Inger M. Wexelsen, 1859; translated from Norwegian to English by Peter A. Sveeggen, 1931. In Wexelsen’s book Ketil, en Julegave for de Smaa (Ketil, a Christmas Gift for Little Ones), this song introduced a longer story. At that time she titled it “The Child’s Christmas Carol.”
Christmas Eve, Peder Knudsen, 1859 (MIDI, NWC, PDF).
I am so glad each Christmas Eve,
The night of Jesus’ birth!
Then like the sun the star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.
The little Child in Bethlehem,
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from Heaven above
To help a world in need.
He dwells again in Heaven’s realm,
The Son of God today;
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.
I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.
The remaining stanzas are best suited for home use.
When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light,
She tells me of the wondrous star
That made the dark world bright.
She says the star is shining still,
And never will grow dim;
And if it shines upon my way,
It leads me up to Him.
And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.