Latin Christmas Carols

December: A Month of Latin Carols!

2006-12-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

Here is the COMPLETE list of Latin Christmas carols for December! You can also choose to read one carol per day at the Bestiaria Latina blog, where you will find a specially-chosen image accompanying each song. If you'd like to get the daily carol via email, it's easy to join the email list.

Suggestions? Corrections? Other songs to contribute? Please feel free to leave comments at this blog: thank you! And... happy holidays!

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
December 21: Silens Nox
December 22: Corde Natus Ex Parentis
December 23: Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
December 24: En, Nocte Venit Media
December 25: O Parve Vice Bethlehem
December 26: Rex Wenceslaus
December 27: Tinnitus, Tinnitus
December 28: XII Dies Natalis
December 29: Dormi Jesu
December 30: Somnio Candidum Diem
December 31: Auld Lang Syne

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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

Auld Lang Syne

2006-12-31T21:10:00.000-08:00

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. For the last holiday song, I found a Latin translation of the traditional old English song, "Auld Lang Syne." You can find the traditional lyrics at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with the version containing additional stanzas added by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. There's also a very handy explanation in modern English of what the words mean!

I found this Latin translation of "Auld Lang Syne" at the page of Harry Maynard's Latin carols, but it is not clear if Maynard is the translator himself. Does anyone have any further information about who did this Latin translation? You will notice that the chorus here combines elements of the traditional chorus with motifs from the final verse which otherwise has been omitted.

Num amicorum veterum
decet oblivisci?
Annorum heu fugacium
et temporis acti?
CHORUS
Actum, sodales, ob tempus
praeteritum tempus,
priusquam discesserimus,
manus iungamus.

Flores olim decerpsimus
ludentes in pratis,
sed aspera peragravimus
diebus ex illis.
CHORUS

Et agebamus vacuos
dies ad rivulum;
sed dividit iam diu nos
aequor undosum.
CHORUS

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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
December 21: Silens Nox
December 22: Corde Natus Ex Parentis
December 23: Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
December 24: En, Nocte Venit Media
December 25: O Parve Vice Bethlehem
December 26: Rex Wenceslaus
December 27: Tinnitus, Tinnitus
December 28: XII Dies Natalis
December 29: Dormi Jesu
December 30: Somnio Candidum Diem

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

Somnio Candidum Diem

2006-12-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

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. The words and music to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" are by Irving Berlin, and I found a delightful Latin translation online!

The song was written by Berlin in 1940 and was made famous by the 1942 film "Holiday Inn," in which Bing Crosby sings the song. It was a massively popular success, topping the Billboard charts for 11 weeks, and going on to become the best-selling Christmas single of all time, and Bing Crosby's best-selling record. There is an exhaustive list at wikipedia of the many musical artists who have done their own recordings of the song.

I found this Latin translation at several websites, but with no attribution. Does anybody know who translated "White Christmas" into Latin?

Som-nio candidum diem,
simil'eis quos noveram.
Ecce! lucet arbor,
natorum ardor,
tintinnabul'n nive.

Som-nio candidum diem,
Dum omnem chartam inscribo.
Dies tui ut clarescant,
Candidae Nativitates sint.

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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

Dormi Jesu

2006-12-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

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. "Dormi Jesu" is a beautiful little Latin lullaby that was copied by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge from a print that he saw in a German village, and which he then published in Sibylline Leaves in 1817.

The Hymns and Carols of Christmas website provides the Latin text along with Coleridge's English version, "The Virgin's Cradle-Hymn." The CPDL website has MIDI files, sheet music, and an English translation, and the Canasg Music website also provides a MIDI file for you to listen to, along with an English translation.

Notice the wonderful use of the diminutives blandule and somnule here in the Latin, perfect for the lullaby theme.

Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet,
quae tam dulcem somnum videt,
Dormi, Jesu blandule!

Si non dormis, mater plorat.
Inter fila cantans orat:
Blande veni somnule!

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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

XII Dies Natalis

2006-12-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

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. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English song that probably dates back to the 18th century. The "Twelve Days" of Christmas is the holiday extending from Christmas until the feast day of Epiphany. You can learn more about the "Twelfth Night" tradition in an article at wikipedia.

You can find the English lyrics to the carol, with MIDI files and sheet music, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with detailed notes about the history and contents of the carol. In The Annotated Mother Goose by W.S. Baring-Gould and C. Baring-Gould, I learned that the "five golden rings" probably refers to "ringed pheasants," not rings for the fingers. Thus the presents on the first seven days are all birds.

I found this Latin translation online, attributed to Sister Marjorie E. Allen. (I've made one change here to the translation, switching quattuor aves, "four birds," to quattuor corvos, as the English "colly birds" refers to "coal-black birds.")

Primo die Natalis amator dedit mi
perdicem in piro.

S'cunda die Natalis amator dedit me
d'os turtures
et perdicem in piro.

Tertia die Natalis amator dedit mi
tres gallinas,
d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Quarta die Natalis amator dedit mi
quattuor corvos,
tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Quinta die Natalis amator dedit mi
quinque anulos,
quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Sexta die Natalis amator dedit mi
sex anseres,
quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Sept'ma die Natalis amator dedit mi
septem cygnos nantes,
sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Octava die Natalis amator dedit mi
octo quae mulgent,
septem cygnos nantes, sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Nona die Natalis amator dedit mi
novem salt'trices,
octo quae mulgent, septem cygnos nantes, sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Dec'ma die Natalis amator dedit mi
decem salt'tores,
novem salt'trices, octo quae mulgent, septem cygnos nantes, sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Undec'ma die Natalis amator dedit me
undecim tibic'nes,
decem salt'tores, novem salt'trices, octo quae mulgent, septem cygnos nantes, sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

Duodec'ma die Natalis amator dedit mi
d'odecim qui pulsant,
undecim tibic'nes, decem salt'tores, novem salt'trices, octo quae mulgent, septem cygnos nantes, sex anseres, quinque anulos, quattuor corvos, tres gallinas, d'os turtures et perdicem in piro.

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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

Tinnitus, Tinnitus

2006-12-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

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. Today's holiday song, "Jingle Bells," originally entitled "The One Horse Open Sleigh," was first published in 1857. You can find the English lyrics, MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

I've found two different versions online. The first version is partial, while the other version is more complete. In addition, there is a "Horse-Race Song," Carmen Circense, by T.W. Melluish, which uses the melody and motifs of "Jingle Bells," although it is not a Christmas song. You can find it online at the ARLT Latin Songbook.

Version 1. Does anyone know how translated this? (It is included in vicifons, the Latin wikisource.)

Nantes per nives
in aperta traha
trans agros imus
omnes ridentes.
Tintinna tintinnant
animose sic,
laetissimi nos canimus
canticum hac nocte.

Tinnitus, tinnitus,
semper tinnitus!
O tantum est gaudium
Dum vehimur in traha! Ha!

Version 2. Translated by Charles Mierow.

Nives, glacies,
nox, puertia!
Risus decet nunc,
decent carmina!
Laetos iuvat nos
ire per agros!
Traha fert velociter,
et cachinemus nos!
CHORUS:
Tinniat, tinniat
tintinnabulum!
Labimur in glacie
post mulum curtum!
Tinniat, tinniat
tintinnabulum!
Labimur in glacie
post mulum curtum!

Me nuper miserum
temptavit lunae lux!
Mox assidebat mihi
puella facti dux!
Vecti subito
in nivis cumulos:
caballus est perterritus
et tunc eversi nos!
CHORUS.

Solum scintillat,
nive candidum.
Repetatur nunc
concentus carminum!
Canities absit,
morosa omnibus!
Puellulas cum pueris
delectat hic cursus.
CHORUS.

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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

Rex Wenceslaus

2006-12-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

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. The English carol "Good King Wenceslas" was written by John Mason Neale, and first published in 1853. The music is based on a medieval song of spring. You can find the English lyrics along with music files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

The story of King Wenceslas has become connected with the Christmas holiday season because the feast of Saint Stephen, mentioned in the carol, falls on December 26.

The legend recounted in this carol tells how Wenceslas sees a poor man gathering wood in the snow. He decides to take food and wine to cheer the poor man. Together with his attendant, Wenceslas goes out into the snow, but the attendant finds it rough going, so Wenceslas tells the boy to walk in his footsteps, so that it will be easier for him. That's all there is to the story, although there are many other stories told about "good Wenceslas." You can read all about the historical Wenceslaus (Vaclav), the 10th-century Duke of Bohemia, in the detailed article at wikipedia.

Latin translation by Stephen A. Hurlbut.

Sanctus Wenceslaus rex,
Stephani ad festum,
agrum vidit nivibus
gelidis congestum.
Vidit pauperem sibi
ligna colligentem,
qui sub luna splendida
sensit se frigentem.

"Huc, O puer, siste huc,
dicens, si cognoris,
quis sit, ubi habitet
pauper iste foris?"
"Ere, procul habitat,
subter illum montem,
silvae iuxta limitem,
ad Agnetis fontem."

"Affer carnem, vinum fer,
lignum afferamus,
ut nos illi pauperi
cenam praebeamus."
Rex et puer prodibant
animo aequali,
vento flante acriter
tempore brumali.

"Ere, nox fit atrior;
ventus vi augetur.
Plus non possum; nescio cur,
valde cor terretur."
"Puer mi, vestigia tu
sequere libenter;
hiems saeva laedet te
minus violenter."

Puer regem sequitur,
unde nix discessit;
fervor glaebis inerat,
ubi sanctus pressit.
Hoc scitote, divites,
Christum qui amatis:
Vos beate eritis,
si quem vos beatis.

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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

O Parve Vice Bethlehem

2006-12-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

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. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is another very popular English carol, and I've found three different translations into Latin online. The English carol dates back to the year 1868, and you can find the lyrics, MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

The author of the carol, Phillips Brooks, actually traveled to Palestine, and was in Bethlehem during Christmas week in 1865, although he did not compose the carol until 1868.

I found three different Latin versions on line, and I've put my favorite one first! Note that the third version translates only the first two stanzas of the carol.

Version 1. Translated by Arthur Harold Weston.

O parve vice Bethlehem
quam tacitus iaces!
Super somnum stellae tuum
volvuntur silentes.
Sed noctis in tenebris
aeterna lux splendet.
Iam temporum spes omnium
curaqu(e) in te manet.

Nam Christus ex Maria
natus, et in caelo
sunt congressi nunc angeli
amore cum pio.
O stellae matutinae,
cantate caelitus!
Deo laudes sint insignes,
et pax hominibus.

Quam tacite, quam tacite,
mirum datur donum.
Sic dat Deus mortalibus
ex caelo gaudium.
Cum venit, non auditur,
sed in mundi culpis,
ub(i) animae volunt bonae,
intrat Christus nobis.

O sancte puer Bethlehem,
oramus: venias!
Fac animos nobis castos
puras fac et vitas.
Nunc angelos audimus
qui iubilant laeti.
Cum omnibus O mansurus
Emmanuel, veni!

Version 2. Translated by J.C. Robertson.

O urbs pusilla Bethlehem,
quam placide dormis,
sopore alto obruta
tranquillis sub astris.
At has per vias caecas
lux splendet aeterna;
curarum adest hominum
levamen, spes nostra.

Nam Christum modo genitum
mirantes, angeli
de nocte supra vigilant
amore exciti.
O stellae matutinae,
tam miram propter rem
nunc laudes Deo canite,
hominibus pacem.

Quam tacite demittitur
mirificum munus!
Sic sua beneficia
confert in nos Deus.
Perceptus nullo sensu,
nec spernens improbos,
libenter Christus supplices
invisit animos.

O sancte Iesu, et ad nos
descende hodie;
purgata nostra pectora
in, precamur, te.
Audimus illa laeta
canentes angelos:
Renascere, Emmanuel,
maneque apud nos.

Version 3. Translated by Margaret Older.

O parve vice Bethlehem,
quam tacite dormis,
et spectant alta sidera
de caeruleis caelis.
Sed in obscuris viis
tu hodie tenes,
aeterna luce fulgente,
annorum omnes spes!

Nam Iesus Christus natus est
et laeti angeli
infantem sanctum mirantur
dum dormiunt pop'li.
O stellae, conclamate
nostrum redemptorem,
atque laudes Deo regi,
mortalibus pacem!

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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

En, Nocte Venit Media

2006-12-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

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. Today's selection is the English carol "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear," which was first published in 1849. You can find the English lyrics with MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

I found online this Latin translation by Robert J. M. Lindsay:

En, nocte venit media
antiquum canticum,
terraeque lyris angeli
civere sonitum:
"Pax orbi et hominibus;
a Deo gratia!"
Audivit summo reverens
silentio terra.

Adhuc nunc alis devolant
per caelum expansis;
adhuc et cantus dispergunt
mortalibus fessis,
et tristes atque desertos
campos pervolitant,
semperque mundi strepitum
canentes superant.

Bellis peccatisque diu
hic mundus laesus est.
Annorum duo milia
iniusta passus est,
nec hoc amoris canticum
bellantes audiunt.
Tumultuosi, silete,
dum angeli canunt!

Nam dies mox approperant
praedicti prophetis,
cum redit aetas aurea
volventibus annis,
cum pax antiquam gloriam
terris obiciet,
et carmen, quod nunc angelis
canunt, orbis reddet.

Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.

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

Veni, Veni Emmanuel!

2006-12-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

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. Today's carol is based on the "O" antiphons of the Roman breviary, a text that dates back to the 8th century. The antiphons extend over a one week period, and December 23 is the "O Emmanuel" antiphon.

Below I've included the words to the Latin carol, along with the text of the antiphons. You can find the 15th century melody for the carol at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with alternate music by the modern composers Bortniansky and Gounod. You can also find an English translation entitled "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

Here is the text of the traditional Latin carol. Note the nice rhymes!

Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio.
CHORUS
Gaude, gaude; Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, O Jesse virgula!
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
de specu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.
CHORUS

Veni, veni O Oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas
dirasque noctis tenebras.
CHORUS

Veni, Clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude caelica!
Fac iter tutum superum
et claude vias inferum.
CHORUS

Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice,
in Maiestate gloriae.
CHORUS

Veni, O Sapientia!
Quae hic disponis omnia,
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.
CHORUS

Veni, veni, Rex gentium!
Veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulos
peccati sibi conscios.
CHORUS

Here is the text of the "O" antiphons in Latin, which provides the basic structure for the carol: O Sapientia, veni; O Adonai, veni; O Radix Jesse, veni; O Clavis David, veni; O Oriens, veni; O Rex gentium, veni; O Emmanuel, veni.

These antiphons were extraordinarily popular in the Middle Ages. They also contain an anagram. The first letters, SARCORE, can be rearranged to say: ERO CRAS, "I will be [with you] tomorrow."

December 17: O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

December 18: O Adonai, et dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

December 19: O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur; veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardere.

December 20: O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

December 21: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentis in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

December 22: O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unem: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

December 23: O Emmanuel, Rex et legisfer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator erum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

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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

Corde Natus Ex Parentis

2006-12-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

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. Today's Latin hymn has lyrics by the 4th-century poet Prudentius. You can find the 11th-century music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, with links to several English versions as well.

The hymn by Prudentius forms part of his Liber Cathemerinon, and the complete Latin text is available online at the Christian Classics Etereal Library, along with an English translation.

Note: The Latin used in this hymn is much more difficult by far than the other Latin hymns that I have included here, so you will probably want to consult the English translation for help as you make your way through the text. The text of the carol begins at line 10 of Prudentius's hymn, proceeds to line 27, and then picks up again at line 106 to the end.

Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium,
A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula
omnium quae sunt, fuerunt quaeque post futura sunt.

Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse et facta sunt,
terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina,
quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo.

Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia
induit ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine,
merserat quem lex profundo noxialis tartaro.

O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera
edidit nostram salutem, feta Sancto Spiritu,
et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit.

Psallat altitudo caeli; psallite omnes angeli;
quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei;
nulla linguarum silescat; vox et omnis consonet.

Ecce, quem vates vetustis concinebant saeculis,
quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant,
emicat promissus olim; cuncta conlaudent eum.

Macte iudex mortuorum, macte rex viventium,
dexter in Parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus,
omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum.

Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus,
turba matrum virginumque, simplices puellulae,
voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus.

Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre hagioque Pneumate
hymnus, decus, laus perennis, gratiarum actio,
honor, virtus, victoria, regnum aeternaliter.

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Silens Nox

2006-12-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

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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Lapsi Caelo Super Gentes

2006-12-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

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.

The famous English carol "Angels We Have Heard On High" is actually an English translation of an 18th-century French carol, "Les anges dans nos campagnes." In the English carol (and also in the French carol), the refrain is usually sung in Latin: Gloria in excelsis Deo. You can find the English lyrics along with a MIDI music file and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. This site also provides the words to the French carol. There is music with four-part harmony at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library site.

I found a Latin version of this carol by Harry Maynard online. It is not exactly a translation of the traditional English carol, but it is clearly meant to be sunt to the same melody. Even though there is just one verse provided, I thought it was worth including here, as this is one of the most beautiful and best-known English Christmas carol melodies. Note that Maynard provides a refrain that is different from the Latin refrain usually sung with the English carol.

Lapsi caelo super gentes,
properate, angeli,
nuntiate nunc gaudentes
natum nostri Domini.
Adorate, adorate, adorate Dominum.

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Orientis Reges Tres

2006-12-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

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. Today's song is the wonderful English carol, composed by John Henry Hopkins in 1857. You can find the sheet music by Hopkins at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with MIDI files and sheet music for other arrangements of the music.

A reference to the "wise men" and a list of their gifts can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, but the names of the wise men and other legends about them are extra-Biblical. You can find a detailed and highly informative discussion of these legends, including how the "wise men" came to be viewed as "kings" at the Hymns and Carols website. Down towards the bottom of the page there is a wonderful chart listing the different names attributed to the wise men in the different traditions. In Greek, they are Apellius, Amerius and Damascus; in Hebrew, Galgalat, Malgalat and Sarachin; in Persian, Hormizdh, Yazdegerd and Perozadh; in Ethiopian, Hor, Basanater and Karsudan; in Syrian, Larvandad, Hormisdas and Gushynasaph; in Armenian, Kagpha, Badadilma and Badadakharida.

I found this Latin translation on the Internet, attributed to Minnie Shepard. It features the traditional Latin names of the wise men: Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior.

Reges:
Orientis reges tres
procul dona portantes
per campos et montes imus,
stell(am) illam sequentes.

CHORUS
O stella potens et mira,
stella regalis pulchra,
semper movens ad occasum
duc nos ad claram lucem.

Melchior:
Infans nate Bethlehem,
portamus hanc coronam,
Rex aeterne, sempiterne,
Domine terrarum.
CHORUS

Caspar:
Tus Sabaeum tibi fero,
Tus dignum magno Deo;
Te laudantes et orantes
colimus in caelo.
CHORUS

Balthazar:
Myrrh(am) amaram defero;
Circum te fumat caligo,
te languentem et gementem,
condit(um) in tumulo.
CHORUS

Reges:
Clarus surgit! O! Specta!
Deus, rex, et victima!
Alleluia, alleluia,
canunt cael(um) et terra.
CHORUS

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Quem Pastores Laudavere

2006-12-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

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. Today's song is a medieval Latin carol, dating back to the 14th century. It is frequently called the "Quempas" carol, based on the first two syllables of the Latin.

You can find a MIDI file along with sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. The song was popular in Germany and throughout Europe in both Catholic and Protestant circles. There is an English adaptation by George Ratcliffe Woodward entitled "Whom of Old the Shepherds Praised."

You can find detailed information about the history of this carol at The Good Shepherd Institute, including a note about a lovely Silesian tradition of singing this carol in a four-part round on Christmas Eve at midnight.

Here are the standard three verses of the carol:

Quem pastores laudavere
quibus angeli dixere
"Absit vobis iam timere,"
natus est rex gloriae."

Ad quem magi ambulabant,
aurum, thus, myrrhum portabant,
immolabant haec sincere
nato regi gloriae.

Christo regi, Deo nato,
per Mariam nobis dato,
merito resonet vere
laus, honor et gloria.

Sometimes this verse is included as the third verse:

Exsultemus cum Maria
in coelesti heirarchia;
natum promat voce pia
laus, honor et gloria.

There is also an expanded version with a chorus. You can find an English translation of this version at the San Francisco Bach Choir website.

Quem pastores laudavere,
quibus angeli dixere,
“Absit vobis iam timere,”
natus est Rex gloriae.

CHORUS.
Nunc angelorum gloria
hominibus resplenduit in mundo.
Novi partus gaudia
virgo mater produxit,
et sol verus in tenebris illuxit.
Christus natus hodie ex virgine.

Ad quem magi ambulabant,
aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
immolabant haec sincere
leoni victoriae.
CHORUS.

Exultemus cum Maria
in coelesti hiearchia;
natum promat voce pia
dulci cum melodia.
CHORUS

Christo regi, Deo nato,
per Mariam nobis dato,
merito resonet vere
laus, honor, et gloria.
CHORUS

Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.

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