O Come, All Ye Faithful

"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (in Latin: "Adeste Fideles") is a Christmas carol.

It is not known who wrote the music and words. Many people thought that it was written in the 15th or 16th century. However, this is not true.^[1] It was first written down in the 18th century by John Francis Wade, an English Roman Catholic.^[2] The music may have been taken from the a French opera called Le Comte d'Acajou. In the opera, there is an aria with a melody like the carol.^[2][1][3]

At first, the carol only had four stanzas. Later, four more stanzas were added.^[1]

Samuel Webbe published the carol in 1760. He translated the carol to English as "Draw Near, Ye Faithful Christians". Frederick Oakeley translated the carol as "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in 1841.^[1]

The carol has been recorded in modern times by Classical and Pop singers like Ethel Smith, Luciano Pavarotti,^[4] Frank Sinatra,^[5] Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Enya, Janalynn Castelino,^[6] Fairuz and Pentatonix.