Our dear FOTMD friend John P. passed away a few years ago, but
this Christmas Songs thread of his is worth bumping up - it's nice to read over again! 

Bump

On This Day Earth Shall Ring

Over the Hill and Over the Dale

Mary Did You Know

Thanks, John. Since I've never come across a strictly Christmas type of verse for it, I wondered if I'd missed something. I've been collecting verses for this lovely song for years. The verse you mentioned is the one that I have as the third verse of the 5 verses I use.

You're right Folkfan it is a Welsh lullaby, but it often gets an airing in school Nativity plays and other 'Baby Jesus' type stuff.

While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.

john

Is "All Through The Night" originally a Welsh Carol? I thought it was just a lullaby.

Thanks for jogging my memory, John!

I've really been using these simple songs for ear practice and transposing to the key of D. (An easily found, inexpensive source for your songs and others is the Wee Sing for Christmas book, there's even a CD.)

I'd add these:

First Noel

Here Comes Santa Claus (although I have to omit the G# that comes up once)

Up on the Housetop

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

+

Holly Jolly Christmas is in a piano book I have & has a good traditional sound, too.

Joy To The World

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Just found my old Xmas song list from hundreds of years ago.

Almost all are easyish in noter/drone style.

In the Bleak Mid Winter
Good Christian Men Rejoice/In Dulci Jubilo
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (Aeolian)
Good King Wenceslas
O Come All Ye Faithfull
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Aeloian)
LittleTown of Bethlehem
Once in Royal David's City
All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos)
Silent Night

Sans Day Carol/Holly Bears a Berry/First Tree in the Green Wood

Down In Yon Forest (Aeolian or Dorian)
The Holly and the Ivy
We Three Kings of Orient Are
While Shepards Watched ... (Not diatonic so really needs a 6+ fret)
Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree (Red Flag)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Away in a Manger
Christians Awake
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong Merrily on High
I Saw Three Ships
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Wassail Song
Jingle Bells
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

I think most of them will be playable in Ionian unless marked otherwise.

Hope this will give you some ideas for the Christmas season.

Please feel free to add to the list.

john