Christmas carols are an age-old German tradition cherished around the world. You’ll hear them in every single department store and in many offices to create the right atmosphere for the holiday season. Here are some fun facts about some of them.
The anonymous lyrics of Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose e’er Blooming) date as far back as the late 16th century, while the music was written by Michael Praetorius just a little later, in 1609.
In 1806 Johann Daniel Falk, a man who would eventually become friends with Herder, Goethe and Wieland, wrote Oh du fröhliche, oh du selige (Oh how joyfully, oh how blessedly) to the tune of an old Sicilian sailor’s song.
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night, Holy Night) was written by Ludwig Franz Mohr in 1816, and set to music by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818. Mohr, a priest, wanted his congregation to sing a song they’d understand, and so he wrote German lyrics at a time when most hymns were still sung in Latin. While this may not have gone over well with the authorities, the song was popular beyond his congregation in no time.
File:Festliches_Konzert_-_Bekannte_Weihnachtslieder_Stille_Nacht.ogg
Oh Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas Tree), was written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz of Leipzig to accompany an already popular folk tune.
Ernst Anschütz also wrote Alle Jahre wieder (Every Year) a popular Christmas song for kids describing the annual return of the Christkind (Christ child).
In 1850 Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote a song called Morgen kommt der Weihnachstmann (Tomorrow Santa Claus is Coming) to what Americans know as the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Check in next week for more Christmas traditions. Or check out these websites:
www.engelchen.de, www.brauchtumsseiten.de
