Yule Songs

The most common Yule songs of the world are also popular in Iceland, both psalms and lighter tunes. Some of the most popular are listed at the bottom, but musical notation for the homegrown Icelandic psalm of "The Night was such a Splendid One", and the tune of "Soon the blessed Yule will arrive", are shown here, along with a translation of the first verse of each one.

These two stamps illustrate the beginning and the end
of the music to "Nóttin sú var ágæt ein".

"Nóttin sú var ágæt ein"
Nóttin sú var ágæt ein,
í allri veröld ljósið skein,
það er nú heimsins þrautarmein,
að þekkja hann ei sem bæri.
Með vísnasöng ég vögguna þína hræri.

"The Night was such a Splendid One"
The night was such a splendid one,
Throughout the world a light did shine,
It is the problem of the world,
Not to know Him as it should.
Singing poetry I rock your crib.

Psalm by Einar Sigurðsson í Heydölum - Music by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns

"Bráðum koma blessuð jólin"
Bráðum koma blessuð jólin,
- börnin fara að hlakka til.
Allir fá þá eitthvað fallegt,
- í það minnsta kerti og spil.

"Soon the blessed Yule will arrive"
Soon the blessed Yule will arrive,
- the children begin to anticipate.
Each will receive something nice,
- at least a candle and a deck of cards.

Poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum

The most popular imported Yule songs are:
Heims um ból - Silent Night
Jólaklukkur - Jingle Bells
Hvít jól - White Christmas

These are just a very few of the popular Yule songs in Iceland. The music and the sentiment are the same all over the world.