God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas-day.
The dawn rose red o’er Bethlehem, the stars shone through the gray,
When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas-day.
God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright,
For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night;
Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay,
When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas-day.
God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn
The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman born:
Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins He takes away;
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas-day.
Credits
Unknown writer is the credited author of this enduring Christmas poem, which has been sung and recited for centuries across the English-speaking world. The carol's origins are traditionally traced to England, with some versions dating as far back as the 15th century, though the exact authorship remains unconfirmed. This particular version emphasises the nativity setting across Bethlehem and Galilee, giving the familiar refrain a richly visual, almost hymn-like quality.
