German Christmas carols

Melodies, lyrics, & CDs of the most popular German carols
& the history of the German tradition

Listen to & sing German Christmas carols

A brief history of German Christmas carols

Dating back to medieval times, German Christmas carols have a long tradition. These early tunes normally integrated well-known folk melodies with lyrics written by local clergymen and they were sung in churches, often as choral dialogues, or performed in religious Christmas plays.

The oldest known song is "Nun sei uns willkommen, Herre Christ" from the 11th century. Some of the oldest German carols, such as "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland", and "Mein Geist erhebt den Herren mein" are translations of Latin Christmas hymns. These songs became part of Church rituals surrounding the observance of Christmas. As such, they were solemn and humble tributes of reverence to an almighty, powerful God.

Under the influence of the Reformation, the celebration of Christmas extended outside of the Church into the family domain. It was in the 19th century that many of the festive German carols known today arose. Older carols were adapted and modernized; new lyrics were supplied for familiar folk tunes. While the religious impulse behind the spirit of the celebration was not wholly abandoned, the tone of the new German Christmas carols was lighter and less ritualistic than the Church songs.

With the secularization of the Christmas holiday in the 20th century, German Christmas carols arose that had no connection with their religious origins. "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" is one such example.

Buy German Christmas music CDs or MP3s:

Das Weihnachtsalbum 62 vintage German performances of traditional holiday music. Album or songs available as CD or MP3 download. More info - Buy LISTEN	Weihnachten: In der Weihnachtsbäckerei 10 Christmas songs for children, sung by the children's choir Hamburger Spatzen. More info - Buy LISTEN	The Best of German Christmas Songs 96 German Christmas songs! Album or songs as MP3 downloads only. More info - Buy LISTEN
Weihnachten: A German Christmas MP3 download or CD More info - Buy Listen	Christmas in Vienna: Vienna Boys Choir. MP3 download or CD More info - Buy LISTEN	Beliebte Weihnachtslieder MP3 download or CD More info - Buy
Leise rieselt der Schnee, by Udo Jürgens MP3 download or CD More info - Buy LISTEN	Es werde Licht - meine Winter & Weihnachtslieder, by Udo Jürgens MP3 download or CD More info - Buy Listen	Ja, ja, wenn Weihnachten ist, by Die Prinzen MP3 download or CD More info - Buy LISTEN
Schlittenfahrt mit Rudolf -- 25 Weihnachtslieder Audio CD More info - Buy LISTEN	Weihnachten mit Nicole by Nicole Audio CD More info - Buy LISTEN	Weihnachtshistorie, by Heinrich Schutz & Michael Praetorius MP3 download or CD More info - Buy LISTEN
Frohe Weihnachten mit den Wiener Sängerknaben Vienna Boys Choir Audio CD More info - Buy	Weihnachtsbaum / Via Crucis by Franz Liszt Audio CD More info - Buy LISTEN	Weihnachts-Oratorium, by Johann Sebastian Bach MP3 download or CD More info - Buy LISTEN