Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord
The Christmas season is here at last! Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, our Savior. As we draw closer to Christmas Day, churches festoon their seasonal best, and choirs prepare for their grand performances. Churchgoers seem cheerier, and children have an extra sparkle in their eyes. Yes, Christmas is a joyous occasion as we cherish time spent with family and friends and giving thanks to God.
Christmas would not be complete if we didn’t hear the beautiful sounds of Christmas carols ringing in the season. We’ve heard them our entire life, but what do we know of these enduring Christmas songs?
Long before carols were published, they existed in oral form. Early carols were used to sustain and spread biblical narratives to illiterate people. The use of carols flourished during the medieval period, especially in Europe. But Christmas hymns can be traced back to the 4th century under Roman Emperor Constantine. Since then, expressing Christ’s birth by song has become a tradition in most western churches.
Here are five from among the most beloved Christmas carols and the interesting stories behind them.
Joy to the World
One of the most beloved Christmas carols, “Joy to the World,” actually had nothing to do with Christmas. Originally written as a poem by the great hymn writer Isaac Watts in 1719, he had based it on Psalm 98. The poem celebrates the second coming of Christ. Watts never intended to set it to music, but unbeknownst to him, it became one of his greatest hymns.
The poem was discovered 100 years later by Boston music teacher Lowell Mason. He set it to what became a timeless tune and happened to release it during the Christmas season. “Joy to the World” continues to be a holiday favorite and is sung around the world each year.
Simply reading the words stirs the heart with wonder and joy:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing!
And heaven and nature sing!
And heaven . . . and heaven . . . and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy! Repeat the sounding joy!
Repeat . . . repeat . . . the sounding joy!
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found!
Far as the curse is found!
Far as . . . far as . . . the curse is found!
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love!
And wonders of his love!
And wonders . . . wonders . . . of his love!
Silent Night
Perhaps the most famous Christmas carol is “Silent Night,” originally written in 1816 as “Stille Nacht” by Josef Mohr, an Austrian priest, just after the Napoleonic Wars ended. As the story goes, Mohr took a walk one evening and looked over a quiet, wintery, and peaceful town. Inspired, he penned his thoughts as a poem.
On Christmas Eve in 1818, Mohr walked three kilometers from his home in Oberndorf bei Salzburg to the town of Arnsdoff bei Laufen where his good friend Franz Gruber lived. He asked his friend to set to music the poem he had written for the Christmas Eve service that evening. Gruber composed a melody within a few hours, and Mohr sang the song while playing his guitar. It was such a success that the carol began to appear in churches throughout Austria and Europe.
The song was first recorded in 1905 and was declared an intangible cultural heritage in 2011 by UNESCO. Featured in numerous films and recordings, “Silent Night” remains popular the world over to this day.
In English, these simple words of comfort evoke the promise of peace by the birth of the Prince of Peace:
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Savior is born, Christ, the Savior is born.
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
The First Noel
The beautiful, moving Christmas carol, “The First Noel,” that we know today possibly has its roots as early as the 13th to the 15th centuries in Cornwall, England, and was called “The First Nowell.” The original author is unknown, but it was first published in its current form by Willam Sandys in “Carols Ancient and Modern” in 1823. Sandys composed the melody, which may have had French origins.
Bible dramatizations called Miracle Plays were commonly presented during the era and were the primary source of inspiration for the song. “Nowell,” an early English synonym for Christmas, came from the French word for Christmas, “Noël.” The word “Noël” is originally derived from the Latin word “Natalis” or “birthday.”
You can just hear the angels sing with these beautiful lyrics:
The first Noël the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
This star drew nigh to the north-west
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
Then entered in those Wise Men three
Fell reverently upon their knee
And offered there in his presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
And with his blood mankind hath bought
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
O Holy Night
What did an atheist, a Jewish man, and an abolitionist have to do with one of the most cherished Christmas songs of all time? No joke, here’s the story. “O Holy Night” was penned by Placide Cappeau in 1843 while en route to Paris for a business trip. An avid poet and commissionaire of wines, Cappeau lived in the medieval town of Roquemaure in southern France. In 1847, a priest asked him to write the words for a Christmas song. Cappeau used the Gospel of Luke as inspiration for writing about the holy birth of Jesus.
The words were set to music by Adolphe Adam, a noted composer, and friend of Cappeau. Adam had a Jewish background and did not view Jesus as the Son of God. But Adam crafted the soaring melody that we sing today. Three weeks later, on Christmas Eve, “O Holy Night” made its debut and was performed by an opera singer in the church. It was a huge success, and its popularity spread throughout France.
Soon after, French church leaders discovered Cappeau was an atheist and Adam had a Jewish heritage, so they deemed the song unfit for church services and banned it in France. Nevertheless, the song remained popular with the French, and the ban was lifted eventually.
A visiting American writer and abolitionist, John Sullivan Dwight, was moved by the song and brought it home to America. He was touched by the verse, “Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother; and in his name all oppression shall cease.” He published his English translation of “O Holy Night,” which quickly gained popularity, especially with the North during the Civil War.
Although the lyrics have varied since the original “O Holy Night,” here is the English translation that is sung in churches across America today:
O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name
O Come All Ye Faithful
The rousing Christmas carol, “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” was initially written in Latin as “Adeste Fideles” and has been attributed to various authors ranging from an Italian bishop, Cistercian monks, and the King of Portugal from the 16th and 17th centuries. But the exact origin remains unverified.
The earliest known manuscripts containing “Adeste Fideles” are dated from 1743 to 1761, and both words and music were written by hymnist John Francis Wade. Originally, the song had four verses, and other authors expanded it to eight verses over the years. The carol’s appeal extended worldwide, and many translations into other languages were made. The English translation of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was written in 1841 by Frederick Oakeley, an English Catholic priest. His version remains popular in English-speaking churches of all denominations today.
Just as difficult to pinpoint the origin of the carol’s words is the origin of its music. Besides Wade, there are many musicians who are credited with contributing to the tune, including several composers such as Handel and Gluck and even King John IV of Portugal. Today, songwriters continue to make their mark in fine-tuning this Christmas classic.
But even this carol cannot escape alleged scandal, such as being interpreted as a call to arms for exiled Jacobites who went to France after their failed rebellion against the English in 1745. Wade supported the Jacobites and fled to France. Many of Wade’s works are said to conceal special meanings and codes to communicate. Despite the allegations, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” remains one of the most beloved carols of the Christmas season.
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him,
born the King of angels.
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
God from true God, and
Light from Light eternal,
born of a virgin, to earth he comes!
Only-begotten Son of God the Father: [Refrain]
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest: [Refrain]
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: [Refrain]
We leave you with this beautiful, angelic rendition of “Silent Night.” May God bless you richly throughout this Christmas season: