A Christmas Carol

Gerard van Honthorst "Adoration of the Shepherds" (1622), Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany

 

en Wienachts Leet

    Russian Mennonites love to sing and Christmas is no exception.  In our family, we would meet at our grandparents, have a holiday dinner, and then later in the evening, celebrate with a lighter Christmas fastpa of pluma moos, tweibach, peanut brickle, dipped pretzels, and of course, pfefferneusse (papenuts).

    One of our favorite carols (en Wienachts Leet) was Silent Night (ne stell Nacht).   Stille Nacht was also one of the few Christmas carols that all could join in singing in German.

    Stille Nacht was composed by assistant pastor Josef Mohr and the church organist, Franz Gruber, in the small Alpine village of Oberndorf, near Salzburg.  It is a story well worth reading this season. 

German:

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

English:

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,
Heav'nly 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

 Lyrics courtesy of http://german.about.com/od/christmas/a/StilleNacht.htm .