Most Beloved Christmas Carols

Many people are in the middle of final preparations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but perhaps on your “Christmas journey” you have found your way here. I thought I would share some Christmas carols that have become dear to me. Blessings for your Christmas! (This post was first published on December 24, 2022.)

Mary, did you know?

This is a song that never leaves me without tears. Even though I have heard most Christmas carols since early childhood, this one rises above them all in its beauty. The message of the song is deeply moving: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Did you know that He would come to save our sons and daughters?

The lyrics were written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and the melody was composed by Buddy Greene in 1991 (Wikipedia, December 22.2025). It is a wonderful work of the Holy Spirit that songs like this come into being; a human being alone is not capable of this. In addition, here is probably the best version of the song ever made; an a cappella performance recorded in a cave.

Taivas sylissäni / Heaven in My Arms

… the song was released in 1999, although, as I understand it, it has become popular only quite recently. It was composed by Carola Häggkvist and the lyrics were written by Erik Hillestad. The original Finnish translation was done by Pia Perkiö. (Wikipedia, December 22.2025.)

It is interesting that these two Christmas songs (Mary, Did You Know? and Heaven in My Arms) are the dearest to me. Both are fairly new, both tell of the birth of Jesus and His infancy, and in both the story is told, as it were, from Mary’s perspective. Both are also—somewhat surprisingly—written by men.

Heinillä härkien / 'On hay among the oxen'

Of the traditional Christmas carols, Heinillä härkien kaukalon has touched me the most. This one, too, draws its message from the Christmas manger—what else! It originated as a folk song in France as early as the 17th century.

A small and VERY interesting detail concerning the Finnish lyrics: the song refers both to the birth of Jesus (“away in a manger, on hay among the oxen, the innocent Child sleeps”) and, surprisingly, also to Easter (“on the cross, beside a thief, the purest sacrifice sleeps”). Yet during my lifetime it has certainly not been sung at Easter—nor, perhaps, ever before? (Wikipedia in Finnish, December 22.2025.)

En etsi valtaa, loistoa / 'I'm not Seeking neither Power nor Glory'

The message of this song touches me in a special way, without emphasizing the birth of Jesus as the previous songs do. Rather, it focuses—very simply and even in an everyday manner—on waiting for the Christmas celebration. Even in this time of the world, it is a prayer spoken through melody (“into the darkness of the world bring heaven’s light”), a prayer with which I could not agree more fervently. The lyrics are by Zacharias Topelius, and the composing by Jean Sibelius. Bless, Jesus, this world; bless Your own; save those who call upon Your name.

Jouluyö, Juhlayö / Silent Night, Holy Night

… is one of the most beautiful and most popular Christmas carols. Did you know that it has been sung for over 200 years? It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber from Austria. Franz initially worked as a weaver; he was also an organist, and later studied to become an elementary school teacher.

Sylvian Joululaulu / Sylvia’s Christmas Song

Believe it or not, I listened to the lyrics of this beautiful, well-known, and traditional song in their entirety only quite recently—in Christmas 2022. How on earth have I managed to go so long without really listening, even though I have heard and sung the same song at least dozens of times during my lifetime?!

I realized for the first time as well that in the song—which was originally a poem published by Zacharias Topelius in 1853 and later set to music as a Christmas song by Karl Collan (Wikipedia, December 22, 2025)—there is indeed a reference, among other things, to Mount Etna, the volcano located in Italy! Here is a beautiful version sung by my beautiful friend Maisa:

Sydämeni Joulu / My Heart's Christmas

This song speaks of a simple, genuine desire to live Christmas without embellishments. Most of my adult Christmases have been like this. It is important to remember that one does not have to take part in the frantic busyness and acquiring that so often takes over in the run-up to Christmas. Jesus quite literally gets buried under the gifts.

Lyrics are by Vexi Salmi, composing by Kassu Halonen.

With this song, however, one thing must be stated plainly… the “baby Jesus” is not born again every year. He was born as a human being once, grew and matured into adulthood, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, and is currently alive, reigning as King over all that exists. Read more about this here: Jesus, a 33-year-old baby?

Merry Christmas to you, dear Reader!