It was interesting finding out the story behind “Mary Did You Know” one of the newer Christmas song favorites. Then a reader suggested I look up the story behind the song “O Holy Night.” And what a story that is.
It seems that back in 1847 in a small French town, a man named Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was known more for his talent at writing poetry than for his faithfulness in church attendance. He might not be the first person one would suspect a priest would seek out to write a poem for Christmas mass, but the priest did ask him and the man took his request seriously. Just as in our story about “Mary, Did You Know” Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure began thinking about the birth of Jesus. With that inspiration, he wrote “Cantique de Noel.” Placide was so pleased with how the poem came out that he decided it needed to be a song. Since he was a poet but not a musician, he turned to a friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, to see if he would set his poem to music.
Adolphe was a famous classical musician who had composed many works all around the world, but he agreed to come up with music for his friend’s poem. The interesting thing was that Adolphe was a Jewish man who didn’t celebrate the birth of Jesus. Even so, Adams did compose music to go with the beautiful words and the song was performed only a few weeks later at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. (As you will see if you read some of the comments, this fact is disputed by some researchers and perhaps an error repeated too often and unfortunately repeated again here if it is incorrect. As the commentor pointed out being Jewish does not stop one from being a Christian believer.)
“Cantique de Noel” became popular in France and was sung in many Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau completely left the church to join a socialist movement and it was discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the French Catholic church leaders decided “Cantique de Noel” was unfit for church services because of its lack of musical taste and “total absence of the spirit of religion.” But even though the church no longer allowed the song in their services, the French people continued to sing it.
A decade later, an American writer, John Sullivan Dwight, saw something in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse: “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.” This verse mirrored Dwight’s view of slavery in the South. He published his English translation of “O Holy Night” in his magazine, and the song quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War.
Back in France, the song continued to be banned by the church for almost two decades, while the people still sang “Cantique de Noel” at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench. Both sides stared at the seemingly crazed man who lifted his eyes to the heavens and began singing “Cantique de Noel.” Then a German soldier stepped into the open and answered the Frenchman’s song with Martin Luther’s “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.”
The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. Perhaps this story had a part in the French church once again embracing “Cantique de Noel” in holiday services.
But the story of the song continued. Years later on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden–a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison–did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man’s voice was broadcast over the airwaves: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed,” he began in a clear, strong voice, hoping he was reaching across the distances he supposed he would.
Shocked radio operators on ships and astonished wireless owners at newspapers were amazed as their normal, coded impulses, heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a professor reading the Christmas story. To those who caught this broadcast, it must have seemed like a miracle to hear a voice somehow transmitted to those far away. Perhaps they may have thought they were hearing the voice of an angel. Fessenden was probably unaware of the sensation he was causing on ships and in offices; he couldn’t have known that men and women were rushing to their wireless units to catch this Christmas Eve miracle. After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves.
Since “O Holy Night” was first sung at a small Christmas mass in 1847, the song has been sung millions of times in churches in every corner of the world. And since the moment a handful of people first heard it played over the radio, the carol has gone on to become one of the most recorded and played spiritual songs. This incredible work, requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would later split from the church, given soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to Americans to serve as much as a tool to spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as tell the story of the birth of a Savior has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created. The Lord can work in amazing ways to his Word to proclaim.
(Information gleaned from Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” Zondervan)
Have you ever sung “O Holy Night?” Or heard its story before?
Thanks for reading.
Comments 74
Knowledgeable in most aspects, but unfortunately repeating the error thaat Adams was a non-Christian Jew.
It stems from Wagner’s incorrectly adding Adams’ name to his horrible list of Jewish composers Wagner viciously claimed were only motivatedby financial gain.
Beyond the hypocrisy of Wagner (himsell all too willingly accepting money and support from female “benefactors”), Wagner was wrong.
This error has been repeated so often through the years because of the idea is startlingly for many (i.e., that a Jewish man would write such an inspiringly Christian-themed hymn).
I don’t see it as big deal either way: Jesus, the Son of Man, was Jewish — and so were His earliest followers. Christanity’s cultural roots were too — until the Roman influence and cultural shifting took place, significantly aided by the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
The repercussions of those early-AD events erroneously repainted Christianity as predominantly Helenistic instead of Jewish.
And, as the people began embracing that error through history, it made becoming a Romanized Christian untenable for religious Jews (as such, its understand — an sad — that people key in on the concept of a Jew writing a Christman hymn even if, in thecade oc O Hy Night it is historically inaccurate).
Author
Thank you for the correction. I agree that too much might have been made of that fact about the composer of the beautiful song, O Holy Night and for the reason you state. People do like to hold onto the unexpected, and repetition can make something feel true. You are so right that Jesus was a Jewish person but also for all people. As a non-Jewish person, I am thankful for that.
I do apologize for whatever errors are in the piece. I am not an expert historian. I just wanted to share about the lovely song and a bit of its history. I hope you will forgive whatever errors are in the piece.
This is such a wonderful story-behind-the-song for my favorite Christmas Carol. Knowing its history makes it truly special, and I’m very grateful to you Ann, for sharing this information.
Author
So glad you enjoyed reading about the song’s history, Angela. I enjoy knowing the story behind the songs we sing.
I learned O Holy Night as a choir girl in Catholic school. I remember many midnight masses where we choir girls poured our hearts and souls into singing this song and others. Today, I am reminded of the words over and over again. “Long lay the world in sin and error, pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder lay a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angel voice…”
Could this not be a time when these words are desperately needed. With so much animosity alive and intent on bringing chaos, we need such words of inspiration so that we might turn inward to find God and outward to show god like understanding to our world citizenry.
Author
You are so right, Louise. We need that thrill of hope and some rejoicing. I heard the song as I read your words.
Thank you I’m French and it is my favourite Christmas song I sing it very often in the original version in french. I’m amazed because the english version of the song has completely revisited the original so it looks very different but as beautifull at the same time.
Author
That would be lovely to hear – the song sung in the original version and in the beautiful French language. Winshing you joy at Christmas.
Thanks Wendy. Most interesting and inspiring!
Thank you for your lovely article! I lived in the Canadian north for 2 years and was lucky enough to see jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring northern lights on many occasions. I wrote 2 alternative verses to O Holy Night about those experiences and have performed it at a church a few times. I like to think we can all experience our own “holy night” when we are out under the stars.
Thank you again.
Author
I’ve always thought how wonderful to see the norther lights, but I’d have to go north to be able to see them. Sounds as if seeing them was an inspiring experience for you. I’m sure your creative verses highlight what Christmas and the wonders of nature can be for us. I agree that looking up at the stars on a dark clear night can be a holy experience. It makes you embrace the wonder, the miracle of each day we are given.
I was privileged to be able to sing O Holy Night in my church choir at midnight masses during my 6th, 7th. and 8th grades. It is my favorite Christmas song ever!! Our choir got many praises and thank you so from those who were at those midnight masses.
Author
What a great memory for you, Patrick, and for your church. There is just something about that song that touches our hearts when we hear those beautiful words sung at Christmas or any time.