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 Adophe was a Jewish man who didn’t celebrate the birth of Jesus. Even so, he 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.
“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 72
Oh, thank you for sharing the story of Oh Holy Night. Though I’ve been involved in Christian music all my life, I’d never heard of the unique collaboration that resulted in this much-loved Christmas song and its spread worldwide. I’ll not listen to it the same way again.
I have heard O Holy Night sung at church several times. It’s a beautiful song. I’ve never heard the story of it before, but it sure is interesting how the song evolved. Now I want to listen to the song, but if I do, I will get it stuck in my head for the rest of the day, maybe not such a bad thing.
I love this song. It may be my favorite. I have played and sang this song in church many times. I am glad to know the history of it.
I certainly appreciate hearing the story behind “O Holy Night”. I love the song and will now think of its history (besides my own memory connection). I do love to sing and play this carol.
A memory of mine connected to the carol dates back to December 15, 1967, in Gallipolis, Ohio. It was 5:00 Friday evening and I was playing carols on the piano as I waited for my husband due home from work to pull in the driveway. It was payday and we were going Christmas shopping and like any 20 year old, I was still so excited about this our first Christmas together. I was playing “O Holy Night” when suddenly all I could hear were emergency sirens. Realizing something terrible had happened and that my husband was 15 minutes late, I tried telephoning the wife of the fellow who rode with him. The line was dead and there was no info on the one tv channel we could get. Going outside In 15* weather the neighbors began moving about And I found out that the large Silver Bridge crossing the Ohio River and connecting Ohio, West Virginia, and further South had collapsed filled with semi’s and cars.
It was such a scary evening not knowing where my husband was and who all had been on the bridge. When he hadn’t come home by 6:00, I went to the church that family members were to go to for information. I sat there around an hour, when I heard our little VW bug with its loud glass pipe mufflers pull in. Overwhelmed with thankfulness and tears, I ran outside to him leaving families inside who were to receive devastating news. I must continue with two side stories to this. First, my friend a cute little 20 year old driving a new red Camaro was coming home late from her teaching job. She had stopped to pick-up from layaway a beautiful scarab watch. She approached the Bridge ramp as her light turned green, but she hesitated because two semi’s traveling what was the main route for traffic ran their red light, blowing their horns and waving at Peggy. So she waited a few seconds longer before turning to go up on the Bridge. When she turned the corner, the Bridge was gone and so were the trucks with their drivers. Tragic story for her to remember and years later, the watch became mine and serves as another reminder of that night.
Now for my side story. Had we gone Christmas shopping as planned he had planned to buy me at GC Murphy’s a certain pretty little AM FM radio for my gift. (Our town had just started their FM station which was all new to us.) But that evening starving for news about the bridge since our AM station signed off at sunset,, I crawled under our bed and pulled out his Christmas gift from me…the same little radio that he had been going to buy for me.
This is so very fresh in my mind since yesterday was the anniversary of the fall. There is much on Facebook and the internet about this accident where there were 47 bodies recovered but others still missing.
Thank you ,Ann, for allowing me the opportunity to write of this memory which is always triggered by hearing “O Holy Night”.
Author
Oh, Jean, that’s such a sad story. I’m glad that your husband and your friend were spared while at the same time knowing the sorrow those other families had to experience. I hadn’t seen anything about this. I did read about a more recent bridge collapse not long ago. We drive onto those bridges with such assurance we’ll drive over with no problem, but then something like happened in 1967 makes us know that things can collapse and that every day the Lord gives us to be with our family and friends is precious. Thank you so much for sharing your memories of this with us and those two side stories too.
I’ve sung it in private never in public bc I can’t carry a tune in a bushel basket. I love the song. I attended a concert last night in Paducah at the Carson Center by The Ten Tenors from Australia and they sang it & explained it was originally written in French but didn’t tell this story so it’s the first time I’ve heard the story. Thx 4 sharing.
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Some of us do better listening to those beautiful songs, Peggy. But in private we can belt them out however we want. I grew up hearing my mom sing hymns in the kitchen while she cooked and I’ve been known to hum a few that way too.
Wow! I never knew the story. What an impact! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas!
Yes and yes to both questions! I love O Holy Night and have sung it many times, especially for church. My brother and I enjoy singing it in French as well!
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That’s impressive, Elizabeth. Maybe I’ll look up a version of the French song. May you continue to bless people with your singing talents.
Thank you for sharing this, my favorite Christmas carol! Truly a Holy Spirit inspired song, the words and the music are put together so beautifully, I never tire of hearing it. God hasn’t blessed me with a singing voice, I have to wait for heaven to get that but I will sing this the best I can!
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The Bible says we should make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but I don’t think I’d better try singing any special numbers. But I enjoy hearing those who can and do. I’m sure i’d enjoy hearing you sing this beautiful song too, Sally. I can carry a tune – if it’s not too heavy. LOL.
Music speaks to my soul! I love hearing the stories behind the song, how it was written and put to music. This song is peaceful and uplifting. Thanks for sharing this information with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
O Holy Night is a beautiful song. I don’t know if I ever heard the history behind the song or not, but it’s a lovely story. The tune and music lifts ones spirit just to hear it and it has beautiful words.
Oh Holy Night is my favorite! I love to hear it sung, and as a high soprano, I love to sing it as well. I’d not heard its history before, so this was very enlightening!
I love singing “O Holy Night”! Friday and Saturday night I heard it sung by a professional singer and Christian believer who has an absolutely angelic voice. I felt as if I’d been transported to heaven!
I love to read the stories behind our hymns. There is a lot of inspiration in each story I’ve read. This one will become one of my favorites, I’m sure. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, God bless!💝
Oh yes, I have sung this song many times. Thank you for telling us the story behind the song. I had no idea.
Wow I had never read the story behind this beautiful beautiful Christmas song! I have been in church all my life and sang these songs over and over! This is the first time I ever remember reading the beginning of a beautiful hymn! Guess that just shows how we just automatically do things! Thanks you bunches for sharing this! Merry Christmas!🎄🙏❤️
My favorite Christmas song!
Although it is my favorite song, I don’t remember ever hearing this sooty before! Thank you for sharing, love you books! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
That is a very interesting story behind the song. It’s wonderful finding the origin of songs, stories, words and anything! Thank You Ann!
Yes, I am among the thousands who love this very special song. When I was a teenager and attending Salvisa Baptist Church in Mercer County, Mr. Bruce Champion asked me to sing this as the special music on Sunday night before Christmas for many years. I never looked up the history behind this piece so thank you, Ann for the very interesting info.
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Carol & Geri, I enjoy knowing the history behind songs and where the words came from. I used to like the program they had at the National Quartet Convention where the song writers did a panel sort of discussion about the songs they’d written that had grabbed the hearts of listeners. That’s what “O Holy Night” obviously did too.
Geri, I didn’t know you had Mercer County roots. I’ve been to Salvisa Baptist Church a few times to hear my husband sing in his quartet. That’s not far from where I live.
My favorite Christmas song of all time! Celine Dion’s version is amazing! Thank you for this article regarding the background of my favorite song.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful and richly detailed story behind the beautiful Christmas carol,”Oh,Holy Night”,Ann! I had no idea such a beautiful backstory existed! Praise the Lord and Merry Christmas,m’friend! 😊Isaiah 42:6-7😊
I’ve never heard the story of “Oh, Holy Night”, but the song is definitely an inspiration. The song “Mary did you know,” always brings tears to my eyes & makes my heart with renewed faith in the story of redemption. Praise the Lord for his undying love!
Addendum to my original message.
Makes my heart ache with love.