BBB Etymology - Carol

There is general agreement that carol comes from the 14th century French carole, "a kind of dance" - specifically a circle-dance, danced to a single jig. Most agree the earlier form was probably corola but opinions are divided as to whether it derives from chorus (i.e. the singing dancers of ancient theater) or from corolla, "crown" or "garland", from the shape of the circle-dance.

Carols were not necessarily associated with Christmas. There were Easter carols, too.