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Felix Mendelssohn did not actually compose the melody for "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," but he did play a significant role in popularizing it. Here are some interesting facts about this famous Christmas carol and Mendelssohn's connection to it:

1. Composition by Charles Wesley: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" was originally written as a hymn by Charles Wesley in 1739. The hymn was titled "Hymn for Christmas-Day."

2. Mendelssohn's Influence: The melody we associate with the carol today was not composed by Mendelssohn. However, he indirectly contributed to its popularity. In 1840, Mendelssohn composed a cantata called "Festgesang" to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. The melody from "Festgesang" later became linked with the lyrics of Charles Wesley's hymn.

3. William H. Cummings: The person responsible for marrying Mendelssohn's melody to Wesley's lyrics was English musician William H. Cummings. He made this adaptation in 1855, and that's the version of the carol we know today.

4. Altered Lyrics: While the melody remained relatively unchanged, some alterations were made to Charles Wesley's original lyrics when they were combined with Mendelssohn's tune. The opening line "Hark! how all the welkin rings" was changed to "Hark! the herald angels sing."

5. Traditional Christmas Carol: Today, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" is one of the most popular and enduring Christmas carols, sung around the world during the holiday season.

So, while Mendelssohn didn't compose the melody specifically for this carol, his work indirectly led to the creation of the version we know today.