Thousands of Radio Times readers and Classic FM listeners voted in 2009 to determine the U.K.’s favorite Christmas carol. The results were revealed by a countdown on Classic FM during a special live programme “The Nation’s Favourite Carol”, presented by Howard Goodall on Christmas Day, 2009.
“O Holy Night” was found to be the most popular carol, while two versions of “In the Bleak Midwinter” appeared in the top five, as shown below.
Note that in the list below, carols with equal votes are listed in the same position and are separated by an = sign.
Top 30 carols
- O Holy Night
- Silent Night
- In the Bleak Midwinter (Harold Edwin Darke version)
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- In the Bleak Midwinter (Gustav Holst version)
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
- Once in Royal David’s City
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
- In Dulci Jubilo
- Sussex Carol
- Ding Dong! Merrily on High
- Gabriel’s Message
- See Amid the Winter’s Snow
- Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
- Away in a Manger
- Candlelight Carol
- Angels from the Realms of Glory
- Good King Wenceslas
- Coventry Carol
- Angel’s Carol
- What Sweeter Music = Sans Day Carol
- The Holly and the Ivy
- Joy to the World = Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
- Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
- The Three Kings
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night = Cherry Tree Carol = The Infant King = Nativity Carol = Carol of the Bells
- Rocking Carol = Mary’s Lullaby
What is your favorite Christmas carol? Comments are welcome!
