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"Silent Night" ("Stille Nacht") is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by the priest Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz X. Gruber. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain.

Contents 1 History 2 Lyrics 2.1 German 2.2 Irish Gaelic 2.3 Dutch 2.4 Modern English 3 Recording history 4 External links 5 References

The carol was first performed in the Nicola-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818. Mohr had composed the words much earlier, in 1816, but on Christmas Eve brought them to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service.

In his written account regarding the composition of the carol, Gruber gives no mention of the specific inspiration for creating the song. According to the song's history provided by Austria's Silent Night Society, one supposition is that the church organ was no longer working so that Mohr and Gruber therefore created a song for accompaniment by guitar. Silent Night historian, Renate Ebeling-Winkler says that the first mention of a broken organ was in a book published in the U.S. in 1909.

Some historians believe that Mohr simply wanted a new Christmas carol that he could play on his guitar. The Silent Night Society says that there are "many romantic stories and legends" that add their own anecdotal details to the known facts.

The Nicola-Kirche was demolished in the early 1900s due to flood damage and due to the fact that the town's centre was moved up the river to a safer location, with a new church being built there close to the new bridge. A tiny chapel, called the "Stille-Nacht-Gedächtniskapelle" (Silent Night Memorial Chapel), was built in the place of the demolished church and a nearby house was converted into a museum, attracting tourists from all over the world, not only but primarily in December.

The original manuscript has been lost, however a manuscript was discovered in 1995 in Mohr's handwriting and dated by researchers at ca. 1820. It shows that Mohr wrote the words in 1816 when he was assigned to a pilgrim church in Mariapfarr, Austria, and shows that the music was composed by Gruber in 1818. This is the earliest manuscript that exists and the only one in Mohr's handwriting. Gruber's composition was influenced by the musical tradition of his rural domicile. The melody of Silent Night bears resemblance to aspects of Austrian folk music and yodelling.

Another popular story claims that the carol, once performed, was promptly forgotten until an organ repairman found the manuscript in 1825 and revived it. However, Gruber published various arrangements of it throughout his lifetime and we now have the Mohr arrangement (ca. 1820) that is kept at the Carolino Augusteum Museum in Salzburg.

It is believed that the carol has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects around the world, and it is one of the most popular carols of all time. It is sometimes sung without musical accompaniment. Although written by Catholics, it is given special significance in Lutheranism.

The song was sung simultaneously in English and German by troops during the Christmas truce of 1914, as it was one of the few carols that soldiers on both sides of the front line knew. The event is depicted in the 1997 Garth Brooks song "Belleau Wood".

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Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knab im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Gottes Sohn! O wie lacht Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da schlägt uns die rettende Stund, Christus in deiner Geburt! Christus in deiner Geburt! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Die der Welt Heil gebracht, Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt seh'n Jesum in Menschengestalt, Jesum in Menschengestalt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Wo sich heut alle Macht Väterlicher Liebe ergoß Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß Jesus die Völker der Welt, Jesus die Völker der Welt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Lange schon uns bedacht, Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit, In der Väter urgrauer Zeit Aller Welt Schonung verhieß, Aller Welt Schonung verhieß. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Alleluja. Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah Christus, der Retter ist da! Christus, der Retter ist da!

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé, Cách 'na suan dís araon, Dís is dílse 'faire le spéis Naoín beag gnaoigheal ceananntais caomh Críost, 'na chodhladh go séimh. Críost, 'na chodhladh go séimh. Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé, Aoirí ar dtús chuala 'n scéal; Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch. Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcéin Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin Oíche Chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé, Cách na suan go héiri an lae. Dís is dílse ag faire le spéis. Glór binn aingeal le clos insan aer. Críost ag teacht ar an saol. Críost ag teacht ar an saol. Oíche Chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé, Aoirí ar dtús a chuala an scéal Alleluia aingeal ag glaoch Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcéin. Críost ár Slánaitheoir féin Críost ár Slánaitheoir féin

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht. Davids Zoon, lang verwacht, die miljoenen eens zaligen zal werd geboren in Bethlehems stal. Hij, der schepselen Heer Hij, der schepselen Heer. Hulp'loos kind, heilig kind, dat zo trouw zondaars mint. Ook voor mij hebt G'Uw rijkdom ontzegt, werd G'in stro en in doeken gelegd. Leer m'U danken daarvoor Leer m'U danken daarvoor. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, Heil en vree wordt gebracht, aan een wereld, verloren in schuld. Gods belofte wordt heerlijk vervuld. Amen! Gode zij eer Amen! Gode zij eer.

Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin Mother and Child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from Heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord at Thy birth Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

The modern German version has a few minor differences, e. g. in the sixth verse, the text has been changed to "Tönt es laut von Fern und Nah", as the original with "bei" sounds a bit dated; so does the "e" in "Ferne". "Von Fern und Nah" is a consolidated German idiom. Moreover, only the first, second, and sixth verses are usually sung.^{[citation needed]}

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• History of song
• Stille-Nacht-Association, Salzburg
• Silent Night Web: translations (193 versions in 130 languages), notation, and history.
• Joseph Mohr Memorial Organ, Wagrain, Austria
• Silent Night video - performed on classical guitar