Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:47 PM

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, 1578 views

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8 replies	Author	Time	Post
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

Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:49 PM

PETRUS (2,500 posts)

1. How about a guess?

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.

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:50 PM

Aristus (29,333 posts)

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

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

Make sense?

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:01 PM

Pab Sungenis (8,924 posts)

3. Hymns are religious songs.

Carols are Holiday songs.

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

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:15 PM

HopeHoops (47,675 posts)

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

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:41 PM

Quartermass (457 posts)

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

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:46 PM

WCGreen (44,929 posts)

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

Last edited Sun Dec 25, 2011, 05:47 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

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Response to WCGreen (Reply #6)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 07:06 PM

Gidney N Cloyd (10,447 posts)

8. Finally a sensible answer!

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

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Original post)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 06:33 PM

7wo7rees (1,273 posts)

7. Here's my take.

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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