Day 6: 12 Days of "Christmas Around the World"

I've been blessed to have traveled extensively throughout Europe while stationed as a missionary in Eastern Europe. To share a bit of that past, I bring to you The 12 Days of "Christmas Around the World." Each day I will chose a country I visited, tell a personal story, and share a Christmas tradition from that country. Please add your own family traditions in the comments section of these posts, or share your own international experiences if you've been blessed enough to travel.

Happy Holidays from Ms. Q!

Day 6: Csendes Éj


I was living in Hungary when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

All I could tell from the news reports (in Hungarian or German) was that New Orleans suffered a tremendous storm and, from the video, it looked like the entire city was destroyed.

Sidenote: This year marked the 5th year anniversary of Katrina and I finally was able to see a lot of the original reporting thanks to CNN, NatGeo, Discovery, and The History Channel.

To bring awareness of, and raise funds for, the plight of stranded and now homeless citizens, a gospel choir from NOLA made a world tour. Sopron was one of their stops.

Pictured is the crowd in the Lutheran church.

The show took place in December, and the best part of the evening (in my estimation) was when the band encouraged everyone to join in and sing along with Silent Night.

All were welcomed to sing in their language of choice.

In a show of musical solidarity, I heard many versions of this hymn as all sang out as one. The most prominent languages I heard were Hungarian (of course), German (Sopron is 3 km from the Austrian border), and English (yours truly).

Hungarian:
CSENDES ÉJ

Csendes éj! Szentséges éj!
Mindenek nyugta mély;
Nincs fenn más, csak a Szent szülepár,
Drága kisdedük álmainál,
Szent Fiú, aludjál, szent Fiú aludjál!

Csendes éj! Szentséges éj!
Angyalok hangja kél;
Halld a mennyei halleluját,
Szerte zengi e drága szavát,
Krisztus megszabadit, Krisztus megszabadit!

Csendes éj! Szentséges éj!
Sziv örülj, higyj, remélj!
Isten Szent Fia hinti reád,
Ajka vigyszt adó mosolyát,
Krisztus megszületett, Krisztus megszületett!

German:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

English:
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

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

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