Deck the Halls

A very merry Christmas song is “Deck the Halls” dating back to the 16th century when the melody and lyrics came from “Nos Galan”, a New Year’s Eve song. Later the lyrics were transformed into “Deck the halls with boughs of holly.” The musical makeover was created by Thomas Oliphant who was a Scottish folk music scribe. His version of the song was published in Welsh Melodies, Volume 2. Oliphant became a renowned translator of songs and a lyricist for the court of Queen Victoria. His version is the one we most commonly sing today and other lyrics have been changed to “Don we now our gay apparel.”