Deck the Halls
Wales Lyrics
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
History and Meaning
A traditional Christmas carol with a rich history rooted in Welsh culture, with the melody dating back to the 16th century and originating from a traditional Welsh New Year's Eve carol called "Nos Galan," which translates to "New Year's Eve." The original Welsh "Nos Galan" was a winter carol often associated with New Year's Eve festivities and sometimes described as a competitive drinking song, with its lyrics focusing on themes like love and revelry rather than Christmas. While the melody is ancient, the English lyrics for "Deck the Halls" were penned by Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant and first appeared in 1862 in the second volume of "Welsh Melodies," transforming the song into the Christmas staple recognized today by incorporating festive imagery such as "boughs of holly." Over time, Oliphant's English adaptation shifted the song's association from New Year's celebrations to Christmas, and the title was originally singular, "Deck the Hall," until around 1892 when it became plural.