This Day in History December 24, 1818

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One of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time was composed on this date in 1818.  The story goes that is was Christmas Eve in Oberndorf, Austria.  Father Joseph Mohr had written a poem called Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.  The story goes that the town organ was not working, and so he called on schoolteacher and church organist Franz Xaver Gruber to write a guitar theme that would match the words of the poem.  He did, and the rest is history.  This simple carol has been translated into about 140 languages, and it has been performed in every style imaginable.  And in 1918, both German and British troops left their trenches to jointly sing this carol.  Can you even imagine?



For more info:
http://famousdaily.com/history/silent-night-composed-in-austria.html
http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/SilentNight.htm
http://elev8.com/528335/behind-the-hymn-silent-night/