“Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” — A Special Italian Christmas Carol

Kathryn Occhipinti, MD, for Conversational Italian for Travelers books

Buon Natale a tutti voi!

Visiting Italy during Christmastime has been on my bucket list for many years.  I always travel to Italy during the spring or summer. And yet, from the photos I’ve seen, Italy is just as magical — or maybe even more so — during the Christmas season, when the towns sparkle with lights radiating from the shops and churches that are decked out in their special holiday displays. 

This year, visiting Italy during Christmastime will have to wait. But I would like to share an Italian Christmas carol that makes me feel close to the people in this special country. This Christmas carol is called “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle.” Although not well-known in America, it is said to be the most well-loved Christmas carol in Italy.

The music and lyrics for “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” were written in 1732, by Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who was a Neapolitan priest. Liguori originally gave the song the title, “Little song to Child Jesus,” but the song has since become known by its first line, “From Starry Skies Descending,” or in modern English, “You Came Down from the Stars.”

Liguori most likely took inspiration for this Christmas carol from a Neapolitan song called “Quanno Nascette Ninno” (“When the child was born”) which is also called “Canzone d’i Zampognari” (“The Carol of the Bagpipers”).

I hope you enjoy reading the first two stanzas of the lyrics to this song. The traditional translation uses antiquated English. There are many versions recorded on You Tube. If you like, click on the link for my favorite, from the You Tube channel lorpre87.

“Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” with English Translation

  

Tu scendi dalle stelle	From starry skies descending,
O Re del Cielo	Thou comest, glorious King,
e vieni in una grotto	A manger low Thy bed,
al freddo e al gelo.	In winter’s icy sting.
O Bambino mio Divino	O my dearest Child most holy,
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,	Shudd’ring, trembling in the cold
O Dio Beato Great God,	Thou lovest me!
Ahi, quanto ti costò	What suff’ring Thou didst bear,
l’avermi amato!	That I near Thee might be!
A te, che sei del mondo	Thou art the world’s Creator,
il Creatore,	God’s own and true Word,
mancano panni e fuoco;	Yet here no robe, no fire
O mio Signore!	For Thee, Divine Lord.
Caro eletto Pargoletto,	Dearest, fairest, sweetest Infant
Quanto questa povertà	Dire this state of poverty
più mi innamora!	The more I care for Thee,
Giacché ti fece amor	Since Thou, O Love Divine
povero ancora!	Will’st now so poor to be.

Buon Natale a tutti voi!