This afternoon the guy on the Classical Music Station said "Carols are dance music."
I never knew that! But, look:
"The word carol is derived from the Old French word carole, a circle dance accompanied by singers (in turn derived from the Latin choraula). Carols were very popular as dance songs from the 1150s to the 1350s, after which their use expanded as processional songs sung during festivals, while others were written to accompany religious Mystery-plays (such as the "Coventry Carol," written before 1534)."
--William J. Phillips, Carols: Their Origin, Music, and Connection with Mystery-Plays (Routledge, 1921, Read Books, 2008) p.24
Didn't know you were gonna pick up some esoteric knowledge just looking for cute li' cartoon butts, didja?
I bet this Carol will be doing a little dance herself:
