I have a recording of "On Christmas Day It Happened So" on "All Bells in Paradise" a record of carols made by the Valley Folk - an unaccompanied harmony quartet - which included Steve Heap (of Towersey FF and Mrs Casey Records).

There are several other carols on the record (which was researched by Bert Lloyd) which are no less miserable including the title one and "The Moon Shone Bright" which you can find in the DT HERE.

Although traditional carols can be associated with many seasons of the year (the sole connection with Christmas is quite modern) the majority seem to have been sung at Christmas, New Year and Easter. It must have been quite cold and miserable in rural comunities during the winter and this could have well influenced the lack of jollity - Easter, of course, would have been considered a sad time - the emphasis always seems to be on the crucifixion than the resurrection.

The term "God Fearing" perhaps gives an insight into the fact that working class folk were encouraged to take a very serious and sombre view of their religion - the verse (from "All Things Bright and Beautiful") of

"The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly, and gave them their estate."

hardly gives them much hope of improvement.