The Cyber Hymnal ‎#8395

8395. Christ Was Born On Christmas Day

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

2 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.

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

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

5 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.

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

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

Text Information

• First Line: Christ was born on Christmas Day
• Title: Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
• Latin Title: Resonet in laudibus
• Translator: John Mason Neale (1853)
• Language: English
• Source: Swedish Piae Cantiones, 1582 (the original source may have been 13th Century or earlier); Tr.: Carols for Christmas-Tide (London: Novello, 1953)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Free translation

Tune Information

• Name: [Christ was born on Christmas Day]
• Harmonizer: Thomas Helmore
• Key: F Major or modal
• Copyright: Public Domain