It’s Christmas time!! One of the most joyous times of the year! This week, I wanted to share Silent Night, or as it’s called in German, Stille Nacht. I would say it’s one of the most loved and well known songs of the season. This song has it’s roots from a little town called Oberndorf which is near Salzburg, Austria. The song was first sung in 1818 on Christmas Eve as a double solo with choir and guitar accompaniment. It was written in the troubled times after the Napoleonic Wars. You can imagine what an impact it’s soothing, lullaby-like melody and it’s hopeful, peaceful words would have on war torn people. The song soon spread around Europe and made it’s way to America in 1839. By 1900 it was being sung on all the continents and has since been translated into more than 300 languages.
I chose a version made by the Vienna Boys Choir sung all in German. Enjoy! Let me know which version of Silent Night is your favorite!
You can find the lyrics below. If you’d like to learn a little more about Silent Night and those who wrote it, you can read more at this helpful site.
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab im lockigten Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah:
Christ der Retter ist da!
Christ der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn! O wie lacht
Lieb´ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund´.
Jesus in deiner Geburt!
Jesus in deiner Geburt!
