The Story and Lyrics Behind The First Noel in French

The Story and Lyrics Behind The First Noel in French Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux is the French version of The First Noel. The two are sung to the same tune, but the words are different. The translation given here is the literal translation of the Christmas carol Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux. The song has been covered by a variety of popular French artists, including Michaà «l, but the French version of The First Noel is most commonly sung today by a church and lay choirs.   The History of The First Noel   The First Noel very likely began as a song that was passed along orally and sung in the streets outside of churches, since early Christian congregants participated little in the Catholic mass. The term Noà «l  in the French version (Noel in English) apparently  derives from a Latin word for news. Thus, the song is about a crier, in this case, an angel, spreading the good news that Jesus Christ (le Roi des Cieux) is born.   Although thought to be a 18th-century English carol, the  structure of The First Noel resembles that of medieval French epic poems, chansons de geste  like La Chanson de Roland memorializing the Charlemagne legends; these poems were likewise not written down. The song was not transcribed until 1823 when it was published in London as part of an early anthology called  Some Ancient Christmas Carols. The English title appears in The Cornish Songbook (1929), which could mean The First Noel originated in Cornwall, situated across the Channel from France.   Christmas hymns, on the other hand, were written down as early as the 4th century A.D. in the form of  Latin songs glorifying the concept of Jesus Christ as the son of God, an important element of orthodox Christian theology at the time.  Many hymns were drawn, for instance, from the 12  long poems of the fourth-century Roman poet and jurist Aurelius Clemens  Prudentius. French Lyrics and English Translation Here is the French version of The First Noel and the English translation:Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux au milieu de la nuitVoulut naà ®tre chez nous de la Vierge MariePour sauver le genre humain, larracher au pà ©chà ©Ramener au Seigneur ses enfants à ©garà ©s.Today the King of Heaven in the middle of the nightWas born on Earth of the Virgin MaryTo save the human race, pull it from sinReturn the Lords lost children to him.Noà «l, Noà «l, Noà «l, Noà «l Jà ©sus est nà ©, chantons Noà «l  !Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelJesus is born, let us sing Noel!En ces lieux durant la nuit demeuraient les bergersQui gardaient leurs troupeaux dans les champs de Judà ©eOr, un ange du Seigneur apparut dans les cieuxEt la gloire de Dieu resplendit autour deux.In these parts during the night stayed the shepherdsWho kept their flocks in Judeas fieldsNow, an angel of the Lord appeared in the skiesAnd the glory of God glowed around them.RefrainRefrainLange dit :  « Ne craignez pas ; soyez tous dans la joieUn Sauveur vous est nà ©, cest le Christ, votre RoiPrà ¨s dici, vous trouverez dans là ©table, couchà ©Dun lange emmaillotà ©, un enfant nouveau-nà ©Ã‚  Ã‚ ».The angel said, Do not fear; everyone be joyfulA Savior is born to you, its Christ, your KingNearby, you will find in the stable, put to bedWrapped up in a flannel blanket, a newborn child.RefrainRefrain