12/24/2008
SILENT NIGHT
Sometime in 1816, Austrian Catholic Priest Josef Mohr wrote the words to the famous song Silent Night. He gave the lyrics to headmaster Franz Gruber in 1818 and he added the music. The composition was like many Austrian folk songs; simple and made for guitar. It was translated into English by John Freeman Young in 1863.
Many stories surround this song and its origins. Here is one of the touching ones.
In 1914, in the midst of World War I, the British and the Germans were in a fierce battle on the Western Front. In a spot in Belgium on Christmas Eve, German troops began decorating the area around their trenches for the holiday. They put candles in trees and began singing Christmas carols. The Scottish troops in the trenches opposite them recognized the song Stille Nacht as their Silent Night. They began singing along with the Germans. Soon they were shouting Christmas greetings at each other and agreed to a truce. Some even brought each other gifts. The news of this truce spread and fighting came to a halt all along the front. Commanders on both sides were against the truce but it sustained despite them. Some areas held the truce through Christmas Day and others through New Years Day.
Its time we all stopped fighting. Let there be Peace on Earth.
Many stories surround this song and its origins. Here is one of the touching ones.
In 1914, in the midst of World War I, the British and the Germans were in a fierce battle on the Western Front. In a spot in Belgium on Christmas Eve, German troops began decorating the area around their trenches for the holiday. They put candles in trees and began singing Christmas carols. The Scottish troops in the trenches opposite them recognized the song Stille Nacht as their Silent Night. They began singing along with the Germans. Soon they were shouting Christmas greetings at each other and agreed to a truce. Some even brought each other gifts. The news of this truce spread and fighting came to a halt all along the front. Commanders on both sides were against the truce but it sustained despite them. Some areas held the truce through Christmas Day and others through New Years Day.
Its time we all stopped fighting. Let there be Peace on Earth.
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