On Christmas we gather under the Christmas tree and sing the Salzburg Christmas song “Silent Night”. Gentle tunes and soothing lyrics that uplift the spirit: For more than 200 years, “Silent Night” has continued to enchant people. A song that offers hope and promises comfort. and gives hope. Our traditions simply belong to it. It was and will always be.
For centuries, the song has crossed borders and overcome crises. It connects people no matter their origin, age or religion, and provides a link back to the time during which it was created. Over 200 years ago, Joseph Mohr, a priest from Salzburg, and Franz Xaver Gruber, a teacher from Upper Austria, sang the song for the very first time at the St. Nikola Church in Oberndorf near Salzburg. The original poem was authored by Joseph Mohr, whereas Franz Xaver Gruber added the melody on his request. Only a few years later, singing families from the Zillertal valley carried the song from Austria into Europe and the rest of the world. Today, the song is performed in over 300 languages and dialects.
The many Silent Night locations in SalzburgerLand, Upper Austria and Tirol invite you to follow the traces of the world-famous Christmas song:
