PagineO Holy Night is a 1847 Christmas carol that begins “O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.…”. Below are the full public-domain lyrics to print and sing, links to free sheet music, its history and fun actions for kids.
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night divine.
O Holy Night · words: Placide Cappeau (French, 1843); English translation John Sullivan Dwight (1855) · music: Adolphe Adam (1847) · public domain · printed from pagineapp.com
Full hymn and choir arrangements of O Holy Night are free because the song is in the public domain. Download them from these non-profit libraries:
O Holy Night (“Minuit, chrétiens”) was written by the French poet Placide Cappeau and set to music by the opera composer Adolphe Adam in 1847. The American writer John Sullivan Dwight made the English version in 1855.
Kneel on “fall on your knees” — then stand tall on “O night divine”.
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The words are by Placide Cappeau (French, 1843); English translation John Sullivan Dwight (1855) and the music is by Adolphe Adam (1847); it dates from 1847.
Yes. O Holy Night is in the public domain, so the lyrics on this page are free to print and sing at home, school or church.
O Holy Night is a good fit for children aged 6+. Try the actions on this page to keep little ones singing along.
🗓️ Updated October 2026