627:. p. 48. Couples Company, Inc,
1:
815:(451). Bangor: 4. 1836-02-16.
791:The New Oxford Book of Carols
761:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t93779d3t
723:. London: J. Nichols and Son.
652:. Retrieved December 11, 2010
259:We wish you a merry Christmas
250:"Cellar full of beer" variant
232:(1928). In the comprehensive
176:British Library Sound Archive
135:We wish you a merry Christmas
133:We wish you a merry Christmas
69:We Wish You a Merry Christmas
29:We Wish You a Merry Christmas
970:Kidson, Frank (1888-12-15).
904:A wish you a merry Christmas
699:The Dialect of West Somerset
409:Byrne, Eugene (2019-12-24).
365:Arthur Sydney Warrell, born
292:I wish you a merry Christmas
83:. The famous version of the
982:I wish you a merry Kersmas,
895:"Notes: Christmas Carols".
834:. Castlebar: 4. 1834-01-23.
265:And a cellar full of beer.
1119:
773:Husk, William Henry (ed.)
740:. London: Richard Beckley.
298:And barrels full of beer.
18:
870:Yonge, Charlotte (1858).
845:Yonge, Charlotte (1858).
235:New Oxford Book of Carols
229:The Oxford Book of Carols
53:
924:To sarve y'all th' year.
734:Sandys, William (1833).
717:Gilbert, Davies (1822).
342:List of Christmas carols
150:recorded George Dunn of
1098:British Christmas songs
1093:19th century in England
986:A pocket full of money,
948:2027/inu.39000005759647
914:An' a plum an' a cherry
263:A pocket full of money,
110:Oxford University Press
16:English Christmas carol
988:A barrel full o' beer,
910:A cellar full o' beer.
908:A pocket full o' money
636:Lester, Meera (2007).
495:Garno, Gerard (2018).
302:
301:
268:
194:
144:
918:Ter mak' a man merry.
916:An' a sup o' good ale
873:The Christmas Mummers
848:The Christmas Mummers
809:North Wales Chronicle
776:Songs of the Nativity
623:Brech, Lewis (2010).
294:And a happy New Year,
276:The Christmas Mummers
261:And a happy new year;
189:
166:website. Amy Ford of
105:University of Bristol
1103:Christmas in England
939:Shropshire Folk-Lore
906:An' a happy New Year
664:The Monthly Magazine
222:(1822 and 1823) and
87:is from the English
81:Roud Folk Song Index
75:, listed as numbers
19:For other uses, see
978:(15817). Leeds: 1.
912:A' apple an' a pear
882:2027/wu.89016071219
857:2027/wu.89016071219
640:p.146. Adams Media,
434:"Music and Drama".
160:Christmas Is Coming
1088:19th-century songs
922:An' a good fat pig
375:Bristol University
208:Christmas puddings
195:
984:A happy New Year,
920:A horse an' a gig
899:: 3. 1872-12-28.
828:Mayo Constitution
479:Carols for Choirs
455:A Merry Christmas
122:Carols for Choirs
65:
64:
59:
1110:
1083:Christmas carols
1067:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1049:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1025:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1015:
1001:
995:
994:
967:
961:
960:
933:
927:
926:
897:Derbyshire Times
892:
886:
885:
867:
861:
860:
842:
836:
835:
823:
817:
816:
801:
795:
794:
786:
780:
771:
765:
764:
748:
742:
741:
731:
725:
724:
714:
708:
707:
692:
686:
685:
678:Lady, A (1837).
674:
668:
659:
653:
647:
641:
634:
628:
621:
615:
614:
604:
598:
597:
595:
593:
582:
573:
572:
570:
569:
555:
549:
548:
546:
545:
531:
525:
524:
522:
521:
507:
501:
500:
492:
486:
475:
469:
468:
450:
444:
443:
431:
425:
424:
422:
421:
406:
397:
396:
363:
322:Stow-on-the-Wold
71:" is an English
61:
60:
26:
1118:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1108:
1107:
1073:
1072:
1071:
1070:
1061:
1059:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1037:
1035:
1027:
1026:
1022:
1013:
1011:
1003:
1002:
998:
991:
989:
987:
985:
983:
981:
969:
968:
964:
957:
955:
953:
935:
934:
930:
923:
921:
919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
907:
905:
903:
894:
893:
889:
869:
868:
864:
844:
843:
839:
825:
824:
820:
803:
802:
798:
788:
787:
783:
772:
768:
750:
749:
745:
733:
732:
728:
716:
715:
711:
695:
693:
689:
677:
675:
671:
660:
656:
648:
644:
635:
631:
622:
618:
607:
605:
601:
591:
589:
584:
583:
576:
567:
565:
557:
556:
552:
543:
541:
533:
532:
528:
519:
517:
509:
508:
504:
494:
493:
489:
476:
472:
465:
452:
451:
447:
433:
432:
428:
419:
417:
408:
407:
400:
393:
378:
364:
360:
355:
347:Christmas music
338:
326:Gloucestershire
300:
297:
295:
293:
280:Charlotte Yonge
270:It was sung by
267:
264:
262:
260:
252:
184:
143:
140:
138:
136:
134:
97:
95:Popular version
73:Christmas carol
55:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1116:
1114:
1106:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1075:
1074:
1069:
1068:
1044:
1020:
996:
962:
928:
887:
862:
837:
818:
796:
781:
766:
743:
726:
709:
687:
669:
654:
642:
629:
616:
599:
574:
550:
526:
502:
487:
470:
463:
445:
426:
398:
391:
357:
356:
354:
351:
350:
349:
344:
337:
334:
290:
257:
251:
248:
240:Andrew Parrott
224:William Sandys
220:Davies Gilbert
183:
180:
131:
96:
93:
63:
62:
51:
50:
45:
41:
40:
35:
31:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1115:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1078:
1058:
1054:
1048:
1045:
1034:
1030:
1024:
1021:
1010:
1006:
1000:
997:
993:
977:
973:
966:
963:
959:
949:
945:
941:
940:
932:
929:
925:
898:
891:
888:
883:
879:
875:
874:
866:
863:
858:
854:
850:
849:
841:
838:
833:
829:
822:
819:
814:
810:
806:
800:
797:
792:
785:
782:
778:
777:
770:
767:
762:
758:
754:
747:
744:
739:
738:
730:
727:
722:
721:
713:
710:
705:
701:
700:
691:
688:
683:
682:
673:
670:
667:
665:
658:
655:
651:
646:
643:
639:
633:
630:
626:
620:
617:
612:
611:
603:
600:
587:
581:
579:
575:
564:
560:
554:
551:
540:
536:
530:
527:
516:
512:
506:
503:
498:
491:
488:
484:
480:
474:
471:
466:
460:
456:
449:
446:
441:
437:
430:
427:
416:
412:
405:
403:
399:
394:
392:0-7201-2330-5
388:
384:
383:
376:
372:
369:, 1883, died
368:
362:
359:
352:
348:
345:
343:
340:
339:
335:
333:
331:
327:
323:
319:
318:Staffordshire
315:
309:
307:
299:
288:
283:
281:
277:
273:
266:
255:
249:
247:
245:
241:
237:
236:
231:
230:
225:
221:
216:
213:
209:
205:
204:figgy pudding
201:
200:Christmas Eve
192:
191:Figgy pudding
188:
181:
179:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
156:Staffordshire
153:
149:
142:
129:
126:
124:
123:
118:
113:
111:
106:
102:
94:
92:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
52:
49:
46:
42:
39:
36:
32:
27:
22:
1060:. Retrieved
1056:
1047:
1036:. Retrieved
1032:
1023:
1012:. Retrieved
1008:
999:
979:
975:
965:
951:
938:
931:
900:
896:
890:
872:
865:
847:
840:
831:
827:
821:
812:
808:
799:
790:
784:
775:
769:
752:
746:
736:
729:
719:
712:
698:
690:
680:
672:
663:
657:
645:
632:
619:
609:
602:
590:. Retrieved
588:. Classic FM
566:. Retrieved
563:sounds.bl.uk
562:
553:
542:. Retrieved
538:
529:
518:. Retrieved
514:
505:
496:
490:
482:
478:
473:
454:
448:
439:
435:
429:
418:. Retrieved
414:
381:
361:
310:
306:Mummers play
303:
291:
285:
275:
269:
258:
253:
243:
233:
227:
217:
212:West Country
196:
145:
132:
127:
120:
116:
114:
98:
89:West Country
77:230 and 9681
68:
66:
415:BristolLive
367:Farmborough
314:Quarry Bank
202:, such as "
152:Quarry Bank
1077:Categories
1062:2020-11-06
1038:2020-11-06
1014:2020-11-06
592:7 December
568:2020-12-29
544:2020-12-29
520:2020-12-29
464:019340530X
420:2020-11-06
353:References
278:(1858) by
148:Roy Palmer
210:; in the
38:Christmas
336:See also
172:Somerset
44:Language
477:In the
371:Bristol
272:mummers
182:History
168:Low Ham
101:Bristol
79:in the
48:English
461:
389:
244:envoie
287:able:
85:carol
34:Genre
594:2023
459:ISBN
387:ISBN
99:The
944:hdl
902:of:
878:hdl
853:hdl
832:xxv
757:hdl
704:252
440:154
1079::
1055:.
1031:.
1007:.
974:.
950:.
830:.
813:ix
811:.
807:.
577:^
561:.
537:.
513:.
483:We
438:.
413:.
401:^
324:,
316:,
282::
170:,
154:,
91:.
1065:.
1041:.
1017:.
946::
884:.
880::
859:.
855::
763:.
759::
706:.
596:.
571:.
547:.
523:.
467:.
423:.
395:.
117:I
67:"
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
