The Evolution of Christmas Carols: Charlotte Richardson City of London Freemen s School The times are changing, in more ways than one. Whether you are a fan of Mariah Carey or the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Christmas is a time full of music and joy. So, how has the traditional carol changed its tune? Carols were first sung in around the fourth century in Europe, with a hymn named ‘Jesus Refulsit Omnium’: not a particularly widely known name today. The carol was composed in Latin by St. Hilary of Poitiers. Carols nowadays are not typically in Latin, as carols such as ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ (‘Adeste Fideles’) have been translated into modern English.