The first No­el

"The First Noel" (or Nowell) is a beloved Christmas carol telling the nativity story, meaning "The First Birth," originating as a folk song passed by word-of-mouth in England before being printed and harmonized, notably by John Stainer, spreading its joyful message of Jesus' birth to shepherds and the world.
Meaning of "Noel"
Origin: Derived from the Latin natalis, meaning "birth" or "nativity," and also related to French Christmas words.
Usage: "Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel" is a joyous declaration of Christ's arrival, like singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, say this Redeemed Life and slaypres.org.
History of the Song
Folk Origins: An old English carol, it was sung by wassailers and passed down orally for generations, often with varied verses.
Early Publication: First appeared in print in the 1823 collection Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.
Modern Form: Composer John Stainer arranged the familiar melody and published it in his influential 1871 book, Carols, New and Old, making it famous globally.
Key Narrative: Describes angels announcing Jesus' birth to shepherds, the star guiding the Wise Men, and their worship, culminating in a call for all mankind to praise God.