Introduction: In this article—just in time as the Holiday Season is now upon us—Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find poems, carols and hymns from holidays past, to revive them and bring them into this year’s celebrations. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.
During this magical time of the year many people enjoy singing carols and hymns, and reading joyful poems, of Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays.
You’ll find a delightful assortment of holiday poems and songs in GenealogyBank’s historical newspaper archives, many of them little-known compositions that have faded over the years. But this holiday season why don’t we revive them, and take the time to read some of these poems to cherished children, grandchildren and other family members! It’s a wonderful way to honor the words of our poetic ancestors while sharing quality time with our loved ones.
In this blog post I’ve cut and pasted some of my favorite holiday poems, carols & hymns from old newspapers, and have included excerpts for easier reading.
“Christmas Carol” by Martin Luther
In an 1859 newspaper I found a reprint of this “Christmas Carol” that Martin Luther wrote for his son Hans in 1540. Isn’t it wonderful that such history still exists?
From Heaven above to earth I come,
To bear good news to every home:
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
To you, this night, is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all your earth.
’Tis Christ our God, who far on high
Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your Salvation be,
Himself from sin will make you free…
Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given!
While angels sing, with pious mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth.
“Christmas Hymn”
I found this “Christmas Hymn” by an unknown author in an 1837 newspaper.
Hail happy morn—hail holy child,
Hail mercy’s sacred spring!
Upon whose birth the angels smiled,—
Our Saviour and our King!
Oh! like the star whose guiding rays
The Eastern sages bless’d,
Thy love, Oh! Lord, shall light our ways,
And give the weary rest…
Adoring angels filled the sky,
And thus their song began,
“Glory to God who dwells on high,
And peace on earth to man.”
“A Christmas Hymn” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“A Christmas Hymn” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was printed in an 1844 newspaper.
…It is the calm and solemn night!
A thousand bells ring out, and throw
Their joyous peals abroad, and smite
The darkness.—charmed and holy now!
The night that erst no shame had worn,
To it a happy name is given;
For in that stable lay, new-born,
The peaceful Prince of earth and heaven.
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago!
“The Snow Man” by Gracie F. Coolidge
“The Snow Man,” a poem by Gracie F. Coolidge, was published in an 1884 newspaper.
…He sees through the window the children bright,
And hears them merrily singing
Round the Christmas tree with its glory of light.
When out from the chimney, in bear-skins white,
Comes good St. Nicholas springing!
And the Snow-man laughs so hard at that,
That when his laughter ceases,
A pipe, a coat, and an old straw hat,
Two lumps of coal and a flannel cravat,
Are all that is left of the pieces!
“Everywhere, Everywhere, Christmas To-night” by Phillips Brooks
“Everywhere, Everywhere, Christmas To-night,” a poem by Phillips Brooks, was published in a 1908 newspaper.
Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine;
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where corn-fields lie sunny and bright;
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in its flight,
Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great—no cottage too small.
The angels who welcome Him sing from the height,
“In the city of David a King in His might.”
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
…So the stars of the midnight which compass us round,
Shall see a strange glory and hear a sweet sound,
And cry, “Look! the earth is aflame with delight,
O sons of the morning rejoice at the sight.”
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
“Hanukkah Lights” by Morris Rosenfeld
“Hanukkah Lights,” a poem by Morris Rosenfeld, was published in a 1921 newspaper.
Oh, ye little candle lights!
You tell tales of days and nights,
Stories with no end;
You tell us of bloody fight,
Heroism, power, might,
Wonders, how they blend.
When I see you flickering,
Colors diff’rent checkering;
Dreamlike speaks your gleam:
“Judah, hast fought once upon,
Conquest, glory thou hast won”—
God! is that a dream?…
“The Night before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore
Finally, I’d like to leave you with the most famous of all Christmas poems, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” popularly known as “The Night before Christmas.”
For many of us, including my own family, the reading of “The Night before Christmas” is a well-honored tradition. After Christmas Eve service when I was a child, we would put on our jammies, hang our stockings with care, and mother would read us the poem before father would scoot us off to bed.
When the now-famous Christmas poem was first published in an 1823 newspaper, the author chose to remain anonymous—but he was no match for members of society, who became obsessed with wanting to identify the penman of that memorable poem. Eventually, Clement Clarke Moore (15 July 1779-10 July 1863), acknowledged authorship. It turned out he was just a kindly gentleman who enjoyed writing poetry, and this one had been written as a present for his children.
If you search old newspapers, you’ll find many renditions of Moore’s popular Christmas poem. The writer of this 1897 newspaper article did a wonderful job explaining the background of the poem, including a picture of Moore, his house, and a signed copy of the poem from Moore’s notebook.
Here is a picture of the house where Moore wrote his famous poem.
And here is the poem, with an image from his personal notebook!
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mama in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
…But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all of my genealogy friends and your families!