Bill Studwell initiated his Carol of the Year series in 1986, but had been researching carols since 1972.
His nearly 40 years of exhaustive research on the genre led to numerous books and articles. His book “The Christmas Carol Reader” features historical and cultural contexts of more than 200 carols, including those listed below.
(The number in parentheses indicates the anniversary of each carol the year it was featured.)
1986 Carol of the Bells (50th anniversary)
1987 Away in a Manger (100th)
1988 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (125th)
1989 Joy to the World! (150th)
1990 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (150th)
1991 O Come All Ye Faithful (ca. 250th)
1992 White Christmas (50th)
1993 O Little Town of Bethlehem/Silent Night (125th/175th)
1994 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (ca. 400th)
1995 Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly (ca. 400th)
1996 The Christmas Song (50th)
1997 O Holy Night (150th)
1998 Sleigh Ride (50th)
1999 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (50th)
2000 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear/Frosty the Snow Man (150th/50th)
2001 O Come, O Come Emmanuel/Silver Bells (150th/50th)
2002 The Holly and the Ivy/Patapan (both ca. 300th)
2003 Good King Wenceslas (150th)
2004 Go Tell it on the Mountain (ca. 100th)
2005 Angels We Have Heard on High (ca. 250th)
2006 The First Nowell (ca. 450th)
2007 We Three Kings of Orient Are/Jingle Bells (both 150th)
2008 The Twelve Days of Christmas (ca. 300th)
2009 Winter Wonderland (75th)
2010 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (425th)
