Sung and altered throughout the centuries, these Latin Christmas songs are old enough to travel us back until the 5th century. Some of them (like Adeste Fideles, In Dulci Jubilo, and Veni, Veni Emmanuel) have become popular in their English versions in the English-speaking word (respectively, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel), but are also popular in Latin, especial in countries where Romance languages are spoken.
These Christmas carols and hymns are presented with their original lyrics in Latin, along with a video to watch and listen to all these old melodies that made it through time.
Contents
Adeste Fideles – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Come, Faithful
John Francis Wade, c. 1743
1. Adeste fideles
Læti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte
Regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Dominum.
2, Deum de Deo,
Lumen de lumine
Gestant puellæ viscera.
Deum verum,
Genitum non factum.
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Dominum.
3. En, grege relicto,
Humiles ad cunas,
Vocati pastores approperant;
Et nos ovanti
gradu festinemus.
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Dominum.
4. Cantet nunc ‘Io’,
Chorus angelorum;
Cantet nunc aula cælestium,
Gloria! Soli Deo Gloria!
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Dominum.
5. Ergo qui natus
Die hodierna.
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Patris aeterni
Verbum caro factum.
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Dominum.
Boar’s Head Carol – Lyrics
Traditional English Christmas carol in macaronic, 15th century.
1. The boar’s head in hand bring I
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary.
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio.
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino.
2. The boar’s head, as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all this land
Which thus bedeck’d with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
3. Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of Bliss;
Which, on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio.
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino.
Corde Natus ex Parentis – Lyrics
(Of the Father’s Love Begotten)
Literal title translation: Heart Born from a Parent
1. Corde natus ex Parentis,
Ante mundi exordium
Alpha et O cognominatus,
Ipse fons et clausula.
Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt,
Quaeque post futura sunt,
Saeculorum saecula.
2. O beatus ortus ille,
Virgo cum puerpera
Edidit nostram salutem,
Feta Sancto Spiritu,
Et Puer, Redemptor orbis,
Os sacratum protulit,
Saeculorum saeculis.
3. Psallit altitudo caeli,
Psallant omnes angeli,
Quidquid est virtutis usquam
Psallat in laudem Dei:
Nulla linguarum silescat,
Vox et omnis consonet,
Saeculorum saeculis.
4. Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre
hagioque Spiritu
Hymnus, decus, laus perennis,
gratiarum actio,
Honor, virtus, victoria,
regnum aeternaliter,
Saeculorum saeculis.
Creator Alme Siderum – Lyrics
(Kind Creator of the Heavens)
Literal title translation: Creator of the Stars
Hymn used during the Christian liturgical season of Advent, 7th century
1. Creator alme siderum,
Aeterna lux credentium,
Jesu Redemptor omnium,
Intende votis supplicum.
2. Qui daemonis
ne fraudibus
Periret orbis, impetu
Amoris actus, languidi
Mundi medela factus es.
3. Commune qui
mundi nefas
Ut expiares, ad crucem
E Virginis sacrario
Intacta prodis victima.
4. Cujus potestas gloriae,
Nomenque cum
primum sonat,
Et caelites et inferi
Tremente curvantur genu.
5. Te deprecamur, ultimae
Magnum diei Judicem,
Armis supernae gratiae
Defende nos ab hostibus.
6. Virtus, honor, laus, Gloria,
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula.
Flos de Radice Jesse – Lyrics
(Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming)
Literal title translation: The flower from the root of Jesse
From the German carol Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, 15th century
1. Flos de Radice Jesse
Est natus hodie;
Quem nobis jam adesse,
Laetamur unice.
Flos ille Jesus est,
Maria virgo radix,
De qua flos ortus est.
2. Hunc Isaias florem
Praesagus cecinit;
Ad ejus nos amorem,
Nascentes allicit.
Flos virgam superat,
Caeli terraeque cives,
Flos Ille recreat.
3. Hic suo flos odore
Fidelis attrahit;
Divino mox amore,
Attractos imbuit.
O flos, O gratia!
Ad te, ad te suspiro:
De te me satia.
Gaudeamus Igitur (De Brevitate Vitae) – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Let Us Rejoice (The Brevity of Life)
1. Gaudeamus igitur,
Iuvenes dum sumus, (x2)
Post jucundam juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
2. Ubi sunt, qui ante nos
In mundo fuere,
Vadite ad superos,
Transite ad inferos,
Ubi jam fuere.
3. Vita nostra brevis est,
Brevi finietur,
Venit mors velociter,
Rapit nos atrociter,
Nemini parcetur.
4. Vivat Academia,
Vivant Professores,
Vivat membrum quodlibet,
Vivant membra quaelibet,
Semper sint in flore!
5. Vivant omnes virgines
Faciles, formosae
Vivant et mulieres,
Bonae, laboriosae.
6. Vivat et respublica,
Et qui illam regit,
Vivat nostra civitas,
Mecaenatum caritas,
Quae nos hic protegit.
7. Pereat tristitia,
Pereant osores,
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis Antiburschius,
Atque irrisores.
8. Quis confluxus hodie
Academicorum?
E longinquo convenerunt,
Protinusque successerunt
In commune forum.
9. Vivat nostra societas,
Vivant studiosi!
Crescat una veritas,
Floreat fraternitas,
Patriae prosperitas.
10. Alma Mater floreat,
Quae nos educavit,
Caros et commilitones,
Dissitas in regiones
Sparsos, congregavit.
Gaudete – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Rejoice
Refrain:
Gaudete, Gaudete Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete
(x2)
1. Tempus adest gratiae,
Hoc quod optabamus;
Carmina laetitiae
Devote reddamus.
Gaudete, Gaudete Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete
(x2)
2. Deus homo factus est,
Natura mirante;
Mundus renovatus est,
A Christo regnante.
Gaudete, Gaudete Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete
(x2)
3. Ezechiellis porta
Clausa pertransitur;
Unde lux est orta,
Salus invenitur.
Gaudete, Gaudete Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete
(x2)
4. Ergo nostra contio,
Psallat I am in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.
Gaudete, Gaudete Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete
(x2)
Gloria Tibi, Domine – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Glory to Thee, O Lord
Gloria Tibi, Domine,
et sancto nomini tuo.
Gloria Patri, Filio,
et Spiritui Sancto.
Hodie Christus Natus Est – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Today Christ is born
Hodie Christus natus est
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
laetantur Archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluja.
In Dulci Jubilo – Lyrics
Literal title translation: In sweet jubilation
A 16th century text alternating between Latin and English.
1. In dulci jubilo, let us our homage show;
Our heart’s joy reclineth in praesepio,
and like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio;
Alpha es et O, Alpha es et O.
2.* O Jesu parvule, my heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me I beseech Thee, O Puer optime;
My prayer let it reach Thee, O Princeps gloriae;
Trahe me post te, Trahe me post te!
3. O Patris caritas, O Nati lenitas!
Deeply we were stainéd per nostra crimina;
But Thou, for us hast gainéd coelorum gaudia:
O that we were there! O that we were there!
4. Ubi sunt gaudia, if that they be not there?
There, are angels singing nova cantica;
there, the bells are ringing in Regis curia:
O that we were there! O that we were there!
*Also:
2. O Jesu parvule, I yearn for Thee alway;
Listen to my ditty, O puer optime!
Have pity on me, pity O princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te, Trahe me post te!
Jesu Redemptor Omnium – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Jesus the Redeemer of All
1. Jesu Redemptor omnium,
Quem lucis ante originem,
Parem paternae gloriae,
Pater supremus edidit.
2. Tu lumen et splendor Patris,
Tu spes perennis omnium:
Intende quas fundunt preces
Tui per orbem servuli.
3. Memento, rerum Conditor,
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis,
Nascendo, formam sumpseris.
4. Testatur hoc praesens dies,
Currens per anni circulum,
Quod solus e sinu Patris
Mundi salus adveneris.
5. Hunc astra, tellus, aequora,
Hunc omne quod caelo subest,
Salutis auctorem novae,
Novo salutat cantico.
6. Et nos, beata quos sacri
Rigavit unda sanguinis,
Natalis ob diem tui,
Hymni tributum solvimus.
7. Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula.
Puer Natus in Bethlehem – Lyrics
Literal title translation: The Boy born in Bethlehem
15th century
1. Puer natus in Bethlehem,
Alleluia.
Unde gaudet Jerusalem,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Refrain:
In cordis jubilo,
Christum natum adoremus,
Cum novo cantico.
2. Hic jacet in præsepio,
Alleluia.
Qui regnat sine termino,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Refrain
3. De Matre natus virgine,
Alleluia,
qui lumen est de lumine,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Refrain
4. Sine serpentis vulnere
Alleluia.
De nosotro venit sanguine,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Refrain
5. In hoc natali gaudio,
Alleluia.
Benedicamus Domino,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Refrain
4. Laudetur sancta Trinitas,
Alleluia.
Deo dicamus gratias,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Resonet in Laudibus – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Let it be known in praises
1. Resonet in laudibus
Cum jucundis plausibus,
Sion cum fidelibus.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Refrain:
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus natus hodie!
Gaudete, gaudete, ex Maria Virgine.
2. Sion lauda Dominum
Salvatorem omnium;
Virgo parit Filium.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Refrain
3. Natus est Emmanuel,
Quem praedixit Gabriel,
Testis est Ezechiel.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Refrain
4. Sancta tibi Trinitas
Os omnium gratias
Resonet altissimas.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Refrain
Tempus Adest Floridum – Lyrics
Literal title translation: The blooming time is here
13th century
1. Tempus adest floridum, surgent namque flores
Vernales in omnibus, imitantur mores
Hoc quod frigus laeserat, reparant calores
Cernimus hoc fieri, per multos labores.
2. Sunt prata plena floribus, iucunda aspectu
Ubi iuvat cernere, herbas cum delectu
Gramina et plantae hyeme quiescunt
Vernali in tempore virent et accrescunt.
3. Haec vobis pulchre monstrant Deum creatorem
Quem quoque nos credimus omnium factorem
O tempus ergo hilare, quo laetari libet
Renovato nam mundo, nos novari decet.
4. Terra ornatur floribus et multo decore
Nos honestis moribus et vero amore
Gaudeamus igitur tempore iucundo
Laudemusque Dominum pectoris ex fundo.
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel – Lyrics
Literal title translation: Come, Come Emmanuel
1. Veni, veni, Emmanuel;
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio
Privatus Dei Filio.
Refrain:
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
Nascetur pro te, Israel!
2. Veni, veni, Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai,
Legem dedisti vertice,
In majestate gloriae.
3. Veni, O Jesse Virgula;
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ, et antro barathri.
4. Veni, veni, O Oriens;
Solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas,
dirsaque mortis tenebras.
5. Veni, Clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude caelica;
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum.
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Gaudeamus igitur is not a Christmas carol.
I have a cassette tape of carols at St. Paul’s, London, England which contains a carol sung in Latin called ‘Jesu parvule’. I have never heard these words or this tune anywhere else, and I think it would be great to have it available on Youtube, but I don’t want to get into trouble putting it on myself without proper permission. Have you ever heard it?
We haven’t heard it but we looked it up and it’s a 20th century composition, so it’s copyrighted.