Deck the Halls
The merriest carol of the season
♫ 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.
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
❄ The Story
The melody of "Deck the Halls" dates back to 16th-century Wales, where it was known as "Nos Galan" (New Year's Eve). The tune was originally a lively winter celebration song, set to Welsh lyrics about the festivities of the New Year. Welsh harpist John Parry published the melody in 1741.
The English lyrics we know today were written by Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant in 1862. He adapted the carol for a collection of Welsh melodies, replacing the original Welsh text with the now-famous "Deck the halls with boughs of holly" verses. The "fa la la" refrain, however, has roots in medieval singing traditions where nonsense syllables were used as vocal ornaments.
The carol's imagery — holly, Yule logs, harps, and gay apparel — paints a vivid picture of a Victorian Christmas celebration, blending ancient Welsh tradition with 19th-century English holiday customs.
🎶 Notable Recordings
A smooth, swinging interpretation
A synthesized, new-age take that became iconic
An inventive a cappella arrangement
Fun Facts
The melody is originally a 16th-century Welsh New Year's Eve song called "Nos Galan."
The "fa la la" refrain dates back to medieval singing traditions and was common in ballads and madrigals.
Mozart quoted the melody in a violin and piano duet (K. 564) in 1788.