Primary sourceBook1534 (text), 1539 (melody)

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her

Martin Luther · 1534 (text), 1539 (melody)

A Christmas hymn written by Martin Luther, likely for his own family's celebration, that became one of Germany's best-loved carols.

Luther wrote this Christmas hymn himself, showing his personal piety and his use of song to teach the faith at home.

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Black-and-white woodcut title page of a 16th-century German hymn sheet. Heading reads 'IIII. Ein Kinderlied auff die Weihenachten vom Kindlein Jhesu', with 'D. Mart. Luther' below, a five-line staff of music notation, and the opening lines of the hymn 'Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her' in old German type. Ornate decorative border surrounds the page. — Title page of a 1567 printed edition of Luther's hymn 'Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her', originally written 1534. Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University.

About this source

What it is

This is a hymn text written by Martin Luther in 1534, telling the Christmas story based on the Gospel of Luke. The text was first printed in 1535 with an existing secular tune, and in 1539 it appeared with a new melody probably composed by Luther himself. The image shown here is a title page from a 1567 printed hymn sheet.

Why it matters

Luther used music and song as teaching tools, believing ordinary people, including children, should be able to learn and sing their faith in their own language. This hymn, reportedly written for family celebration at home, shows his belief in Christian life lived inside the household, not just in church. It became enormously popular and inspired later composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn to build music around it.

Look closer

Why might Luther have written a children's song about Christmas instead of a formal church hymn?
What does the decorated woodcut title page tell you about how printed music was presented in the 1500s?
Why do you think this hymn spread to other countries and languages?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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