It was just a simple poem written by a village priest, but when the church organist composed a melody for it, “Silent Night” became a song that touched the world. The priest, Josef Mohr, had wanted to give a song of hope to his small congregation in the village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in Austria. His words, first performed in Oberndorf on Dec. 24, 1818, soon took on a life of their own.
Travelling singers heard the carol and performed it at trade fairs. Then they took it to the court of the King of Prussia, which requested a copy of the song. Despite its humble beginnings, “Silent Night” went on to become the best-known Christmas carol in the world.
Today, Christmas in Oberndorf and the surrounding region of Salzburg remains a time of wonder. In a world where the holidays are threatened by commercialism, this region of Austria still celebrates Christmas in many traditional ways.
