Rudolphus

As always with translations, there are all kinds of possible approaches, and I've found three different translations of "Rudolph" into Latin. Version 1 is much more commonly found on the Internet but, personally, I think I prefer Version 2! You could use these three different versions to give you suggestions and strategies so you can do your own version. If you do your own version, go ahead and post it as a comment here at this blog. To learn more about the English song, with the lyrics, visit this Wikipedia article.

** Be sure to check the comments:
you can find a fourth version AND a fifth version AND a sixth version
which people have shared in the comments section.
The fifth one features Jupiter instead of Santa! **

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NOVITAS: Plain-chant version of Rudolphus, with audio!

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Version 1 (translator unknown, widely repeated on the Internet)

Reno erat Rudolphus
Nasum rubrum habebat;
Si quando hunc videbas,
Hunc candere tu dicas.

Omnes renores alii
Semper hunc deridebant;
Cum misero Rudolpho
In ludis non ludebant.

Santus Nicholas dixit
Nocte nebulae,
"Rudolphe, naso claro
Nonne carrum tu duces?"

Tum renores clamabant,
"Rudolphe, delectus es!
Cum naso rubro claro
Historia descendes!"

Version 2 (translated by Harry C. Maynard?)

Rudolphus, naso rubro,
naso nitidissimo,
si umquam eum spectes,
dicas eum fulgere.

Reliqui tum renones
deridebant ludentes,
semper vetabant eum
apud ludos ludere.

Deinde ante Natalem
Santa venit, et
"Tu, Rudolphe nitide,
traham meam duc nocte."

Dein, ut renones amant,
exclamantes hilare:
"Rudolphe, naso rubro,
in annalibus eris!"

Version 3 (translated by Philip Brunelle?)

Rudolphus rubrinasus
fulgentissimo naso,
vidisti et si eum
dicas quoque candere.

Omnes tarandi ceteri
ridebant vocantes nomina;
non sinebant Rudolphum
interesse ludentes.

Olim crassa nocte Christi,
Nicholas it dictum:
“Rudolphe, naso tam claro,
agesne traham meam?”

Qui tum tarandis amor
conclamantibus eum,
“Rudolphe rubrinase,
descendes historia!”

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(image source)

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Auld Lang Syne

For this holiday song, I found a Latin translation of the song, "Auld Lang Syne." You can find the traditional lyrics at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with the version containing additional stanzas added by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. There's also a very handy explanation in modern English of what the Scottish words mean! In addition, you can consult the Wikipedia article about this song, which includes the Old Long Syne version by James Watson from 1711, in English, presumably unknown to Burns.

I found this Latin translation of "Auld Lang Syne" at the page of Harry Maynard's Latin carols, but it is not clear if Maynard is the translator himself. Does anyone have any further information about who did this Latin translation?
*Keith Massey's wonderful video cites J. C. Robertson as the translator.

You will notice that the chorus here combines elements of the traditional chorus with motifs from the final verse which otherwise has been omitted.

Num amicorum veterum
decet oblivisci?
Annorum heu fugacium
et temporis acti?
CHORUS

Actum, sodales, ob tempus
praeteritum tempus,
priusquam discesserimus,
manus iungamus.

Flores olim decerpsimus
ludentes in pratis,
sed aspera peragravimus
diebus ex illis.
CHORUS

Et agebamus vacuos
dies ad rivulum;
sed dividit iam diu nos
aequor undosum.
CHORUS

(about this image)

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In hoc anni circulo

You can read about the medieval hymn, In hoc anni circulo, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has a MIDI file of the melody, along with various English translations, including one by J.M. Neale.

In hoc anni circulo

1. In hoc anni circulo
Vita datur saeculo,
Nato nobis parvulo
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

2. Quod vetustas suffocat
Hoc ad vitam revocat,
Nam se Deus collocat
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

3. Adam pomo vescitur,
Et sudor repellitur
Sui vultus hodie
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

4. Noe, pro diluvio
Clauso fortis ostio,
Arcam intrat hodie
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

5. Serpens ille, callidus
Cunctis animalibus,
Suffocatur hdie
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

6. Stella solem protulit,
Sol salutem contulit,
Nihil tamen abstulit
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

7. Puer circumciditur,
Sanguis ejus sunditur,
Vita restituitur
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

8. In praesepe ponitur
Et a brutis colitur,
Matris velo tegitur
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

9. Ab angelis concinitur,
Gloria et pax dicitur,
A pastoribus quaeritur
Cum virgine Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

10. Joseph nato fruitur,
Natus lacte pascitur,
Vagit, plorat, tegitur
Per virginem Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

11. Ergo nostra concio
Omni plena gaudio,
Psallat cum tripudio
Cum virgine Mariam.
Verbum caro factum est
Per virginem Mariam.

(in hoc anni circulo)

Dum Servant Pecus Pastores

Today's carol is an English song entitled "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night," with words by Nahum Tate (1700). Like any popular song it has been set to many different musical arrangements. You can find English lyrics along with MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. There is also a Wikipedia article about this carol.

On the Internet, I've found two different Latin translations, one being much more complete than the other.

Version 1. Latin translation by Robert J.M. Lindsay (this is the Latin version commonly found online).

Dum servant pecus pastores
per noctem quieti,
summo nitore descendit
angelus Domini.

"Metum," inquit, "deponite!"
(pavebant subito);
"Laetitiam terricolis
cunctis pronuntio:

"In urbe David natus est
Davidicae gentis Salvator
qui est Christus Rex.
Signum erit vobis:

"Invenietis puerum
vestitu misero;
monstratus is hominibus
iacet in stabulo."

Haec simul fatus est, turba
fulgens apparuit,
chorus Deum laudantium,
sic laeta cecinit:

"Deo sit tota gloria;
pax fiat in terris;
mortalibusque gratiae
ne umquam sit finis."

Version 2. Translator unknown (I have corrected several typos in the one example of this version which I found online).

Dum nocte humi praesident
pastores gregibus,
lux circumfulsit de caelo:
descendit angelus.

Tum "Ne timete!" monuit
trementis animo.
"Nam vobis atque omnibus
pergrata nuntio.

"In urbe vestra Bethlehem
Davidis de stirpe
Salvator Christus Dominus
est natus hodie."

(about this image)

Here is a performance of the English carol:

De natali Christi (from Polish)

Here is a Polish Christmas carol translated into Latin, which Aleksandra Klęczar was kind enough to send to me from Poland (she teaches in the Classics Department at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow). In her note, she explains that the translator of most of the carols which she has sent is the famous Polish classicist Ryszard Ganszyniec (1888-1958).

This carol is called De natali Christi in Latin, Z narodzenia Pana in Polish.

De natali Christi

De natali Christi en laetitia,
laudes in excelsis dicunt omnia.
Omnes homines laetantur
et ex somno excitantur
Pastores pascentes sua pecora.

Subito de caelis ignes radiant,
pastores mirantes lucem cogitant.
Omnis quaerit:"Num lucescit?
Num aurora iam clarescit?
Unde fulmen fulget gratum oculo?"

Z narodzenia Pana

Z Narodzenia Pana dzień dziś wesoły.
Wyśpiewują chwałę Bogu żywioły.
Radość ludzi wszędzie słynie.
Anioł budzi przy dolinie
pasterzów, co paśli pod borem woły.

2. Wypada wśród nocy ogień z obłoku,
dumają pasterze w takim widoku.
Każdy pyta: "Co się dzieje?
Czy nie świta? Czy nie dnieje?
Skąd ta łuna bije, tak miła oku!"

In Dulci Iubilo

"In Dulci Iubilo" began in the 14th century as a macaronic song, mixing German together with Latin. The composition is attributed to the German mystic Heinrich Suso who is supposed to have had a vision of angels and to have heard them singing. He joined in the dance of the angels and then recorded the experience in this mixed German and Latin song. There is also a Wikipedia article about the carol itself.

This German-Latin song was extremely popular, and inspired an English-Latin macaronic version. You can find the English-Latin macaronic version with a MIDI file and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with a later adaptation into English, Good Christian Men, Rejoice.

On the Internet I also found a translation of the song completely into Latin, attributed to George Litzel:

In dulci iubilo
cantate domino!
Nostri cordis gaudium
est in praesaepio
et fulget ut lux solis
in matris gremio.
Alpha est et O! Alpha est et O!

O Iesu parvule,
requiro solum te,
meumque sis solamen,
O puer optime!
commune per levamen,
O princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te! Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Nos omnes cadebamus
per nostra crimina;
per hunc recuperamus
caelorum gaudia.
Simus hic eia! Simus hic eia!

Sunt ubi gaudia?
Non usquam qualia
ad angelos, canentes
Iucunda cantica,
et cymbalis ludentes
in Regis curia.
Simus hic eia! Simus hic eia!

(about this image of Alpha and Omega)

Frigus vir nivis

You can read about the English carol Frosty the Snowman at Wikipedia, first recorded by Gene Autry back in 1950. You can also find the English lyrics online.

Frigus Vir Nivis (unattributed, at Cantica Adventus)

Frigus vir nivis
Erat hilaris, felix
Cum suo pipo et naso parvo
Et carbonis oculis.
Frigus vir nivis
Est fabula mira;
Fit nivis sed liberi sapiunt
Eum vixisse quondam.

Existet est vis mira
In petaso invento,
Nam hunc cum ill' induissent
Tum circumsaluit.

O, Frigus vir nivis
Erat quam vivissimus
Et dicunt illum ludere et
Ridere similem nobis.
Pulsate pulsu, pulsate pulsu
Ecce Frigus it!
Pulsate pulsu, pulsate pulsu
Trans nivem currit!

(image source)

Christe, Redemptor Omnium

Today's carol is an ancient Latin hymn dating back to the 6th century, and it has formed part of Catholic Vespers during the Christmas season. You can find an English translation at the Preces Latinae website. You can find a MIDI file and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

The words are sometimes attributed to Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan in the fourth century. While Ambrose was the author of several hymns in iambic meter with four-line stanzas, as in this hymn, it seems unlikely that this hymn was actually written by Ambrose.

Christe, Redemptor omnium,
ex Patre, Patris unice,
solus ante principium
natus ineffabiliter,

Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,
tu spes perennis omnium,
intende quas fundunt preces
tui per orbem servuli.

Salutis auctor, recole
quod nostri quondam corporis,
ex illibata Virgine
nascendo, formam sumpseris.

Hic praesens testatur dies,
currens per anni circulum,
quod a solus sede Patris
mundi salus adveneris;

Hunc caelum, terra, hunc mare,
hunc omne quod in eis est,
auctorem adventus tui
laudat exsultans cantico.

Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo
redempti sumus sanguine,
ob diem natalis tui
hymnum novum concinimus.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui natus es de Virgine,
cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula.

(about this image)

Tinnitus, Tinnitus

Today's holiday song, "Jingle Bells," originally entitled "The One Horse Open Sleigh," was first published in 1857. You can find the English lyrics, MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. There is also a Wikipedia article about this carol.

I've found several different versions online. The first version is partial, while the other version is more complete. In addition, there is a "Horse-Race Song," Carmen Circense, by T.W. Melluish, which uses the melody and motifs of "Jingle Bells," although it is not a Christmas song. You can find it online at the ARLT Latin Songbook.

Version 1, by James Pierpont. (It is included in vicifons, the Latin Wikisource.)

Nantes per nives
in aperta traha
trans agros imus
omnes ridentes.
Tintinna tintinnant
animose sic,
laetissimi nos canimus
canticum hac nocte.

Tinnitus, tinnitus,
semper tinnitus!
O tantum est gaudium
Dum vehimur in traha! Ha!

Version 2. Translated by Charles Mierow.

Nives, glacies,
nox, puertia!
Risus decet nunc,
decent carmina!
Laetos iuvat nos
ire per agros!
Traha fert velociter,
et cachinemus nos!
CHORUS:
Tinniat, tinniat
tintinnabulum!
Labimur in glacie
post mulum curtum!
Tinniat, tinniat
tintinnabulum!
Labimur in glacie
post mulum curtum!

Me nuper miserum
temptavit lunae lux!
Mox assidebat mihi
puella facti dux!
Vecti subito
in nivis cumulos:
caballus est perterritus
et tunc eversi nos!
CHORUS.

Solum scintillat,
nive candidum.
Repetatur nunc
concentus carminum!
Canities absit,
morosa omnibus!
Puellulas cum pueris
delectat hic cursus.
CHORUS.


Version 3. Unattributed, online at this Kealing.org website.

Cursu rapido
Trahea nostra ducimur
In agro niveo.
Risus editur.
Tintinnabula
Sonant. Maxima
Omnes laetitia
Nunc canimus ea:
Tinniunt, tinniunt
Tintinnabula.
Iuvat et delectat nos
Vehi cito trahea,
Tinniunt, tinniunt
Tintinnabula.
Iuvat et delectat nos
Vehi cito trahea!
Curro iungo equulum,
Qui vecturus trahula,
Et una est mecum
Puella lepida.
Exilis equulus
in nivem incidit,
Inopinato, funditis.
Quod traham proruit.
Tinniunt, tinniunt
Tintinnabula …


Here is Keith Massey performing Version 2!

(about this image)

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O praesepe vile (from Polish)

Here is a Polish Christmas carol translated into Latin, which Aleksandra Klęczar was kind enough to send to me from Poland (she teaches in the Classics Department at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow). In her note, she explains that the translator of most of the carols which she has sent is the famous Polish classicist Ryszard Ganszyniec (1888-1958).

This carol is called O praesepe vile in Latin, Ach, ubogi żłobie in Polish.

O praesepe vile

O praesepe vile,
quid in te conspicio?
Manet in te pretiosus
Infans pro hospitio.

Domine Salvator,
culmen egestatis,
caelum celsum reliquisti,
cultor paupertatis.

An non potuisti
grato in palatio
habitare gloriose
non in hoc praesepio?

Dum in terrum venis,
scelus eius tundis,
ut peccata abluantur
lacrimarum undis.

POLISH

Ach ubogi żłobie,
Cóż ja widzę w tobie?
Droższy widok niż ma niebo,
W maleńkiej osobie.

Zbawicielu drogi,
Jakżeś to ubogi,
Opuściłeś śliczne niebo,
Obrałeś barłogi

Czyżeś nie mógł sobie,
W największej ozdobie,
Obrać pałacu drogiego,
Nie w tym leżeć żłobie?

Gdy na świat przybywasz,
Grzechy z niego zmywasz,
A na zmycie tej sprośności,
Gorzkie łzy wylewasz.

(Jesus in manger)

Heu! quid jaces stabulo

You can read about the 15th-century hymn, Heu! quid jaces stabulo, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has a MIDI file of the melody.

Heu! quid jaces stabulo

1. Heu! quid jaces stabulo,
Omnium Creator,
Vagiens cunabulo,
Mundi reparator?
Si rex, ubi purpura,
Vel clientum murmura,
Ubi aula regis?
Hic omnix penuria,
Paupertatis curia,
Forma novae legis.

2. Istuc amor generis
Me traxit humani,
Quod se noxa sceleris
Occidit profani.
His meis inopiis,
Gratiarum copiis
Te pergo ditare:
Hocce natalitio
Vero sacrificio,
Te volens beare.

3. O te laudum millibus
Laudo, laudo, laudo;
Tantis mirabilibus
Plaudo, plaudo, plaudo:
Gloria — sit gloria,
Amanti memoria
Domino in altis:
Cui testimonia
Dantur et praeconia
Cœlicis a psaltis.

(image source)

Heri nocte prima (from Polish)

Here is a Polish Christmas carol translated into Latin, which Aleksandra Klęczar was kind enough to send to me from Poland (she teaches in the Classics Department at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow). In her note, she explains that the translator of most of the carols which she has sent is the famous Polish classicist Ryszard Ganszyniec (1888-1958).

This carol is called Heri nocte prima in Latin, A wczora z wieczora in Polish.


Heri nocte prima

Heri nocte prima (bis)
Ex caelesti aula (bis)

Nuntium pervenit (bis)
Virgo Filium gignit (bis)

Deum infinitum (bis)
In praesepi situm (bis)

Dei ex mandato (bis)
In Bethleem lato. (bis)

A wczora z wieczora

A wczora z wieczora, a wczora z wieczora
z niebieskiego dwora, z niebieskiego dwora.

Przyszła nam nowina, przyszła nam nowina:
Panna rodzi Syna, Panna rodzi Syna.

Boga prawdziwego, Boga prawdziwego,
nieogarnionego, nieogarnionego.

Za wyrokiem Boskim, za wyrokiem boskim
w Betlejem żydowskim, w Betlejem żydowskim.

Rex Wenceslaus

The English carol "Good King Wenceslas" was written by John Mason Neale, and first published in 1853. The music is based on a medieval song of spring. You can find the English lyrics along with music files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. There is also a Wikipedia article about this carol.

The story of King Wenceslas has become connected with the Christmas holiday season because the feast of Saint Stephen, mentioned in the carol, falls on December 26.

The legend recounted in this carol tells how Wenceslas sees a poor man gathering wood in the snow. He decides to take food and wine to cheer the poor man. Together with his attendant, Wenceslas goes out into the snow, but the attendant finds it rough going, so Wenceslas tells the boy to walk in his footsteps, so that it will be easier for him. That's all there is to the story, although there are many other stories told about "good Wenceslas." You can read all about the historical Wenceslaus (Vaclav), the 10th-century Duke of Bohemia, in the detailed article at Wikipedia.

Latin translation by Stephen A. Hurlbut.

Sanctus Wenceslaus rex,
Stephani ad festum,
agrum vidit nivibus
gelidis congestum.
Vidit pauperem sibi
ligna colligentem,
qui sub luna splendida
sensit se frigentem.

"Huc, O puer, siste huc,
dicens, si cognoris,
quis sit, ubi habitet
pauper iste foris?"
"Ere, procul habitat,
subter illum montem,
silvae iuxta limitem,
ad Agnetis fontem."

"Affer carnem, vinum fer,
lignum afferamus,
ut nos illi pauperi
cenam praebeamus."
Rex et puer prodibant
animo aequali,
vento flante acriter
tempore brumali.

"Ere, nox fit atrior;
ventus vi augetur.
Plus non possum; nescio cur,
valde cor terretur."
"Puer mi, vestigia tu
sequere libenter;
hiems saeva laedet te
minus violenter."

Puer regem sequitur,
unde nix discessit;
fervor glaebis inerat,
ubi sanctus pressit.
Hoc scitote, divites,
Christum qui amatis:
Vos beate eritis,
si quem vos beatis.

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Here is an image of a 1913 edition of the song:

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Statue of King Wenceslaus, circa 1500:

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Sancte Dei, pretiose

You can read about this hymn from the Sarum Breviary, Sancte Dei, pretiose, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has a MIDI file of the melody.

The day of Saint Stephen falls on December 26.

Sancte Dei, pretiose

1. Sancte Dei, pretiose,
Protomartyr Stephane,
Qui virtute caritatis
Circumfulsus undique,
Dominum pro inimico
Exorasti populo

(Saint Stephen)

Veni Redemptor Gentium

You can read about the hymn attributed to Ambrose of Milan, Veni Redemptor Gentium, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has a MIDI file of the melody, along with various English translations, including one by J. M. Neale.

Veni Redemptor Gentium

1. Veni, Redemptor gentium;
Ostende partum virginis;
Miretur omne saeculum.
Talis decet partus Deo.

2. Non ex virili semine,
Sed mystico spiramine
Verbum Dei tactum est caro,
Fructusque ventris floruit.

3. Alvus tumescit virginis.
Claustrum pudoris permanet;
Vexilla virtutum micant,
Versatur in templo Deus.

4. Procedit e thalamo suo,
Pudoris aulo regia,
Geminae gigans substantiae
Alacris ut currat viam.

5. Egressus eius a Patre,
Regressus eius ad Patrem ;
Excursus usque ad inferos
Recursus ad sedem Dei.

6. Aequalis aeterno Patri,
Carnis tropaeo accingere,
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.

7. Praesepe iam fulget tuum,
Lumenque nox spirat novum,
Quad nulla nox interpolet
Fideque iugi luceat.

8. Gloria tibi, Domine,
Qui natus es de virgine,
Cum Patre et saneto Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula.

Chrismon Sancti Ambrosii

Ad stabulum, pastores (from Polish)

Here is a Polish Christmas carol translated into Latin, which Aleksandra Klęczar was kind enough to send to me from Poland (she teaches in the Classics Department at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow). In her note, she explains that the translator of most of the carols which she has sent is the famous Polish classicist Ryszard Ganszyniec (1888-1958).

This carol is called Ad stabulum, pastores in Latin, Do szopy, hej pasterze in Polish.

Ad stabulum, pastores

Ad stabulum, pastores,
nam hic miraculum:
Filius Dei iacet,
ut salvet populum.

Cantate, cives caeli,
Pastores, canite!
Regesque, adorate
Dormientem colite

Flectamus nostrum genu,
hic noster Dominus.
Et Deum salutemus
Submissis frontibus!

Cantate,cives caeli,
Pastores, canite!
Regesque, adorate
Dormientem colite

Do szopy, hej pasterze

Do szopy, hej pasterze,
Do Szopy, bo tam cud!
Syn Boży w żłobie leży,
by zbawić ludzki ród.

Śpiewajcie Aniołowie,
pasterze, grajcie Mu.
Kłaniajcie się Królowie,
nie budźcie Go ze snu.

Padnijmy na kolana,
to Dziecię to nasz Bóg,
Witajmy swego Pana;
wdzięczności złóżmy dług.

Śpiewajcie Aniołowie,
pasterze, grajcie Mu.
Kłaniajcie się Królowie,
nie budźcie Go ze snu.

(Fra Filippo Lippi)

Missus Gabriel de coelis

You can read about the 12th-century hymn, Missus Gabriel de coelis, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website.

Missus Gabriel de coelis

1. Missus Gabriel de cœlis,
Verbi baijulus fidelis,
Sacris disserit loquelis
Cum beata virgine;

2. Verbum bonum et suave
Pandit intus in conclave,
Et ex Eva format Ave,
Evae verbo nomine.

3. Consequenter, juxta pactum
Adest Verbum caro factum:
Semper tamen est intactum
Puellare gremium;

4. Parem pariens ignorat,
Et quam homo non deflorat,
Non torquetur, nec laborat
Quando parit filium.

5. Signum audi novitatis:
Crede solum, et est satis,
Non est tuae facultatis
Solvere corrigiam:

6. Grande signum et insigne
Est in rubo et in igne;
Ne appropiet indigne
Calceatus quispiam.

7. Virga sicca sine rore,
Novo ritu, novo more
Fructum protulit cum flore;
Sic et Virgo peperit.

8. Benedictus talis fructus;
Fructus gaudii, non luctus;
Non erit Adam seductus
Si de hoc gustaverit.

9. Jesus noster, Jesus bonus,
Piae matris pium onus,
Cujus est in cœlo thronus,
Paritur in stabulo.

10. Qui sic est pro nobis natus
Nostros deleat reatus:
Quia noster incolatus
Hic est in periculo.

(Annunciation)

Procul in Praesaepi

Today's carol, "Away in a Manger," is a popular English Christmas carol, first published in 1885, with the third verse added in 1887. Although the first publication was by the Lutheran Church, it is not true that Martin Luther is the author of the song, although you will sometimes see it attributed it to him. The song is popular in both America and in England, although it is sung to two different tunes. You can find the lyrics along with MIDI files for the two different tunes and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. There is also a Wikipedia article about this carol.

The English title of this carol gives me a great excuse to say something about the wonderful English word "manger," which is ultimately derived from Latin. As all Latin students know, the Latin verb esse, "to eat," is confusingly similar to the verb "to be" (this is the case in many Indo-European languages). As a result, the simple Latin verb esse was gradually replaced in the later Romance languages. In some languages, it was replaced by a compounded form of the verb. The Spanish "comer," for example, comes from the Latin comesse (as in the English word "comestible"). In Italian, however, the verb is mangiare (as anyone knows who has been told, "mangia, mangia!" "eat, eat!"). This word comes from the Latin verb manducare, "to chew." This Latin verb manducare is thus also the root of the English word "manger," where the animals come to "chew" their food!

I found this Latin version of the carol on the Internet, attributed to Robert J.M. Lindsay.

Procul in praesaepi et sine lecto,
en, parvulus Iesus dormit in faeno
stellaeque micantes despectant eum
tranquillo in somno, nostrum Dominum.

Dum mugiunt boves, expergiscitur;
nec tamen ex illo auditur murmur.
Amo te, mi Iesu! De caelo specta
et usque ad lucem, precor, mi adsta.

Es, Domine, mecum, te rogo; mane
me iuxta aeterno, et dilige me.
Pueruli omnes in cura tua
fac uti fruantur aeterna vita.

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Triumphi Regis (from Polish)

Here is a Polish Christmas carol translated into Latin, which Aleksandra Klęczar was kind enough to send to me from Poland (she teaches in the Classics Department at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow). In her note, she explains that the translator of most of the carols which she has sent is the famous Polish classicist Ryszard Ganszyniec (1888-1958).

This carol is called Triumphi Regis in Latin, Triumfy Króla niebieskiego in Polish.

Triumphi Regis

Triumphi Regis in excelsis
venerunt caelis de immensis.
Suscitarunt pastores
Sui gregis custodes,
cantantes, cantantes, cantantes

Gloria Deo in excelsis,
pax omni homini in terris
Natus nobis est Salvator
Animarum Redemptor
hodie, hodie, hodie.

Triumfy Króla niebieskiego

Triumfy Króla niebieskiego,
zstąpiły z nieba wysokiego.
Pobudziły pasterzów,
dobytku swego stróżów,
śpiewaniem, śpiewaniem, śpiewaniem.

Chwała bądź Bogu w wysokości,
a ludziom pokój na niskości.
Narodził się Zbawiciel,
dusz ludzkich Odkupiciel,
na ziemi, na ziemi, na ziemi.

En, Nocte Venit Media

Today's selection is the English carol "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear," which was first published in 1849. You can find the English lyrics with MIDI files and sheet music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. There is also a Wikipedia article about this carol.

I found online this Latin translation by Robert J. M. Lindsay:

En, nocte venit media
antiquum canticum,
terraeque lyris angeli
civere sonitum:
"Pax orbi et hominibus;
a Deo gratia!"
Audivit summo reverens
silentio terra.

Adhuc nunc alis devolant
per caelum expansis;
adhuc et cantus dispergunt
mortalibus fessis,
et tristes atque desertos
campos pervolitant,
semperque mundi strepitum
canentes superant.

Bellis peccatisque diu
hic mundus laesus est.
Annorum duo milia
iniusta passus est,
nec hoc amoris canticum
bellantes audiunt.
Tumultuosi, silete,
dum angeli canunt!

Nam dies mox approperant
praedicti prophetis,
cum redit aetas aurea
volventibus annis,
cum pax antiquam gloriam
terris obiciet,
et carmen, quod nunc angelis
canunt, orbis reddet.

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You can sing along with Norah Jones:

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