Top Ten Christmas Carols - Part 4

In the number one spot is the Christmas carol “Silent Night”.  This carol was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber and the lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr.  He wrote the lyrics to the melody of an Austrian folk song.

The song was first performed by Mohr and Gruber at the Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818 for the Christmas Eve service.

The lyrics tell the story of the night that Jesus was born. Inspired by the silence of the Christmas night and the beauty of the surrounding countryside, Mohr shared the joy that Jesus’ birth brought to the world.

The carol quickly gained popularity and was soon being performed in churches all over Europe.  The carol was translated into many different languages and today is one of the most popular Christmas carols in the world.

Originally written in German, it has since been translated into over 300 languages and dialects.  It has also been recorded with hundreds of different versions.  Singing “Silent Night’ is a holiday tradition in many countries.

To find the lyrics click on the photo above and you can read my blog about this popular carol.