A Welsh song going all the way back to the 16th Century, Deck The Halls is a Christmas song in English, but exists as a New Years song in Wales. The Welsh lyrics and melody were first published in 1700s and open with the stanza, “The best pleasure on new year's eve / Is house and fire and a pleasant family / A pure heart and brown ale / A gentle song and the voice of the harp.”
The English version was written by Thomas Oliphant, a Scottish musician, in 1862 and includes the current lyrics about the joys of decorating a space for the Christmas season. The original lyrics advocated a boozy celebration, “Fill the meadcup, drain the barrel, Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,” but a variation appears in the 1877 Pennsylvania School Journal with today’s better known lyrics, “Don we now our gay apparel.”
Lyrics
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
See the blazing Yule before us
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
Follow me in merry measure
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la