Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Day (Day 1) - Christ was Born on Christmas Day

The words for this carol come from the Latin hymn Resonet In Laudibus (13th cent), freely translated by the Rev. John Mason Neale. The music originates from Resonet In Laudibus (also known as Nunc Angelorum), the Finnish title of a German tune from the 14th century (from Piae Cantiones (1582), adapted by Rev. Thomas Helmore.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day 

Christ was born on Christmas Day;
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Maria Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

Let the bright red berries glow
Ev’rywhere in goodly show;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

Christian men, rejoice and sing;
‘Tis the birthday of a King,
Ex Mariâ Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

. . . continues here:
Night of sadness
Morn of Gladness
Evermore:
Ever, Ever:
After many troubles sore,
Morn of gladness evermore and evermore.
Midnight scarcely pass'd and over,
Drawing to this holy morn,
Very early, very early
Christ was born.

. . . or here:
He came among us at Christmas time
At Christmas time in Bethlehem
Men shall bring him from far and wide,
Love’s diadem
Jesus, Jesus;
All the world this day is come to praise you.

Joseph, Dearest Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the Child divine.
God reward thee and all that’s thine,
In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.

Gladly dear one, Lady mine
Help I cradle this Child of thine.
God’s own light on us both shall shine,
In paradise," as prays the mother Mary.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Eddie Lewis (trumpet)

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Chichester Cathedral Choir

Christmas Day - Christ was Born on Christmas Day - Robert Shaw Chorale

And for those who've made it this far . . .  here are two unusual tunes of the season that I'm not sure what to call. One is from Ukraine, the other a Medieval Dutch song of the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

Добрий вечір тобі пане господарю (Good evening to you, Mr. Host!)

Good evening to you, Mr. Master

Chorus:
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!  (The chorus is repeated after each line)

Cover the tables and everything with carpets,

And put kalachi from spring wheat.

Because three holidays will come to visit you:

And that the first holiday is Christmas,*

And the second holiday is St. Basil's Day,

And the third holiday is Holy Epiphany.

And that the first holiday will bring you comfort,

And that the second holiday will bring you happiness,

And that the third holiday will bring fate to all of us,

He will send us all fate, Ukraine will.

Het Was Een Maget Uitverkoren (There was a maiden chosen)

Het was een maged uitverkoren
   There was a Maiden chosen,
Daar Jezus af woude zijn geboren
   As Jesus wished to be born,
Chorus: Dies ben ik vro, o - o - o - o
   Therefore I am glad
Benedicamus Domino
   Let us bless the Lord

Te Nazareth al in die stede
   In Nazareth already in that city
Daar is een maged rein van zede
   There is a Maiden clean in morals
Chorus

Daar kwam een groot gezant van Gode
   There came a great messenger from God
Want Gabriël die was de bode
   Was Gabriel that messenger
Chorus

Maria, weest gegroet en blijde
   Mary, hail and glad,
Maar Maria haar zeer vermijdde
   But Maria very much avoided her
Chorus

En wilt niet vrezen maged schone
   None will fear such a beautiful Maiden
Gods moeder zult gij zijn idoone
   God's mother shall you be known
Chorus

God Heilig Geest zal in u komen
   God the Holy Spirit will come into you
Gelijk de dauw valt op de blommen
   As the dew falls on the flowers
Chorus