The New Oxford Book of Carols (1992) was born of the need for a practical collection presenting carols either in their original versions (where such a concept was relevant) or in versions that respected the essential character of the melodies and their texts. The original 700-page book, which contains alternative versions of many carols, also offers an extensive historical introduction and notes to individual carols, from which the information below is summarized. The word "carol" has had a variety of meanings, starting as a dance-song in the Middle Ages. Carols are now almost exclusively associated with Christmas, and their subject-matter is either midwinter cheer, or the conception and birth of Christ. While modern secular practice is to sing them before Christmas, they formerly belonged to the period between Christmas eve and Epiphany. Our own criteria for selecting carols re that the content must be narrative, contemplative or celebratory, the spirit simple, the form normally strophic.