Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

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John M. Neale (1818–1866)
Wikipedia

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Words: From the Swed­ish Pi­ae Can­ti­on­es, 1582 (Re­so­net in Lau­di­bus). The original source may have been 13th Cen­tu­ry or ear­li­er. Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, Ca­rols for Christ­mas-Tide (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, 1853).

Music: Har­mo­ny by Tho­mas Hel­more (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Thomas Helmore
1811–1890

Lyrics

Christ was born on Christ­mas Day,
Wreathe the hol­ly, twine the bay;
Christus na­tus ho­die:
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Ma­riâ vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all adored for­ev­er.

Let the bright red ber­ries glow
Everywhere in good­ly show;
Christus na­tus ho­die:
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

Christian men, re­joice and sing;
‘Tis the birth­day of a king,
Ex Ma­riâ vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all adored for­ev­er.

Night of sad­ness, morn of glad­ness
Evermore, ev­er, ev­er:
After ma­ny trou­bles sore,
Morn of glad­ness ev­er­more and ev­er­more.
Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly
Christ was born.

Sing out with bliss, His name is this;
Emmanuel:
As was fore­told in days of old
By Ga­bri­el.

Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly,
Christ was born.