The history behind O Holy Night is incredibly interesting for one of the most loved Christmas hymns of the holiday season. Although O Holy Night was created in France, its international appeal was soon apparent and this simple song would help to change the way people listened to music from that point forward.
In 1847, a Frenchman named Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure known more for his poetry than for his presence in church was asked to create a poem for a local priest. He wanted a new poem for Christmas mass. Roquemaure was most likely surprised, but happily complied with the priest’s request.
Roquemaure wrote a poem imagining the birth of Jesus using the Gospel of Luke as his guide. Roquemaure was so inspired by his own poem that he went to Paris and decided to make the text into a hymn, turning to Adolphe-Charles Adam for assistance.
Adam has written works for orchestras and ballets, but he was somewhat stumped by the text that Roquemaure gave him. After all, Adam was Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas! Overcoming this, Adam created a beautiful hymn and only three weeks later, it was performed on Christmas Eve at the Midnight Mass.
The song was an immediate hit. It gained in popularity among numerous Catholic places of worship. However, a few years later, Roquemaure became a socialist and church leaders discovered Adam was Jewish. Just as fast as the song had gained in popularity, it was wiped off the records and denounced by the Church. The Church tried to bury the song and have it disappear, but its popularity was too firmly rooted in the minds of the French people. Each year, they continued to enjoy its lyrics and music until it was finally picked up by an American named John Sullivan Dwight.
Dwight fell in love with the song and brought it to America. With his English translation published during the Civil War, the song became highly popular among Union supporters. During Christmas Eve 1871 in the middle of the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of the trenches and started singing O Holy Night without a weapon in his hands.
As he finished the song, a German soldier jumped out and answered with another favorite Christmas hymn. Afterwards, the fighting stopped for a full 24 hours to observe a temporary peace in honor of Christmas. After this story made its way into the general public, the French allowed O Holy Night back into its holiday services.
O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam in 1847
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Click this link O Holy Night to learn how to play the song with the guitar.
A Classic Favorite
With the advance of the radio, the popularity of the song soared as the music reached more and more thousands of people. Nowadays, O Holy Night is a classic favorite sung by millions each holiday season. From its birth in France to its infamy to a popular anti-slavery song for Union supporters and example of peace during wartime, O Holy Night has had an illustrious, beautiful past of sharing love and celebrating the birth of Jesus during the holiday season.
Here is an easy easy to learn guitar arrangement for O Holy Night.