| A German Christmas | |
18. Dezember
German and Austrian Christmas Carols
Almost five centuries after the Reformation, Germany's Christians are about evenly divided between Catholics (Katholiken) and Protestants (Evangelische). The great reformer (Reformator), Martin Luther himself, translated many of the traditional Latin hymns and carols used in the Catholic mass into German. His first Protestant hymnal was published in 1524.
As time went by, both Catholics and Protestants created hymns designed to be sung for special occasions, including Christmas. Most German Christmas carols fall into one of three categories: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. In more recent times, secular, non-religious carols about Christmas trees, snow, and gifts have become popular, especially for children.
The world's most popular, most famous Christmas carol of all time was written in Austria. "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night") was written by Joseph Mohr with music by Franz Gruber. It was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818, but was almost lost to the world after that. Upon its rediscovery, it spread around the globe and has been translated from German into many other languages. (See the link below for more about the history of "Stille Nacht.")
MORE > Austria's "Stille Nacht"
CAROLS > German Carols
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MORE > A German Christmas Guide
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