Silens Nox

Here is today's Latin Christmas carol; you can read one carol per day for the month of December, or see the complete collection all at once. To judge by the number of Latin translations I have found online, "Silent Night" must be the most popular English Christmas carol! The English song is a translation of the 19th-century German carol "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht." You can find the German lyrics at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with the lyrics to the English carol, with MIDI files and sheet music.

There is a wonderful legend that says the German original was composed when it was discovered that the church organ had been eaten through by mice and could not play the Christmas service, prompting the composition of this carol about the "silent" night. Although the legend is not true, you can read a detailed factual account of the carol at the Hymns and Carols site.

Here are the Latin translations that I have found on the Internet. I've listed them in the order of the ones I like best, although each one of them has some very nice touches!

Version 1: Silens nox, sancta nox. Translated by Stanford Miller.

Silens nox, sancta nox,
placida, lucida,
virginem et puerum
dulcem atque tenerum,
somno opprime,
somno opprime.

Silens nox, sancta nox!
Angeli nitidi
"Alleluia" concinunt.
Nunc pastores metuunt.
Christus natus est,
Christus natus est.

Silens nox, sancta nox,
candida, splendida!
Fili Dei facies
nobis praebet novas spes.
Christus natus est,
Christus natus est!

Version 2: Nox silens, sancta nox. Translated by Harry Maynard.

Nox silens, sancta nox!
En, tranquilla omnia!
Cubat virgo cum nato mater.
Infans sancte, mollis, tener,
dormi tu placide,
dormi tu placide!

Nox silens, sancta nox!
Circumfulget gloria!
Primi pastores sentiunt.
Angeli 'Alleluia' canunt:
"Christus salvator adest,
Christus salvator adest!"

Nox silens, sancta nox!
Nati Deo e vultu
clare verus amor lucet.
Spes salutis nobis adfulget,
Natu, Jesu, tuo,
natu, Jesu, tuo!

Version 3: Silens nox, sacra nox. Translated by Josiah B. Game.

Silens nox, sacra nox!
Omn(e) est lux, omn(e) est pax
circum matrem et puerum.
Infans sacer, O beate,
dorm(i) in pace quieta,
dorm(i) in pace quieta.

Silens nox, sacra nox!
Pastores nunc adorant.
Glori(ae) ex stellis veniunt.
Angeli "Halleluiah" cantant:
"Christus salvator adest,
Christus salvator adest!"

Silens nox, sacra nox!
Fili Dei, lux pura coeli
clare radiat ex facie tua,
prima luce gratiae sacrae,
Domine, Iesu natu,
Domine, Iesu natu!

Version 4: Tranquilla nox, sancta nox. Translated by Robert J.M. Lindsay

Tranquilla nox, sancta nox!
Dormit mundus; nulla vox
iam auditur: in stabulo
Maria et Ioseph cum puero
qui dormit placide,
qui dormit placide.

Tranqilla nox, sancta nox!
Ad pastores iam venit velox
illud verbum ex angelis:
"Alleluia, nunc adis,
Christe, redemptor tu,
Christe, redemptor tu!"

Tranquilla nox, sancta nox!
Fili Dei, quanta mox
caritas lucet ex ore tuo.
Gratiae tempus adest mundo,
cum natus sis, Domine,
cum natus sis, Domine!

Version 5. Santa nox, placida nox. Translated by Otto Schmied.

Sancta nox, placida nox!
Nusquam est ulla vox.
Par sanctissimum vigilat.
Crispo crine quieti se dat
puer dulcissimus,
puer dulcissimus!

Sancta nox, placida nox!
Certior fit pastor mox
angelorum alleluia.
Sonat voce clarissima:
"Iesus salvator adest,
Iesus salvator adest!"

Sancta nox, placida nox!
Nate Dei, suavis vox
manat is nobis auxilio,
Christe, natalibus,
Christe, natalibus!

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Here are the carols I have completed so far:
December 1: Rudolphus
December 2: Angelus ad Virginem
December 3: Aquifolia Ornate
December 4: A Solis Ortus Cardine
December 5: O Viri, Este Hilares
December 6: Conditor Alme Siderum
December 7: Angeli Canunt Praecones
December 8: Regis Olim Urbe David
December 9: Gaudium Mundo
December 10: Resonet in Laudibus
December 11: Adeste Fideles
December 12: Christe, Redemptor Omnium
December 13: Dum Servant Pecus Pastores
December 14: Primum Noel Cecinit Angelus
December 15: In Dulci Iubilo
December 16: Procul in Praesaepi
December 17: Gaudete
December 18: Quem Pastores Laudavere
December 19: Orientis Reges Tres
December 20: Lapsi Caelo Super Gentes

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Bolchazy-Carducci has a Latin Christmas Carol music CD! With 12 songs in Latin, O Abies: O Christmas Tree is available at amazon.com for $17.00

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