Christmas Is Coming

"Christmas Is Coming" is a traditional English Christmas carol and nursery rhyme. Often sung as a round by children, it welcomes the winter holiday season with a message of festive anticipation and charitable giving.

The song is commonly used in schools and caroling books to introduce children to historical holiday traditions.

Origins

The exact origin of the rhyme is unknown, but it began appearing in print around 1885 in British collections of folk verses and holiday carols. It is cataloged as number 12817 in the Roud Folk Song Index. In the late 19th century, the children's author Edith Nesbit Bland composed a popular tune for the verse. The song gained further international recognition in the mid-20th century when the American folk group The Kingston Trio included it on their 1960 holiday album The Last Month of the Year.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics capture the contrast between holiday abundance and economic hardship during the Victorian era. The line describing the goose getting fat refers to the classic English custom of preparing a roast goose for the Christmas feast. The subsequent lines ask for a penny or a half-penny to be placed in an old man's hat. This emphasizes the importance of charity during the winter season, reminding listeners to support those in need. If the listener has no money to spare, the song offers a warm blessing instead.

What is the history of the song Christmas Is Coming?

The song is a traditional English round that first appeared in print in 1885. It draws on Victorian holiday customs, specifically the preparation of a roast goose and the traditional focus on winter charity for the poor.