Twelve Days of Christmas
  • Home
  • About us
    • Why we do this
  • ADVENT RESOURCES
  • Christmas Eve
  • Days 1-4
    • Christmas Day
    • The Second Day
    • The Third Day
    • The Fourth Day
  • Days 5-8
    • The Fifth Day
    • The Sixth Day >
      • 12/30 Scripture
      • 12/30 Prayer
      • 12/30 Carol
      • 12/30 Literature
      • 12/30 Reflection
    • The Seventh Day >
      • 12/31 Scripture
      • 12/31 Prayer
      • 12/31 Carol
      • 12/31 Literature
      • 12/31 Reflection
    • The Eighth Day >
      • 1/1 Scripture
      • 1/1 Prayer
      • 1/1 Carol
      • 1/1 Literature
      • 1/1 Reflection
  • Days 9-12
    • The Ninth Day >
      • 1/2 Scripture
      • 1/2 Prayer
      • 1/2 Carol
      • 1/2 Literature
      • 1/2 Reflection
    • The Tenth Day >
      • 1/3 Scripture
      • 1/3 Prayer
      • 1/3 Carol
      • 1/3 Literature
      • 1/3 Reflection
    • The Eleventh Day >
      • 1/4 Scripture
      • 1/4 Prayer
      • 1/4 Carol
      • 1/4 Literature
      • 1/4 Reflection
    • The Twelfth Day >
      • 1/5 Scripture
      • 1/5 Prayer
      • 1/5 Carol
      • 1/5 Literature
      • 1/5 Reflection
  • Epiphany
    • 1/6 Scripture
    • 1/6 Prayer
    • 1/6 Carol
    • 1/6 Literature
    • 1/6 Reflection
  • Christmas Reflections

Day 7: Christmas Carols and Hymns

"O Holy night" or "Adam Lay Ybounden"

1. O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

​Chorus:

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

2. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
(Chorus)

3. Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
(Chorus)
Adam lay i-bowndyn,
bowndyn in a bond,
Fowre thowsand wynter
thowt he not to long

And al was for an appil,
an appil that he tok.
As clerkes fyndyn wretyn
in here book.

Ne hadde the appil take ben,
the appil taken ben,
Ne hadde never our lady
a ben hevene quen.

Blyssid be the tyme
that appil take was!
Therefore we mown syngyn
Deo gratias!

Everything up to "Deo gratias" is Middle English.  You can probably figure out what it says if you read the words out loud.  This extremely Marian take on the idea of the "Fortunate Fall" is a bit scandalous, and if you have quibbles (or if you don't) with its theology, it's probably worth articulating why.  
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About us
    • Why we do this
  • ADVENT RESOURCES
  • Christmas Eve
  • Days 1-4
    • Christmas Day
    • The Second Day
    • The Third Day
    • The Fourth Day
  • Days 5-8
    • The Fifth Day
    • The Sixth Day >
      • 12/30 Scripture
      • 12/30 Prayer
      • 12/30 Carol
      • 12/30 Literature
      • 12/30 Reflection
    • The Seventh Day >
      • 12/31 Scripture
      • 12/31 Prayer
      • 12/31 Carol
      • 12/31 Literature
      • 12/31 Reflection
    • The Eighth Day >
      • 1/1 Scripture
      • 1/1 Prayer
      • 1/1 Carol
      • 1/1 Literature
      • 1/1 Reflection
  • Days 9-12
    • The Ninth Day >
      • 1/2 Scripture
      • 1/2 Prayer
      • 1/2 Carol
      • 1/2 Literature
      • 1/2 Reflection
    • The Tenth Day >
      • 1/3 Scripture
      • 1/3 Prayer
      • 1/3 Carol
      • 1/3 Literature
      • 1/3 Reflection
    • The Eleventh Day >
      • 1/4 Scripture
      • 1/4 Prayer
      • 1/4 Carol
      • 1/4 Literature
      • 1/4 Reflection
    • The Twelfth Day >
      • 1/5 Scripture
      • 1/5 Prayer
      • 1/5 Carol
      • 1/5 Literature
      • 1/5 Reflection
  • Epiphany
    • 1/6 Scripture
    • 1/6 Prayer
    • 1/6 Carol
    • 1/6 Literature
    • 1/6 Reflection
  • Christmas Reflections