In 1817, a young priest named Joseph Mohr was appointed to the Austrian village of Oberndorf near Salzburg. The previous year he had written a Christmas poem and just before Christmas Eve in 1818 he brought the lyrics to composer Franz Xaver Gruber, asking him to set the m to music: two solo voices and guitar accompaniment – as the small congregation had neither a proper choir nor an organ in their little chapel.

Gruber finished the composition the same day and it was first performed in the chapel that year.

The chapel in Oberndorf, Austria where the song has first been performed in 1818. (source: Wikipedia)

But the song only began its world conquest after an organ builder by the name of Karl Mauracher fell in love with it and performed it in a church in Leipzig, Germany. The song has since been translated into 140 languages and Bing Crosby’s version has become the third best-selling single of all time.