Polish Christmas Carols "Koledy"

In old Poland, the Christmas Holidays were known as the Gody, days of love, harmony, forgiveness, and peace. They came after a long period of fasting and served to release the stored-up affection and tenderness the Poles held in their hearts for the Christ Child. This feeling was expressed by a spirit of good will, so that not even one's worst enemy was turned away from the door without bread and salt, a cup of cheer, and a kind word. Mostly, however, it was expressed by song, the "Koledy", or Christmas Carols.

The Polish words "Wesolych Swiat, meaning Merry Holidays, imply that there is more than one day of joy and festivity. Beginning with Christmas Eve, the holidays usually end on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, or the day of the Three Wise Men, and in the rural districts of Poland, they lasted even longer, until Candlemas Day, which falls on February 2nd.

The carols are almost all anonymous having been composed by the people. Their origins date from the 14th century, many from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Polish carol has an essentially folk song character, which makes it specifically national. The melodies are characteristically Polish - happy, sad, tender, even humorous, which was typical of the Polish peasant or mountaineer. There is a native unconscious poetry about all of them. The Infant Jesus, poor and homeless, born in a stable surrounded by the familiar domestic animals, appeals to the heart and the imagination of all peoples.

Some examples of Polish Christmas Carols "Koledy", can be found here.