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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Orientis Reges Tres

Today's song is the wonderful English carol, We Three Kings of Orient Are, composed by John Henry Hopkins in 1857. You can find the sheet music by Hopkins at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, along with MIDI files and sheet music for other arrangements of the music.

A reference to the "wise men" and a list of their gifts can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, but the names of the wise men and other legends about them are extra-Biblical. You can find a detailed and highly informative discussion of these legends, including how the "wise men" came to be viewed as "kings" at the Hymns and Carols website. Down towards the bottom of the page there is a wonderful chart listing the different names attributed to the wise men in the different traditions. In Greek, they are Apellius, Amerius and Damascus; in Hebrew, Galgalat, Malgalat and Sarachin; in Persian, Hormizdh, Yazdegerd and Perozadh; in Ethiopian, Hor, Basanater and Karsudan; in Syrian, Larvandad, Hormisdas and Gushynasaph; in Armenian, Kagpha, Badadilma and Badadakharida.

I found this Latin translation on the Internet, attributed to Minnie Shepard. It features the traditional Latin names of the wise men: Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior.

Reges:
Orientis reges tres
procul dona portantes
per campos et montes imus,
stell(am) illam sequentes.

CHORUS
O stella potens et mira,
stella regalis pulchra,
semper movens ad occasum
duc nos ad claram lucem.

Melchior:
Infans nate Bethlehem,
portamus hanc coronam,
Rex aeterne, sempiterne,
Domine terrarum.
CHORUS

Caspar:
Tus Sabaeum tibi fero,
Tus dignum magno Deo;
Te laudantes et orantes
colimus in caelo.
CHORUS

Balthazar:
Myrrh(am) amaram defero;
Circum te fumat caligo,
te languentem et gementem,
condit(um) in tumulo.
CHORUS

Reges:
Clarus surgit! O! Specta!
Deus, rex, et victima!
Alleluia, alleluia,
canunt cael(um) et terra.
CHORUS

(about this image)

(mosaic from Ravenna)

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Angelus ad Virginem

In addition to publishing Latin translations of popular Christmas carols, I also want to include traditional Latin Christmas songs. Among these, the Angelus ad Virginem is one of the most famous. The Angelus is a medieval Latin carol dating back to the late 13th century. It is even mentioned by Chaucer in the Miller's Tale: "Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang; / And Angelus ad virginem he sang..."

To learn the tune, you can find a MIDI file and a PDF file of the sheet music online at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. This website also has an English translation. You might also take a look at a beautiful adaptation by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. There is also a Wikipedia article about this hymn.

What I like best about this carol is the lovely rhyme scheme. I hope the layout used below will help you to follow the intricate pattern of rhyme. Classical Latin poetry does not rhyme, but rhyme is one of the distinctive features of medieval Latin poetry, making it very congenial for English speakers, since the English poetry tradition is also rich in rhyme.

Angelus, ad virginem
subintrans in conclave,
virginis formidinem
demulcens, inquit "Ave."

"Ave regina virginum!
Caeli terraeque dominum
concipies,
et paries
intacta
salutem hominum.
Tu porta caeli facta,
medela criminum."

"Quomodo conciperem,
quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem,
quod firma mente vovi?"

"Spiritus Sancti gratia
perficiet haec omnia.
Ne timeas,
sed gaudeas,
secura
quod castimonia
manebit in te pura
Dei potentia."

Ad haec virgo nobilis
respondens inquit ei:
"Ancilla sum humilis
omnipotentis Dei.

Tibi, caelesti nuntio,
tanti secreti conscio,
consentiens
et cupiens
videre
factum quod audio,
parata sum parere
Dei consilio."

Angelus disparuit
et statim puellaris
uterus intumuit
vi partus salutaris.

Qui, circumdatus utero
novem mensium numero,
hinc exiit
et iniit
conflictum,
affigens humero
crucem, qua dedit ictum
hosti mortifero.

Eia Mater Domini,
quae pacem reddidisti
angelis et homini
cum Christum genuisti.

Tuum exora filium
ut se nobis propitium
exhibeat,
et deleat
peccata,
praestans auxilium
vita frui beata
post hoc exsilium.

(about this image)

Verbum supernum prodiens

You can read about the early (7th century?) hymn, Verbum supernum prodiens, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has a MIDI file of the melody, along with an English translation by J.M. Neale.

Verbum supernum prodiens

1. Verbum supernum prodiens
a Patre lumen exiens,
qui natus orbi subvenis
cursu declivi temporis:

2. Illumina nunc pectora
tuoque amore concrema;
audita per praeconia
sint pulsa tandem lubrica.

3. Iudexque cum post aderis
rimari facta pectoris,
reddens vicem pro abditis
iustisque regnum pro bonis.

4. Non demum artemur malis
pro qualitate criminis,
sed cum beatis compotes
simus perennes caelites.

5. Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Sancto Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

(attributed to Thomas Aquinas)

Here is a modern choral arrangement by Mocnik:

Corde Natus Ex Parentis

Today's Latin hymn has lyrics by the 4th-century poet Prudentius. You can find the 11th-century music at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, with links to several English versions as well.

The hymn by Prudentius forms part of his Liber Cathemerinon, and the complete Latin text is available online at the Christian Classics Etereal Library, along with an English translation.

Note: The Latin used in this hymn is much more difficult by far than the other Latin hymns that I have included here, so you will probably want to consult the English translation for help as you make your way through the text. The text of the carol begins at line 10 of Prudentius's hymn, proceeds to line 27, and then picks up again at line 106 to the end.

Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium,
A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula
omnium quae sunt, fuerunt quaeque post futura sunt.

Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse et facta sunt,
terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina,
quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo.

Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia
induit ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine,
merserat quem lex profundo noxialis tartaro.

O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera
edidit nostram salutem, feta Sancto Spiritu,
et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit.

Psallat altitudo caeli; psallite omnes angeli;
quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei;
nulla linguarum silescat; vox et omnis consonet.

Ecce, quem vates vetustis concinebant saeculis,
quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant,
emicat promissus olim; cuncta conlaudent eum.

Macte iudex mortuorum, macte rex viventium,
dexter in Parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus,
omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum.

Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus,
turba matrum virginumque, simplices puellulae,
voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus.

Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre hagioque Pneumate
hymnus, decus, laus perennis, gratiarum actio,
honor, virtus, victoria, regnum aeternaliter.

(about this image)

A Solis Ortus Cardine

You can find various MIDI files with the musical theme for this medieval Latin Christmas song at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website. This site also features an English version of the poem.

You can also find a MIDI file for a musical setting of the poem (e.g., by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina) CPDL website which also provides an English translation.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library has sheet music and MIDI file with four-part harmony available online.

The Latin words come from a poem by the 5th century Christian poet Sedulius. The original poem by Sedulius is much longer, because it is an alphabet poem, with verses that being with A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-V-X-Y-Z. What you see in the traditional Christmas carol are the versions A-B-C-D-E-F-G-I (the verse about Herod having been omitted). You can find a complete version of the poem at The Latin Library online.

A solis ortus cardine
Adusque terrae limitem
Christum canamus Principem,
Natum Maria Virgine.

Beatus auctor saeculi
Servile corpus induit,
Ut carne carnem liberans
Non perderet quod condidit.

Clausae parentis viscera
Caelestis intrat gratia;
Venter puellae baiulat
Secreta quae non noverat.

Domus pudici pectoris
Templum repente fit Dei;
Intacta nesciens virum
Verbo concepit Filium.

Enixa est puerpera
Quem Gabriel praedixerat,
Quem matris alvo gestiens
Clausus Ioannes senserat.

Faeno iacere pertulit,
Praesepe non abhorruit,
Parvoque lacte pastus est
Per quem nec ales esurit.

Gaudet chorus caelestium
Et Angeli canunt Deum,
Palamque fit pastoribus
Pastor, Creator omnium.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula.

(about this image)

Puer Nobis Nascitur

You can read about the 15th-century Latin hymn, Puer Nobis Nascitur, 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 G.R. Woodward.

Puer Nobis Nascitur

Puer nobis nascitur, Rector angelorum,
In hoc mundo pascitur Dominus dominorum.

In praesepe ponitur sub faeno asinorum,
Cognoverunt dominum Christum regem caelorum.

Hinc Herodes timuit magno cum dolore
Et pueros occidit infantes cum livore.

Qui natus est ex Maria die hodierna,
Ducat nos cum gratia ad gaudia superna.

O et A et A et O cum cantibus in choro
Cum canticis et organo benedicamus domino.

(Nativity Scene in Austria)

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(Hildesheim Cathedral) 

Dies est laetitiae

You can read about the medieval Latin hymn, Dies est laetitiae, at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas website, which also has sheet music, along with various English translations, including one by J. M. Neale.

Dies est laetitiae

1. Dies est laetitiae
In ortu regali,
Nam processit hodie
Ventre virginali
Puer admirabilis,
Totus delectabilis
In humanitate,
Qui inaestimabilis
Est et ineffabilis
In divinitate.

2. Orto Dei filio
Virgine de pura,
Ut rosa de lilio,
Stupescit natura,
Quem parit juvencula
Natum ante saecula
Creatorem rerum,
Quod uber munditiae
Lac dat pueritiae
Antiquo dierum.

3. Ut vitrum non laeditur
Sole penetrante,
Sic illaesa creditur
Virgo post et ante.
Felix est puerpera,
Cuius casta viscera
Deum genuerunt,
Et beata ubera
In aetate tenera
Christum lactaverunt.

4. Christe, qui nos manibus
Propriis fecisti,
Et pro nobis omnibus
Nasci voluisti,
Te devote poscimus,
Laxa, quod peccavimus,
Non sinas perire
Post mortem nos miseros,
Sed tecum ad superos
Facias venire.

(Nativity)

Resonet in Laudibus

Today's carol is a 14th-century hymn, widely popular in Germany and throughout Europe, in both Catholic and Protestant circles. The Hymns and Carols of Christmas website provides lyrics, music and information about a popular English adaptation of the Latin hymn, "Christ was born on Christmas Day." As often with popular songs, there were several different Latin versions. I've included two of them here.

Version 1: The Hymns and Carols of Christmas website provides the lyrics with links to a MIDI file, sheet music and other information about the hymn. You can also find an easy to read presentation of the tune at Gregorius Kollmorgen's website. You can find a MIDI file and sheet music with four-part harmony at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Resonet in laudibus,
cum jucundis plausibus,
Sion cum fidelibus:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Christus natus hodie,
ex Maria virgine,
sine virile semine:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Pueri, concinite,
nato regi psallite,
voce pia dicite:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Sion, lauda Dominum,
salvatorem hominum,
purgatorem criminum:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Sunt impleta quae praedixit Gabriel,
Eia, Eia,
Virgo Deum genuit
quem divina voluit clementia.

Hodie apparuit,
apparuit in Israel,
ex Maria virgine:
est natus Rex.


Version 2: The Hymns and Carols of Christmas website provides the lyrics with links to a MIDI file, sheet music and other information about the hymn.

Resonemus laudibus
cum jocunditatibus
ecclesiam fidelibus:
appanuit quem genuit Maria.

Deus fecit hominem
ad suum imaginem
et similitudinem:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Deus fecit omnia
caelum, terram, maria,
cunctaque nascentia:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

Ero nostro contio
in chordis et organo
benedictat Domino:
apparuit quem genuit Maria

Et Deo qui venias
donat et laetitias
nos eidem gratias:
apparuit quem genuit Maria.

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This version has different lyrics, but they appear very helpfully on the screen, together with an English translation!

O Abies!

You can read about the traditional German Christmas carol, O Tannenbaum, at Wikipedia, which also has the English lyrics.

O Abies! (translator unknown; see video below)

O abies, o abies,
Fidissima cum fronde,
Virens aestatis tempore,
Virens nivosa hieme,
O abies, o abies,
Fidissima cum fronde!

O abies, o abies,
Tu mihi valde places:
Quotiens natali tempore
Delectavisti me fronde,
O abies, o abies,
Tu mihi valde places.

O abies, o abies,
Veste tua me doces:
Spes gignunt et constantia
Semper vires, solacia;
O abies, o abies,
Veste tu me doces.

O Abies! (unattributed, at Kealing.org)

O abies, O abies,
Est viridis frons tua!
O abies, O abies,
Est viridis frons tua!
Te video frondescere
Aestate sicut hieme.
O abies, O abies,
Est viridis frons tua!

O abies, O abies,
Gratissima es mihi!
O abies, O abies,
Gratissima es mihi!
Quam saepe die geniti
Te delectabar Domini!
O abies, O abies,
Gratissima es mihi!

O abies, O abies,
Haec frons me docet tua:
O abies, O abies,
Haec frons me docet tua:
Sunt illa nos firmantia
Spes bona et constantia.
O abies, O abies,
Haec frons me docet tua.

NOVITAS 2015: I just found this one at YouTube!

O abies, O abies
In alto regnas monte
O abies, O abies
In alto regnas monte

Non desunt tibi fólia
Hieme frigidíssima
O abies, O abies
In alto regnas monte

O abies, O abies !
Natalem nuntiasdiem
O abies, O abies
In alto regnas monte

Est máxima laetitia
Cum luces, arbor spléndice
O abies, O abies !

Natálem nutias diem.

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(image source)

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Puer Natus in Bethlehem

You can read about the 15th-century hymn, Puer Natus in Bethlehem, 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 C. P. Krauth.

Here are two different versions of the Latin lyrics:

Puer Natus in Bethlehem (version 1)

Puer natus in Bethlehem, Alleluia.
Unde gaudet Jerusalem. Alleluia.

Hic iacet in præsepio, Alleluia.
Qui regnat sine termino. Alleluia.

Cognovit bos et asinus, Alleluia.
Quod puer erat Dominus. Alleluia.

Reges de Saba veniunt, Alleluia.
Aurum, tus, myrrhum offerunt. Alleluia.

Intrantes domum invicem, Alleluia.
Novum salutant principem. Alleluia.

De matre natus virgine, Alleluia.
Sine virili semine. Alleluia.

Sine serpentis vulnere, Alleluia.
De nostro venit sanguine. Alleluia.

In carne nobis similis, Alleluia.
Peccato sed dissimilis. Alleluia.

Ut redderet nos homines, Alleluia.
Deo et sibi similes. Alleluia.

In hoc natali gaudio, Alleluia.
Benedicamus Domino. Alleluia.

Laudetur sancta Trinitas, Alleluia.
Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia.

Puer Natus in Bethlehem (version 2)

Puer natus in Bethlehem, Alleluia:
unde gaudet Jerusalem. Alleluia.

R./ In cordis iubilo Christum natum adoremus,
cum novo cantico.

Assumpsit carnem filius, Alleluia,
Dei Patris altissimus. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Per Gabrielem nuntium, Alleluia,
Virgo concepit Filium. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Et angelus pastoribus, Alleluia.
Revelat quod sit Dominus. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Reges de Saba veniunt, Alleluia.
Aurum, tus, myrrham offerunt. Alleluia, Alleluia.

In hoc natali gaudio, Alleluia.
Benedicamus Domino. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Laudetur sancta Trinitas, Alleluia.
Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia, Alleluia.

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(Murillo)

Beata Viscera

You can find the Latin lyrics and an English translation of Beata Viscera at the Choral Public Domain Library.

Beata viscera Mariae Virginis,

quae portaverunt aeterni Patris Filium. 

[Alleluia.]

Et beata ubera, 

quae lactaverunt Christum Dominum, 

qui hodie pro salute mundi 

de Virgine nasci dignatus est.

Variant 1

Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis: 

venite gentes et adorate Dominum.

Variant 2

Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum; 

dico ego opera mea regi.

(painting by Domenico di Bartolo)