'O du fröhliche' is a German Christmas Carol from the 19th century. It is the final hymn in all protestant churches on Christmas Eve, usually sung while all the bells are ringing.
O du fröhliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Welt ging verloren, Christ ist geboren: Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Christ ist erschienen, uns zu versühnen: Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Himmlische Heere jauchzen Dir Ehre: Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
'Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann' (Tomorrow Father Christmas comes) is a German Christmas Carol written originally by Hoffmann von Fallersleben around 1840. Later two of the verses were changed as the original ones mentioned war toys.
This is the newer version:
Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann, kommt mit seinen Gaben. Bunte Lichter, Silberzier, Kind und Krippe, Schaf und Stier, Zottelbär und Pantertier möcht’ ich gerne haben!
'Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht' is possibly the most famous Christmas Carol in the world. Written by headteacher Franz Gruber and turned into music by priest Joseph Mohr on the 24th December 1818 because a flood had made the organ of the Nikolaus church in Oberndorf, Austria, unusable. They wanted a carol that could be sung with a guitar instead and it was a great success. The man who then repaired the organ, heard the melody and liked it...
German Advent Calendar Day 21 Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen
Originally a Swiss song from the 19th century, this version is a new German text from 1939 which finally became more popular than the original.
Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen, die bringt uns eine große Freud. Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen, die bringt uns eine große Freud. Übers schneebedeckte Feld, wandern wir, wandern wir, durch die weite, weiße Welt.
Es schlafen Bächlein und Seen unterm Eise, es träumt der Wald e...
'Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben' is a popular Christmas Carol but it is not a church hymn. It was written by Karl Friedrich Splittegarb in 1795 and the text is about the excitement of the children as they are waiting for their presents.
German Advent Calendar Day 17 Hört der Engel helle Lieder
'Hört der Engel helle Lieder' is also known as 'Gloria in excelsis Deo'. The 18th French tune has been given a German text in 1954 by composer Otto Abel.
'In Dulci Jubilo' is a Latin Christmas Carol from the 14th century and there are two versions. In Catholic churches the hymn is sung in German and Latin, whereas in Protestant churches the text is only in German.
On YouTube I could only find the German-Latin version, so here is the text:
'Joseph, lieber Joseph mein' (Joseph, dearest Joseph mine) is a 14th century German Christmas Carol, printed for the first time in 1544.
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein, Hilf mir wiegen mein Kindelein! Gott, der wird dein Lohner sein Im Himmelreich der Jungfrau Sohn Maria. Gerne, liebe Maria mein Helf ich dir wiegen dein Kindelein! Gott, der wird mein Lohner sein Im Himmelreich der Jungfrau Sohn Maria.
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