I’ll end with what is undoubtedly the most familiar CHRISTmas carol of all time: “Silent Night, Holy Night,” written by Joseph Mohr, put to music by Franz Gruber, and sung to guitar the first time because mice had ruined the organ! True story. When I was a child, we sang it in German, “Stille Nacht, Heilege Nacht…”

1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

4 Silent night! Holy night!
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing
alleluias to our King;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!