Italian Christmas Songs

Italy has had a long and intriguing historical association with Christianity. And the affinity is further underlined by fact that the Vatican, seat of the head of the Catholic Church, is a landlocked city state within Italy's capital Rome. Majority of the population in Italy is Catholic, which waits for Christmas with great anticipation. Because of the historical connection of Christianity with Italy, it has influenced a lot of the widespread Christmas customs. In fact, Christmas carols written in the vernacular originated in Italy in the 13th century when St. Francis of Assisi wrote a Christmas hymn in Latin. And Italians being their boisterous selves have carried on the tradition of singing, dancing and having a good time on Christmas. Travelling troupes of pipers known as zampognari, come down from the mountains and perform traditional Christmas songs on bagpipes, flutes and oboes during the festival. The Christmas celebrations in Italy last a good three weeks and Italian Christmas songs can always be heard being played everywhere you go. Some Italian Christmas songs have gained immense international popularity too. Read on to know the lyrics and translations of some famous Italian Christmas songs.

Italian Songs For Christmas

Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (You Come Down from the Stars)
Tu scendi dalle stelle
O Re del Cielo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.

O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.

A te che sei del mondo,
Il creatore
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.

Caro eletto, Pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà,
Piu m'innamora
Giacche ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacche ti fece amor
Povero ancora.

English Translation
You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens,
And you come in a cave;
In the cold, in the frost.
And you come in a cave;
In the cold, in the frost.

Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God,
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.

For you, who are of all the world
The creator,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.

Dear chosen one, little infant
This dire poverty,
Makes me love you more
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Since Love made you
Poor now.

Gesù Bambino 'l È Nato (Baby Jesus Is Born)
Nell'umile capanna
nel freddo e povertá
é nato il Santo pargolo
che il mondo adorerá

Osannna, osanna cantano
con giubilante cuor
i tuoi pastore ed angeli
o re di luce e amor

venite adoremus,
venite adoremus
venite adoremus
Dominum

O bel bambin non piangere,
non piangere, Redentor!
la mamma tua cullandotti
ti bacia, O Salvator.

Osannna, osanna cantano
con giubilante cuor
i tuoi pastore ed angeli
o re di luce e amor

venite adoremus,
venite adoremus
venite adoremus
Dominum

English Translation
When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows
Upon a winter night
Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose,
The King of Love and Light.

The angels sang, the shepherds sang,
The grateful earth rejoiced,
And at his blessed birth the stars
Their exultation voiced.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Again the heart with rapture glows
To greet the holy night
That gave the world its Christmas Rose,
It's King of Love and Light.
Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name,
The grateful chorus swells,
From paradise to earth He came
That we with Him might dwell.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Mille Cherubini In Coro (A Choir Of A Thousand Cherubs)
Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.

Mille cherubini in coro
ti sorridono dal ciel.
Una dolce canzone
t'accarezza il crin
Una man ti guida lieve
fra le nuvole d'or,
sognando e vegliando
su te, mio tesor,
proteggendo il tuo cammin.
Su te, mio tesor,
proteggendo il tuo cammin.

Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.

Chiudi gli occhi,
ascolta gli angioletti,
dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor.

Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.

Chiudi gli occhi,
ascolta gli angioletti,
dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor.
Sogna, piccolo amor.

English Translation
Sleep, sleep,
Dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream,
rest your head on my breast.

A choir of a thousand cherubs
Smiles on you from the sky
A sweet song
Caresses your brow,
A hand is gently guiding you
Through the clouds of gold,
Dreaming and keeping watch
Over you, my treasure,
Protecting your path through life.
Over you, my treasure,
Protecting your path through life.

Sleep, sleep,
Dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream,
Rest your head on my breast.

Close your eyes,
Listen to the little angels,
Sleep, sleep,
Dream, my little love.

Sleep, sleep,
Dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream,
Rest your head on my breast.

Close your eyes,
Listen to the little angels,
Sleep, sleep,
Dream, my little love.
Dream, my little love.

La Canzone Di Zampagnone (Carol Of The Bagpipers)
Quanno nascette Ninno a Betelem me,
E rannotee pa rea miezo journo
Maje le stelle, lusteree belle,
Seve dettero accusi!
La chiu lucen to
Jet tea chiamma li
Magi, in Oriente

English Translation
When Christ our Lord was born in Bethlehem afar,
Although 'twas night,
There shone as bright as noon, a star.
Never so brightly, never so whitely,
Shone the stars,
As on that night!
The Brightest star went
Away to call the Wise Men from the Orient.