Noel (or noël, sometimes spelle nowell for the English pronunciation) refers either to the Christmas celebration or a Christmas carol. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas", from the Latin word natalis ("birth"). It may also be from the Gaulish words "noio" or "neu" meaning "new" and "helle" meaning "light" referring to the winter solstice when sunlight begins overtaking darkness. It may also refer to: