‘O Holy Night’ voted the nation’s favourite Christmas carol for 2020
25 December 2020, 14:57 | Updated: 25 December 2020, 15:36
The nation has spoken – here are the top 30 Christmas carols for 2020, as voted for by you.
Throughout December, we invited you to vote for your all-time favourite Christmas carol.
And in The Nation’s Favourite Carol 2020, ‘O Holy Night’ topped our annual festive chart for the fifth year in a row.
The beloved melody, which reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity’s redemption, is a historic favourite in Classic FM’s countdown and is believed to have been the first carol played on the radio.
The carol, of French origins, was released in 1847 by Adolphe Adam under the name ‘Cantique de Noël’.
A decade later, an English translation was released, and it has since been covered by artists including Pavarotti, Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby.
Read more: What are the original lyrics to ‘O Holy Night’ – and who has recorded it? >
O Holy Night – Choir of King's College Cambridge
‘Silent Night’ was voted in second, Holst’s ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ was the nation’s choice for No. 3, and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ landed in fourth place.
Classic FM’s John Brunning counted down the special festive chart from 1pm to 3pm on Christmas Day. See the top 30 in full below.
The Nation’s Favourite Carol - top 30
1. O Holy Night
2. Silent Night
3. In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Holst)
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Darke)
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Carol of the Bells
8. Once in Royal David’s City
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. Joy to the World
11. Away in a Manger
12. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
13. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
14. Ding Dong! Merrily on High
15. Coventry Carol
16. The Holly and the Ivy
17. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
18. Good King Wenceslas
19. In Dulci Jubilo
20. Gaudete
21. Sussex Carol
22. The Three Kings
23. Candlelight Carol
24. We Three Kings
25. The First Nowell
26. See Amid the Winter’s Snow
27. I Saw Three Ships
28. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
29. Gabriel’s Message
30. Star Carol (Rutter)
Catch Up with The Nation’s Favourite Carol on Global Player, the official Classic FM app.
