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Gidney N Cloyd

(19,539 posts) Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:47 PM Dec 2011

What's the difference between a Carol and a Hymn?

Disquieting minds want to know.

And if you can't answer that one, How come nobody ever goes around door-to-door singing show tunes?

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

What's the difference between a Carol and a Hymn? (Original Post) Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2011 OP

How about a guess? PETRUS Dec 2011 #1

Never thought about it before; but how about this?: Aristus Dec 2011 #2

Hymns are religious songs. Pab Sungenis Dec 2011 #3

A hymn is based on ancient legend. A carol is based on old songs. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #4

A Carol doesn't really mention God, and Hymms are for singing in church. Mostly. Quartermass Dec 2011 #5

Carol is a her and hymm is a him... WCGreen Dec 2011 #6

Finally a sensible answer! Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2011 #8

Here's my take. 7wo7rees Dec 2011 #7

PETRUS

(3,678 posts)

1. How about a guess?

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:49 PM

Dec 2011

Maybe carols are secular?

And on the other thing, I don't know what you're talking about. Practically every time somebody knocks it's Pirates of Penzance.

Aristus

(64,879 posts)

2. Never thought about it before; but how about this?:

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:50 PM

Dec 2011

We sing carols to each other; we sings hymns to God.

Make sense?

Pab Sungenis

(9,612 posts)

3. Hymns are religious songs.

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:01 PM

Dec 2011

Carols are Holiday songs.

Not all carols are hymns, and not all hymns are carols, for the snark WAS a boojum, you see.

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

4. A hymn is based on ancient legend. A carol is based on old songs.

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:15 PM

Dec 2011

Quartermass

(457 posts)

5. A Carol doesn't really mention God, and Hymms are for singing in church. Mostly.

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:41 PM

Dec 2011

WCGreen

(45,558 posts)

6. Carol is a her and hymm is a him...

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:46 PM

Dec 2011

Gidney N Cloyd

(19,539 posts)

8. Finally a sensible answer!

Reply to WCGreen (Reply #6)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 07:06 PM

Dec 2011

But now what do we do with Tommy Tune and Opera Winfrey?

7wo7rees

(5,128 posts)

7. Here's my take.

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 06:33 PM

Dec 2011

Carols are hymns.

Hymns which are not carols are to be sung in groups, reverently, earnestly.
Carols are to be sung in groups joyfully, merrily on holidays/holy days.

Those "Christmas carols" that have no reference to the birth of Christ, a la Jingle Bells, Frosty, Rudolph, etc. are all simply Christmas songs.

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