25.12.2024
Catholic Christmas. Creation of the Christmas Hymn “Silent Night”
On the night of December 24th–25th, Christmas is celebrated by Catholics and Protestants, as well as Orthodox churches in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. For Orthodox people of faith that live according to the Julian calendar, the Christmas holiday also comes on December 25, but according to the Gregorian calendar, which we use in everyday life, this day falls on January 7. From a historical point of view, the background of the holiday for Catholics and Orthodox is the same: both celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
It is in honor of Christmas, not New Year's Eve, that millions of people decorate their homes, put up Christmas trees and prepare gifts for their family and friends. According to the chronicles, Jesus was born in the time of Herod the Great. In the detailed account of the evangelists Matthew and Luke, the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph came in Bethlehem on the king's order for a census. Since there were no hotels available, the couple had to spend the night in a cave where shepherds and their animals were hiding from the weather. This is where Mary gave birth to her son. That night the brightest star in the sky was lit up, and the Magi came to the light of it and brought their gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh to the Son of God. This scene has become a major symbol of Christmas in Christian culture.
Catholic Christmas is preceded by the season of Advent. It begins four Sundays before the feast and is a time of mental purification and increased repentance. It is believed that during these weeks believers should fast, pray and do nothing but good deeds. Today, Advent calendars with daily tasks for children and small gifts are very popular. This custom uplifts the mood and creates a festive atmosphere. Another essential attribute of this period for Catholics is the Advent wreath. It is woven from sprigs of spruce or mistletoe; four candles are inserted into it. Every Sunday until Christmas, one candle is lit, then the next candle, until all four are lit, symbolizing the arrival of the bright holiday.
The evening preceding Epiphany, or Christmas Eve, is celebrated on December 24. On this day, Catholics end Advent and spend time with relatives in fasting and prayer. According to tradition, after the first star appears in the sky, the fasting ends and parishioners go to churches where festive solemn services are held. During the night Mass, Christmas hymns are sung and Old Testament prophecies related to the birth of Christ are recalled. After the service, people gather around the table for a festive dinner. Catholic Christmas is associated with joy, celebration and festivity that highlights the birth of the Savior and the emergence of hope for all mankind. However, Christmas for Catholics is both a Christian and a secular holiday. Church and folk customs are harmoniously intertwined in it. In all Catholic and Protestant churches around the world, services are held simultaneously, people give gifts to each other, Christmas markets operate in all cities, and in the main squares of cities and towns there are decorative crèches similar to those in which the baby Jesus was once born. Houses and stores are decorated with holiday tinsels: lighted garlands, dressed Christmas trees and white fluffy snow.
Music has always accompanied winter holidays. The status of Christmas as one of the major holidays in the church calendar implied the need to compose music to accompany it.
"Christmas carol" – is pithy and multifaceted concept. There is a mixture of folk and church music, ancient and modern, English, German, Spanish, French, Russian and Ukrainian.
The history of one of the most popular Christmas hymns – “Silent Night, Holy Night” is fascinating. According to one version of the story of “Silent Night” appearance, the emphasis was on the divine inspiration that descended on the priest Joseph Mohr on Christmas Eve and then on the author of the music, organist Franz Gruber.
... Shortly before Christmas, the organ in the church was out of order, and the saddened priest went wandering through the snowy mountain slopes in search of peace of mind and an answer to the question – how to get out of a tough? How to serve Christmas Mass without music?! Entering one of the houses, Father Mohr saw a baby in a cradle and its mother bent over it. The scene shocked him with its simplicity and grandeur, and he vividly visualized the picture of what was happening in Bethlehem. On his return, Josef Mohr wrote the text of the song in one breath and took it to the organist Franz Gruber, who just as quickly wrote an unpretentious melody for guitar accompaniment.
From that moment, the triumphal acknowledgment of “Silent Night” across countries and continents began. It is interesting that Russia played not the least role in increasing the song's popularity. Thus, Emperor Alexander I first heard this chant in 1822 during his visit to Austria. As the legend implied, the artists were so worried during the performance in front of august personages (Austrian Emperor Franz I was present at the concert as well) that they could sing only when they were hidden behind a curtain. Nevertheless, Alexander I was so pleased with the performance, that after the concert, the Emperor hugged the performers and invited them to come to Russia, where the Russian public heard the "Silent Night" for the first time.
Metal disc by Polyphon Musikwerke with the encoded melody of “Silent Night” is stored the Museum Collection. Of all the famous Christmas songs "Silent Night", perhaps, is the most gentle and intimate. A prayer for peace and quiet sounds unostentatiously in it.
UNESCO declared "Silent Night" an intangible cultural heritage in 2011.