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Celebrating 'Silent Night' in Austria: The 200th Anniversary of the Famous Christmas Carol

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We all know the song, but few know its history.

This coming Christmas marks the 200th anniversary of “Silent Night, Holy Night,” the classic song that today is a holiday favorite performed in more than 300 languages and dialects around the world. Special exhibitions, museum openings  and many other events are planned in 13 Austrian towns. 

The song's origins are sweet.

Joseph Mohr, the parish priest at St. Nikola Church, the small chapel in the village of Oberndorf near Salzburg, was worried as Christmas Mass approached in 1818: the organ was in need of repair, and he wanted something special for his congregants.

(© Austrian National Tourist Office; Photographer: Wolfgang Weinhäupl)

But he had an idea.

He had written a poem about the nativity, and he knew a nearby teacher, Franz Xaver Gruber, who played the guitar; he asked Gruber to create a melody to accompany his words. The two performed the song for the first time the night of December 24 1818.

The famous Christmas carol was born.

Soon after "Silent Night'" was created, singing families from the region carried it from Austria into Europe. Ultimately, it spread throughout the world.

The first performance of the song in the United States was in 1839 in front of Trinity Church in New York City, Sigrid Pichler, manager of public relations for the Austrian Tourist Office in New York, said in an interview.

In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill song “Silent Night” together in the garden of the White House in Washington, D.C.

“It’s popularity is unbroken,” Ms. Pichler said. “Today, it’s the most bought, downloaded and recorded song in all musical genres,” including classical, rock and other popular versions, even rap.

In 2011, the song was recognized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a part of Austria’s “intangible cultural heritage.” The official designation noted the trans-national song’s universality: “For many, 'Silent Night' is the mother of all Christmas carols.”

(© Austrian National Tourist Office and Salzburg Museum)

Special exhibitions, museum openings, concerts, plays, festivals, themed trails, children's programs and experiential events, including "a contemplative torch-lite hike" are planned in three provinces (in and around Salzburg, Upper Austria and the Tyrol area) through February 3, 2019.

Several museums just went through extensive renovations, including The Silent Night Museum in Hallein, which reopened in late September and is the former home of Franz Xaver Gruber, who wrote the lyrics there. On display are authentic autographs and documentation, the priest's diary, letters and portraits, and the original guitar. The Salzburg Museum is preparing a special exhibition that will provide analysis and visuals that correspond to the six different verses of “Silent Night.”

Music critics have attributed the song’s enduring appeal to several factors, Ms. Pichler said. “The music itself is very simple and tranquil, and it’s easy to sing and play on many instruments.” But it’s not only religious, she said, “it offers a deeper message of peace.”

New signage in English has recently been added to many sites. Several designated websites help travelers plan and connect to all the activities and locate special tours.

Click here and here for more details.

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