We Wish You a Merry Christmas
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is an English Christmas carol indexed as numbers 230 and 9681 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Its famous version originates from the English West Country. The carol's history is not fully clarified, though the greeting "A merry Christmas and a happy new year" is recorded from the early 18th century. The song likely stems from the English tradition of wealthy households giving Christmas treats, such as figgy pudding (a raisin or plum pudding, not necessarily containing figs), to carolers on Christmas Eve. In the well-known version, the singer demands figgy pudding and threatens not to leave until receiving some.
The carol's popularity is largely due to Arthur Warrell (1883–1939), a Bristol-based composer, conductor, and organist who lectured at the University of Bristol from 1909. Warrell arranged the tune for his University of Bristol Madrigal Singers as an elaborate four-part piece, first performed in concert on December 6, 1935. Oxford University Press published his arrangement that same year as "A Merry Christmas: West Country traditional song." Warrell's version notably uses "I" instead of "we," opening with "I wish you a Merry Christmas." It was later republished in the collection *Carols for Choirs* (1961) and remains widely performed.
The carol was absent from major 19th-century collections by Davies Gilbert, William Sandys, Sylvester, and Husk, as well as from *The Oxford Book of Carols* (1928). The *New Oxford Book of Carols* (1992) describes it as "English traditional" and a remnant of a wassailers' envoie, though no source or date is given. The famous version was unknown outside the West Country before Warrell's arrangement.
Several traditional recordings exist. In 1971, Roy Palmer recorded George Dunn of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire, singing a version with a familiar chorus but using "Christmas Is Coming" for verses; this is available on the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website. Amy Ford of Low Ham, Somerset, sang "The Singers Make Bold" in 1973, with a similar chorus, heard via the British Library Sound Archive. Many supposedly traditional recordings that match the famous version likely derive from Warrell's arrangement.
A closely related verse from the 1830s, referencing a "cellar full of beer," was sung by mummers who went door-to-door requesting gifts. This variant appears in Charlotte Yonge's 1858 short st
- Region of origin
- English West Country
- Publisher of Warrell's arrangement
- Oxford University Press
Lore & Background
The carol’s history is uncertain, but its origin likely lies in the English tradition of wealthy people giving Christmas treats like figgy pudding to carolers on Christmas Eve. In the West Country, figgy pudding referred to a raisin or plum pudding, not necessarily one containing figs. The famous version demands figgy pudding, threatening not to leave until it is received. This well-known version of the carol comes from the English West Country and was completely unknown outside that region before the 20th century. The Bristol-based composer, conductor, and organist Arthur Warrell is responsible for popularizing it. He arranged the tune as an elaborate four-part piece for his University of Bristol Madrigal Singers, performing it in concert on December 6, 1935. His arrangement was published that same year by Oxford University Press under the title “A Merry Christmas: West Country traditional song.” Warrell’s version notably uses “I” instead of “we” in the first line, so it begins “I wish you a Merry Christmas.” It was later republished in the collection *Carols for Choirs* (1961) and remains widely performed. Many traditional recordings exist, some replacing the last line with “Good tidings for Christmas and a happy new year.” Recordings from the 1970s, such as those by George Dunn and Amy Ford, show versions with a similar chorus but different verses or tunes. The carol is absent from major 19th-century collections and *The Oxford Book of Carols* (1928). In the *New Oxford Book of Carols* (1992), editors described it as “English traditional” and the remnant of an envoie used by wassailers. A closely related verse from the 1830s mentions a “cellar full of beer” and was sung by mummers requesting gifts.
Reader's Guide
Warrell's four-part choral setting, published by Oxford University Press, standardized the melody and lyrics that are now widely performed. The song's history reflects broader traditions of English wassailing and door-to-door caroling, where singers requested treats like figgy pudding. The carol's absence from major 19th-century anthologies and its late emergence in the 20th century highlight how folk songs can remain obscure before being popularized by a single arranger. The existence of multiple traditional variants, some with different tunes and verses, underscores the fluid nature of oral tradition. The carol's enduring popularity demonstrates how a simple, repetitive structure and a demand for festive treats can create a memorable and beloved holiday song. Its legacy is further evidenced by archival recordings held by the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and the British Library Sound Archive, preserving regional versions that predate or differ from Warrell's arrangement.
Did You Know?
- Arthur Warrell's arrangement uses 'I' instead of 'we' in the first line: 'I wish you a Merry Christmas'.
- A closely related verse from the 1830s includes the line 'Come, bring us some figgy pudding, / Come, bring us some figgy pudding, / And a cup of good cheer.'
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