3 Swiss carols to liven up your Christmas (and their English lyrics)

Whether it be at church, around the tree or at one of the many Christmas markets, people in Switzerland love to belt out carols at Christmas. Along with the traditional classics we all know and love, there are plenty of unique Swiss Christmas carols that are well worth learning. Here are three of our favourites.

The origins of Christmas carols

The idea of singing songs around the Christmas period is arguably more ancient than the holiday itself. Before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, pagans were known to sing songs at events to commemorate the changing of the seasons, one of which was the shortest day of the year or the Winter Solstice.

As Europe was gradually Christianised, the birth of Jesus began to be celebrated around the same time as the Winter Solstice, and Christian-themed hymns overtook the pagan songs. In 129 AD a bishop decreed that a song called Angel’s Hymn should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome - that song is generally regarded as one of the first ever Christmas carols. 

How were Christmas carols first popularised?

Over time more hymns would be written in the style of Christmas carols, but because they were all written in Latin, few of the general public could sing them. This changed in the 13th and 14th centuries when the Reformation began transcribing religious texts, hymns and carols into languages the general public could speak.

Most of these early songs were originally communal songs sung during celebrations such as harvest time; it was only later that they began to be sung in church and specifically associated with Christmas. In Germany and Switzerland especially, carols increased in popularity during the Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli liked music and encouraged the use of songs in worship. By the 19th century, carols were being collected and printed in popular collections.

Christmas carols from Switzerland

While Austrian and German Christmas carols are known the world over, sadly the same cannot be said for carols from Switzerland. Typically, churches in each Swiss canton tended to favour their own songs during Advent or the more well-known tunes from neighbouring nations, meaning there aren’t any universal classics from the alpine nation.

Nevertheless, Swiss carols are still able to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart. Here are our favourites:

Es kam die gradenvolle Nacht (The gracious night came)

The popular Swiss Christmas carol Es kam die gnadenvolle Nacht (The gracious night came) is said to have been written by Swiss poet Johann Kaspar Lavater in Zurich in the 1770s. Having become a Zwinglian priest in later life, Lavater was instrumental in preserving traditional Christian hymns and carols from Canton Zurich and the rest of German-speaking Switzerland - as well as creating his own along the way.

For Es kam die gnadenvolle Nacht, Lavater composed the carol to follow a tune of a popular folk song from the time. Today, it is arguably the most famous carol from Switzerland, being sung eagerly by choirs and well-wishers across Austria and southern Germany.

Video: Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir - Topic / YouTube

Es kam die gradenvolle Nacht: German lyrics

Es kam die gnadenvolle Nacht,
Wie leuchtet's dir des Morgens Strahl,
Wie funkelt's dir der Sterne Schar,
Da Jesus Christ geboren war!

Es kam die gnadenvolle Nacht,
Wie leuchtet’s dir die gold’ne Pracht,
Wie schallet’s dir der Glocken Schall,
Da Jesus Christ geboren war!

Es kam die gnadenvolle Nacht,
Die uns den hellsten Tag gebracht,
Wie freute sich der Engel Schar,
Da Jesus Christ geboren war!

Froh jubelte der Engel Heer:
"Gott im Himmel, Gott sei Ehr'!"
Und Friede, Freud’ und Seligkeit,
Herrscht auf Erden weit und breit!

The gracious night came: English lyrics

The gracious night came,
How the rays of morning shone upon you,
How the stars sparkled for you,
When Jesus Christ was born!

The gracious night came,
How the golden splendor shines for you,
How the sound of the bells rings for you,
When Jesus Christ was born!

The gracious night came,
Which brought us the brightest day,
How the host of angels rejoiced,
When Jesus Christ was born!

The host of angels rejoiced:
"Glory to God in heaven!"
And peace, joy and bliss,
Reign far and wide on earth!

Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen (A time has come for us)

Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen (A time has come for us) is a traditional Christmas carol which has its origins with the so-called “Star Singers” of Lucerne. First documented in the 19th century (though the tradition is likely much older), it involves singers going from house to house, singing songs announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. Along with the singers, each carol group would carry a large lit star made of paper.

Though this tradition has long since died out, the song they sang lives on, and has different versions depending on which town and canton you find yourself in. However, it must be noted that the most popular version globally remains the one from 1939, when the Nazi Party in Germany changed the Aargau version’s lyrics to remove any references to Christianity.

Video: Rolf Zuckowski - Musik für Dich / YouTube

Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen: German lyrics

Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen,
Die bringt uns eine grosse Freud,
Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen,
Die bringt uns eine grosse Freud,
Übers schneebedeckte Feld,
Wandern wir, wandern wir,
Durch die weite, weisse Welt.

Es schlafen Bächlein und Seen unterm Eise,
Es träumt der Wald einen tiefen Traum,
Es schlafen Bächlein und Seen unterm Eise,
Es träumt der Wald einen tiefen Traum,
Durch den Schnee, der leise fällt,
Wandern wir, wandern wir,
Durch die weite, weisse Welt.

Am hohen Himmel ein leuchtendes Schweigen,
Erfüllt die Herzen mit Seeligkeit,
Am hohen Himmel ein leuchtendes Schweigen,
Erfüllt die Herzen mit Seeligkeit,
Unterm sternbeglänzten Zelt,
Wandern wir, wandern wir,
Durch die weite, weisse Welt.

A time has come for us: English lyrics

A time has come for us,
That brings us great joy,
A time has come for us,
That brings us great joy,
Across the snow-covered field
We wander, we wander,
Through the wide, white world.

Streams and lakes sleep beneath the ice,
The forest dreams a deep dream,
Streams and lakes sleep beneath the ice,
The forest dreams a deep dream,
Through the snow that is softly falling,
We wander, we wander,
Through the wide, white world.

A shining silence in the high sky,
Fills the hearts with bliss,
A shining silence in the high sky,
Fills the hearts with bliss,
Under the starlit tent,
We wander, we wander,
Through the wide, white world.

Wohl mitts i der Nacht (Well in the middle of the night)

Finally, Well in the middle of the night (Wohl mitts i der Nacht) is an old Christmas carol from the town of Grindel in Canton Solothurn. It describes the nativity scene when the shepherds heard angels sing and visited the baby Jesus. The tune itself is enough to bring a tear to the eye.

Video: StadthofProduktion / YouTube

Wohl mitts i der Nacht: German lyrics

Wohl mitts i der Nacht die Hirteschar wacht,
Mit englische Stimme tuet s'Gloria singe,
Vom Himmel än Bott: Geboren isch Gott!

Die Hirten im Fäld verlönd ires Zelt,
Sie renned und eiled, jo, ohni z'verwiile,
Dem Chrippeli zue, dä Hirt und dä Bueb.

Ach, Vater lueg au, was finded mir do?
Im Chrippli es Chindli i schneewisse Windli,
Bi Tierlene zwei, do lit's uf em Heu.

Well in the middle of the night: English lyrics

Indeed, in the middle of the night, the shepherds' group keeps watch,
With angelic voices, they sing "Gloria",
A message from heaven: God is born!

The shepherds in the field leave their tents,
They run and hurry, without delay,
To the manger, the shepherd and the boy.

Oh, Father, look too, what do we find here?
In the manger, a little child in snow-white swaddling clothes,
Between two animals, lying on the hay.

Indulge in the best Swiss Christmas carols

Choirs across Switzerland can pair the German, Austrian, French and Italian classics with songs from their communities which have been sung for generations. Have a Swiss carol that you think people should be belting out this Christmas? Let us know in the comments below.

Thumb image credit: Boris-B / Shutterstock.com