O HOLY Night has once again triumphed as the nation's favourite Christmas carol.
The piece, which dates back to 1847, topped an annual poll by radio station Classic FM.
O Holy Night has regularly topped the countdown since 2003. A year earlier it came only third, with Silent Night leading the field, but it had a boost when it was performed by Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus.
Singers such as Mariah Carey and Aled Jones have recorded popular versions of the song and it is a choral favourite.
The lyrics of O Holy Night were written by Placide Clappeau, a wine merchant and mayor of Roquemaure, France, while Adolphe Adam, a composer best known for his ballet Giselle, wrote the music.
Silent Night was the runner-up in the 2012 poll, while In the Bleak Mid-Winter was third.
Classic FM presenter John Brunning said: "Many of the most memorable tunes anywhere in music belong to Christmas carols. Musical fads come and go – but our love of singing traditional Carols shows no sign of fading away."
Top 10: 1. O Holy Night; 2. Silent Night; 3. In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Gustav Holst version; 4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; 5. In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Harold Darke version; 6. O Come All Ye Faithful; 7. O Little Town of Bethlehem; 8. Away in a Manger; 9. Joy to the World; 10. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
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