這首歌恐怕是最為人們熟悉的聖誕歌曲。可是這首歌最初並不是為聖誕節所寫，而是為感恩節所作的。
1857年，詞曲作家詹姆斯·羅德·皮爾彭特(James Lord Pierpont,25 April 1805 - 5 August 1886)的父親在波士頓一所學校任職。這首歌是吉米寫給父親的學生們，幫助學生們參加感恩節演出用的。歌中唱道：「雪橇奔馳在雪地上，我們歡笑一路上，鈴聲兒響徹四方，我們情緒高漲，笑得多開心，雪橇之歌今夜唱。叮叮噹，叮叮噹，鈴兒響叮噹……」明快的旋律、歡樂的場景、動人的童聲合唱，使這首歌成為150年來最重要的聖誕節保留曲目，也是世界知名度最高的歌曲。
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant,so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
這首歌的歌詞，表面上是講聖誕節的十二天裡要做的事，看起來其實就只是一首很可愛的歌而已，好像沒有什麼太大的含意在裡面，其實，不只是這樣喔！
「聖誕節的十二日」可說是一首寓意極為深遠的「啟蒙歌曲」。
這首聖誕歌最原始是由英國的天主教派所寫成，由於十六世紀之後的一兩百年，英格蘭的國會並不承認這個教派，所以他們依法不能傳教，或公開從事他們的信仰活動。在當時，身為一位天主教徒可是違法的呢！被抓到之後，輕則牢獄之災，重則被砍頭或被吊死都有可能。 既然如此，天主教派應該如何秘密傳教呢？
於是，他們便寫了這首歌！歌曲乍聽之下跟宗教完全不相干，只是在講十二天裡要為聖誕節準備十二種禮物，其實，這十二種禮物暗示著天主教裡十二種宗教上的含義，可以點開聽聽~
ho...
Hark the herald angels sing ,
"Glory to the new born King"
Peace on earth and mercy mild ,
God an sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise.
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing"
Glory to the new born King"
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Diety
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel
Hark the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King"
ah...ha...
ha...
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace.
Hail the son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings,
risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the new born King"
"白色聖誕"根本已經和聖誕節畫上等號的金曲，史上最為暢銷的聖誕流行歌曲！」——白色的雪花，白色的原野，聖誕老人的白鬍子；聖誕卡片，聖誕祝福——都在白色的聖誕節！
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright.
And may all your Christmases be white.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright.
And may all your Christmases be white.
聖誕節該是什麼樣的？——該是歡快的。所以，祝你有個快樂的聖誕節、快樂的新年！帶點布丁，帶點糖果，要是你不給點什麼，我們可不走哦，祝福可不是白給的！
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
oh, bring us a figgy pudding and bring it fight here
we won't go until we get some;
we won't go until we get some;
we won't go until we get some, so bring some out here
good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas;
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
~End~
聖誕節時唱的讚美詩稱為「聖誕頌歌」。聖誕頌歌很多，詞曲多取自名家名作，這首《天使歌唱在高天》即是其中的一首！
Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
See Him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Joy to world, the lord is come;
Let earth receive her king.
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing ( 3x )
Charlotte Church
Joy to the world, the saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rock, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy (3x )
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found ( 3x )
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nation prove
The glories of his righteouness
And wonder of his love ( 3x )
這是法國一個酒場主1847年寫下的讚美詩，後流傳到美國，由波士頓一個牧師翻譯而成。現在聽到的這個版本是由Mariah Carey重新詮釋的，盪氣迴腸。
除了這些，還有一些比較通俗的聖誕歌曲，例如《馬槽那邊》《這孩子是誰》《東邊走來三賢士》等等。
O holy night!
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees!
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born;
O night divine,
O night, O night Divine.
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.
He knows our need,
to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King!
Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King,
Before Him lowly bend!
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.
Christ is the Lord!
O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
聖誕快到啦，這些與聖誕節相關的詞彙你都認識嗎？
angel 天使
artificial tree 人造樹
bell 鈴，鍾
birth 出生
blizzard 暴風雪
boot 靴子
bough 樹幹
bow 弓
box 盒子，箱子
candle 蠟燭
candy 糖
candy cane 聖誕的拐杖糖，典型的紅白相間的那種。
cap 帽子
card 卡片
caroling 唱聖誕頌歌
carol 頌歌
celebrate 慶祝(動詞)
celebration 慶祝(名詞)
ceremony 儀式
charity 慈善，慈善機構
chestnut 慄子
chimney 煙囪
Christmas 聖誕
Christmas card 聖誕卡片
Christmas carol 聖誕頌歌
Christmas Eve 平安夜
Christmastime 聖誕節節期(從聖誕夜到元旦的假期時間，在英國一直到1月6日)
Christmas tree 聖誕樹
Christmas tree stand 聖誕樹支架
cider 蘋果酒
coal 煤炭
cookie 餅乾
decorate 裝扮，裝飾(動詞)
decoration 裝扮，裝飾(名詞)
display 展示
eggnog 蛋酒，eggnog latte就是蛋酒拿鐵
elf 小精靈
eve 前夕
evergreen 常綠樹，常綠的
exchange 交換
family 家庭
family reunion 家庭歡聚
Father Christmas 聖誕老人
feast 節日
festival 節日
fir 樅
fireplace 壁爐
firewood 柴
frankincense 乳香
frosty 冷冰冰的
fruitcake 水果蛋糕
garland 花環
gift 禮物
gift-giving 贈送禮物
gingerbread 薑餅
gingerbread house 薑餅屋
gingerbread man 人形薑餅
goodwill 善意，友好
greetings 招呼
guest 客人
happy 快樂的
holiday 假日
holly 冬青
hot chocolate 熱巧克力
hot cider 熱蘋果酒
hug 擁抱
ice skates 溜冰鞋
icicle 冰錐
icy 冰的
ivy 常春藤
Jack Frost 霜 （尤用於和兒童說話時）
Jesus 耶穌
jingle bell 鈴兒響叮噹
jolly 歡樂的
joy 歡樂
joyful 歡樂的
kings 國王
Krampus 坎卜斯
(Krampus)是在奧地利傳說中流傳了千百年的一個半羊半魔的角色，最為人所知的就是會在聖誕節時修理頑皮的小孩。
Kris Kringle 聖誕節禮物交換的一個說法，在美國，這個交換禮物的遊戲也叫做white elephant。
light 燈
list 清單
manger 馬槽
merry 愉快的
Merry Christmas 聖誕快樂
mince pie 百果餡餅
mistletoe 槲寄生
是一種植物，通常用作聖誕節裝飾物，在聖誕節時每家都要在門上掛一個槲寄生做的圈，有一個說法是你可以在槲寄生下親吻你想親吻的人，他也不能拒絕!上海的新天地在聖誕期間就有一個活動叫做kiss the moment, 只要有人在槲寄生下親吻，燈就會從白變成紅的。
mitten 手套
nativity 耶穌的誕生
naughty 淘氣的
nippy 刺骨的
North Pole 北極
nutcracker 胡桃夾子
occasion 場合
ornament 裝飾品
package 包裹
pageant 盛會
parade 遊行
partridge 鷓鴣
party 派對
pie 派
pine tree 松樹
pinecone 松球
plum pudding 聖誕布丁
present 禮物
receive 接收
reindeer 馴鹿
rejoice 高興
reunion 相聚
ribbon 色帶，就是包在禮物外面的那個綢緞帶
ritual 儀式
Rudolph 魯道夫，紅鼻子馴鹿
Saint Nicholas 聖誕老人
Santa Claus 聖誕老人
Santa's elves 聖誕老人的精靈
Santa's helpers 聖誕老人的助手，通常指小精靈
Santa's list 聖誕老人的禮物列表
Santa's workshop 傳說中聖誕老人在北極的小木屋，他在裡頭包好禮物，然後送出去
scarf 圍巾
Scrooge 守財奴
sled 雪橇
sleigh 雪橇
sleigh bells 雪橇鈴
snowball 雪球
snowfall 降雪
snowflake 雪花
snowman 雪人
sock 襪子
stocking 絲襪
stocking filler 聖誕小禮物
sugarplum 小糖果
sweater 毛衣
toboggan 雪橇
togetherness 歡聚
toy 玩具
tradition 傳統
trimming 修剪
trip 旅行
turkey 火雞
unwrap 打開，拆開禮物
vacation 假期
visit 拜訪
wassail 痛飲
wintertime 冬日時光
wintry 寒冬
wise men 智慧的人
wish 希望
wonder 想
workshop 作坊
wrap 包裝(包禮物)
wrapping paper 包裝紙
wreath 花圈
Xmas 聖誕節的簡寫
yule log 聖誕節專門用在壁爐裡燒的柴
Yuletide 聖誕季節
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