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Christmas Pages

Resources for Classics Departments in the Christmas season.

Christmas Index Page
Latin Carols
Christmas Readings in Latin
Making Latin Christmas cards
The Saturnalia

Latin Carols

Here we offer a selection of Latin Christmas hymns and carols. These are the originals, not translations from English. We append the notice of a Latin Carol Celebration, held annually by Brown University. Any Latin teacher with enough chutzpah could probably get something like this established in his or her locality, bringing together students and perhaps local churches.

We are indebted to http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com for the tunes, translations and notes.

Adeste fideles (O come, all ye faithful)
Angelus ad virginem (Gabriel to Mary came)
A solis ortus cardine
Christe, Redemptor omnium
Corde natus ex parentis (Of the Father's love begotten)
Dormi, Iesu
Ecce novum gaudium
Gaudete, gaudete! (This was once a pop song)
Hodie Christus natus est
In dulci iubilo (Latin/German and Latin/English versions)
Personent hodie
Puer natus in Bethlehem
Puer nobis nascitur (Unto us a boy is born)
Quem pastores laudavere (Shepherds came, their praises bringing)
Qui creavit coelum
Resonemus laudibus
Resonet in laudibus: a variant of the above.
Veni, veni Emmanuel! (O come, o come, Emmanuel)
A Latin Carol Celebration: how one college does it.

Adeste, fideles

(17th century)

Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.

Refrain

Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
Parturit virgo mater,
Deum verum, genitum, non factum.

Refrain

En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant:
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.

Refrain

Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera.
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus.

Refrain

Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem, pannis involutem.

Refrain
Pro nobis egenum et foeno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?

Refrain

Angelus ad Virginem

Medieval English carol

Notes and tune here.


1. Angelus ad virginem
    Subintrans in conclave.
Virginis formidinem
    Demulcens inquit "Ave."
Ave regina virginum,
Coeli terraeque dominum
    Concipies
    Et paries
    Intacta,
    Salutem hominum.
    Tu porta coeli facta
    Medela criminum.

2. Quomodo conciperem,
    quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem,
    quae firma mente vovi?
'Spiritus sancti gratia
Perficiet haec omnia;
    Ne timeas,
    sed gaudeas,
    secura,
    quod castimonia
    Manebit in te pura
    Dei potentia.'

3. Ad haec virgo nobilis
    Respondens inquit ei;
Ancilla sum humilis
    Omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi coelesti nuntio,
Tanti secreti conscio,
    Consentiens
    Et cupiens
    Videre
    factum quod audio,
    Parata sum parere
    Dei consilio.

4. Angelus disparuit
    Etstatim puellaris
Uterus intumuit
    Vi partus salutaris.
Qui, circumdatus utero
Novem mensium numero,
    Hinc Exiit
    Et iniit
    Conflictum,
    Affigens humero
    Crucem, qua dedit ictum
    Hosti mortifero.

5. Eia Mater Domini,
    Quae pacem reddidisti
Angelis et homini,
    Cum Christum genuisti;
Tuum exora filium
Ut se nobis propitium
    Exhibeat,
    Et deleat
    Peccata;
    Praestans auxilium
    Vita frui beata
    Post hoc exsilium.

A Solis Ortus Cardine

Notes and tunes here.


1. A solis ortus cardine
Adusque terrae limitem
Christum canamus Principem,
Natum Maria Virgine.

2. Beatus auctor saeculi
Servile corpus induit,
Ut carne carnem liberans
Non perderet quod condidit.

3. Clausae parentis viscera
Caelestis intrat gratia;
Venter puellae baiulat
Secreta quae non noverat.

4. Domus pudici pectoris
Templum repente fit Dei;
Intacta nesciens virum
Verbo concepit Filium.

5. Enixa est puerpera
Quem Gabriel praedixerat,
Quem matris alvo gestiens
Clausus Ioannes senserat.

6. Feno iacere pertulit,
Praesepe non abhorruit,
Parvoque lacte pastus est
Per quem nec ales esurit.

7. Gaudet chorus caelestium
Et Angeli canunt Deum,
Palamque fit pastoribus
Pastor, Creator omnium.

8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula.

Christe, Redemptor omnium

Translations, notes and tune here.

1. Christe, Redemptor omnium,
ex Patre, Patris unice,
solus ante principium
natus ineffabiliter,

2. Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,
tu spes perennis omnium,
intende quas fundunt preces
tui per orbem servuli.

3. Salutis auctor, recole
quod nostri quondam corporis,
ex illibata Virgine
nascendo, formam sumpseris.

4. His praesens testatur dies,
currens per anni circulum,
quod a solus sede Patris
mundi salus adveneris;

5. Hunc caelum, terra, hunc mare,
hunc omne quod in eis est,
auctorem adventus tui
laudat exsultans cantico.

6. Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo
redempti sumus sanguine,
ob diem natalis tui
hymnum novum concinimus.

7. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui natus es de Virgine,
cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Corde natus ex parentis

Translations and tunes here>

1. Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium
A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula
Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post futura sunt.

2. Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse et facta sunt,
Terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina,
Quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo.

3. Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia
Induit, ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine,
Merserat quem lex profundo noxialis tartaro.

4. O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera
Edidit nostram salutem, feta Sancto Spiritu,
Et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit.

5. Psallat altitudo caeli, psallite omnes angeli,
Quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei,
Nulla linguarum silescat, vox et omnis consonet.

6. Ecce, quem vates vetustis concinebant saeculis,
Quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant,
Emicat promissus olim; cuncta conlaudent eum.

7. Macte iudex mortuorum, macte rex viventium,
Dexter in Parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus,
Omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum.

8. Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus,
Turba matrum, virginumque, simplices puellulae,
Voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus.

9. Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre hagioque Pneumate
Hymnus, decus, laus perennis, gratiarum actio,
Honor, virtus, victoria, regnum aeternaliter.

Dormi Jesu

Copied from a print in a German village by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge.

Dormi Jesu, mater ridet,
      Quae tam dulcem somnum videt,
      Dormi Jesu blandule.
      Si non dormis, mater plorat,
      Inter fila cantans orat:
      Blande veni somnule.

Ecce novum gaudium

Ecce novum gaudium,
      Ecce novum mirum,
      Virgo parit filium,
      Qvae non novit virum,
      Qvae non novit virum,
      Sed ut pyrus pyrum,
      Gleba fert papyrum
      Florens lilium.
        Ecce qvod natura
        Mutat sua jura,
        Virgo parit pura,
        Dei filium.
     
      Mundum Deus flebilem
      Cernens in ruina,
      Rosam delectabilem
      Produxit de spina,
      Produxit de spina,
      Natum de regina,
      Qui et medicina,
      Salus gentium.
        Ecce qvod natura
        Mutat sua jura,
        Virgo parit pura,
        Dei filium.
     
      Nequivit divinitas
      Plus humiliari,
      Nec nostra carnalitas
      Magis exaltari,
      Magis exaltari,
      Deo coaequari,
      Coelo collocari,
      Per conjugium.
        Ecce qvod natura
        Mutat sua jura,
        Virgo parit pura,
        Dei filium.

Gaudete

This traditional carol was a successful pop song.
Tune here

Refrain:
Gaudete! gaudete!
Christus est natus ex Maria virgine,
gaudete!

1. Tempus adest gratiae, hoe quod optabamus;
carmina laetitiae devote reddamus. Refrain

2. Deus homo factus est, natura mirante;
mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante. Refrain

3. Ezecaelis orta clausa per transistur;
unde lux est orta, salus invenitur. Refrain

4. Ergo nostra contio psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino; salus regi nostro. Refrain

Hodie Christus natus est

Hodie Christus natus est, alleluia
     Hodie Salvator apparuit, alleluia.
     Hodie in terra canunt angeli,
     Laetantur archangeli, alleluia
     Hodie exultant justi, dicentes
     Gloria in excelsis Deo,
     Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis, alleluia.

In dulci iubilo

The original Latin/German version:

      In dulci jubilo,
      nun singet und seid froh!
      Unsers Herzens Wonne liegt
      in praesepio
      und leuchtet als die Sonne
      matris in gremio.
      Alpha es et O!
     
      O Jesu parvule,
      nach dir ist mir so weh!
      Tröst' mir mein Gemüte,
      o puer optime,
      durch alle deine Güte,
      o princeps gloriae!
      Trahe me post te!
     
      O patris charitas,
      o nati lenitas!
      Wir all' wär'n verdorben
      per nostra crimina;
      so hat er uns erworben
      coelorum gaudia!
      Eya, wär'n wir da!
     
      Ubi sunt gaudia?
      nirgend mehr als allda,
      da die Engel singen wohl
      nova cantica
      und da die Schellen klingen
      in regist curia.
      Eya, wär'n wir da!

A Latin/English version:
(Seven versions listed here)

1. In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage show:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O! 

2. O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Here me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee! 
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.

3. O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained 
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained 
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria! 

4. Ubi sunt gaudia,
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing 
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there!

Personent hodie

1. Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus,
et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

2. in mundo nascitur,
pannis involvitur
praesepi ponitur
stabulo brutorum,
rector supernorum.
perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

3. magi tres venerunt,
parvulum inquirunt,
parvulum inquirunt,
stellulam sequendo,
ipsum adorando,
aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.

4. omnes clericuli,
pariter pueri,
cantent ut angeli:
advenisti mundo,
laudes tibi fundo.
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

Puer natus in Bethlehem

Tune and translations here.

      Puer natus in Bethlehem,
      Ein Kind gebor'n zu Bethlehem,
      unde gaudet Jerusalem.
      Halleluja!
      dess freuet sich Jerusalem.
      Halleluja!
     
      Hic jacet in praesepio
      Hier liegt es in dem Krippelein,
      qui regnat sine termino.
      Halleluja!
      ohn' Ende ist die Herrschaft sein.
      Halleluja!
     
      In carne nobis similis,
      Er ist uns gar gleich nach dem Fleisch,
      peccato sed dissimilis.
      Halleluja!
      der Sünd' nach ist er uns nicht gleich.
      Halleluja!
     
      Ut redderet nos homines
      Damit er sich uns machte gleich
      deo et sibi similes.
      Halleluja!
      und wieder brächt' zu Gottes Reich.
      Halleluja!
     
      In hoc natali gaudio
      Für solche gnadenreiche Zeit
      benedicamus domino.
      Halleluja!
      sei Gott gelobt in Ewigkeit.
      Halleluja!

Puer nobis nascitur

Tune and translations here.

1. puer nobis nascitur
rector angelorum;
in hoc mundo pascitur
Dominus dominorum.

2. in praesepe ponitur
sub foeno asinorum.
cognoverunt Dominum
Christum regem coelorum.

3. hinc Herodes timuit -
magna cum dolore,
et pueros occidit,
infantes cum livore.

4. qui natus de virgine -
die hodierna
ducat nos cum gratia
ad gaudia superna.

5. O et A et A et O
cum cantibus in choro,
cum canticis et organo,
benedicamus Domino.

Quem pastores laudavere

Tune and translations here.


Quem pastores laudavere
     Quibus angeli dixere,
     Absit vobis iam timere,
     Natus est rex gloriae.
     
     Ad quem magi ambulabant
     Aurum, thus, myrrhum portabant,
     Immolabant haec sincere
     Nato regi gloriae.
     
     Christo regi, Deo nato,
     Per Mariam nobis dato,
     Merito resonet vere
     Laus, honor et gloria.

Qui creavit coelum

Tune and notes here.

1. Qui creavit coelum, Lully, lully, lu!
Nascitur in stabulo, Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye,
Rex qui regit seculum, Lully, lully, lu!

2. Joseph emit paniculum, Lully, lully, lu!
Mater involvit puerum, Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye,
Et ponit in praesepio, Lully, lully, lu!

3. Inter animalia, Lully, lully, lu!
Jacent munci gaudia, Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye,
Dulcis super omnia, Lully, lully, lu!

Resonemus laudibus

Tune here.


1. Resonemus laudibus
Cum jocunditatibus
Ecclesiam fidelibus
Apparuit quem genuit Maria

2. Deus fecit hominem
Ad suum imaginem
Et similitudinem
Apparuit quem genuit Maria

3. Deus fecit omnia
Celum, Terram, maria,
Cunctaque nascentia
Apparuit quem genuit Maria

4. Ero nostro concio
In chordis et organo
Benedictat Domino,
Apparuit quem genuit Maria

5. Et Deo qui venias
Donat et leticas
Nos eidem gracias.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria

Resonet in laudibus

Tune here.

1. Resonet in laudibus
Cum jucundis plausibus
Sion cum fidelibus:
Apparuit quem genuit Maria!

2 Christus natus hodie
Ex Maria Virgine
Sine virili semine:
Apparuit quem genuit Maria!

3 Pueri, concinite,
Nato Regi psallite,
Voce pia dicite:
Apparuit quem genuit Maria!

4. Sion, lauda Dominum,
Salvatorem hominum,
Purgatorem criminum:
Apparuit quem genuit Maria!

Veni, Veni Emmanuel!

Tunes, translations, notes here.

1. Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exsilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.

    Refrain:
    Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
    Nascetur pro te, Israel.

2. Veni, O Jesse virgula,
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ et antro barathri. Refrain

3. Veni, Veni O Oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras. Refrain

4. Veni, Clavis Davidica,
Regna reclude caelica,
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum. Refrain

5. Veni, Veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In Majestate gloriae. Refrain

Latin Carol Celebration

This Year's Celebration: On Monday, December 6. 2004, the Department of Classics will present its fifty-seventh annual program of readings and songs in the spirit of the season, conducted entirely in Latin. (English translations of the readings will be provided for those whose spoken Latin may be a little rusty.) This popular event will be held at 8:00 p.m. in the historic First Baptist Church in America, 75 North Main Street, Providence. Admission is free; street parking is available; the event lasts a little more than an hour; all are welcome.

For high school Latin teachers and students: We are delighted that a number of high school Latin students attend this event. Students should be accompanied by an adequate number number of chaperones, and should know that this is a fairly "dressy" event held in an historic church. A pre-program workshop for high school Latin students and their teachers will be offered at Brown from 3:30-5:00 pm on December 6, 2004. To register for the program, please contact Joseph Lynch of Franklin High School by November 24.

Brief history of the Latin Carol Celebration

Variously named, the Latin Carol Celebration has been held in several locations, but the format has remained remarkably the same. The audience sings carols in Latin, while members of the Brown University family read passages from ancient texts, some from the Bible, in the original languages or in Latin translation. Originally labeled a "Service," more recently the term "Celebration" has been adopted, both because celebratio is more easily understood by the Latin-less and because the event was never intended primarily as a worship service.

The first Carol Service (Dec. 14, 1948, in Alumnae Hall on the Pembroke campus), set the tone for all succeeding celebrations. Music was provided by organist John Rowe Workman of the Classics Department and a chorus, directed by William Dinneen of the Department of Music. Herbert Newell Couch, chair of the Classics Department, was master of ceremonies, a term changed the next year to Magister Equitum. There were four readings that continue to this day: Isaiah 40:1-5; 9:6-7; Vergil (fourth Eclogue); Luke 2:1-14; and John 1:1-14.

Attendance in Alumnae Hall was always good, rising from an initial 300 to 400 to a reported 1,000 in 1967. In 1997, for its fiftieth anniversary, the Celebration moved to the First Baptist Church of America. In addition to Brown students and faculty, the event now attracts a large number of secondary school students, including some 100 annually from the Wahconah School in Dalton, Mass.