Away in a Manger, History of a Popular Carol
Lutheran Beginnings and Children's Lullaby
Dec 21, 2008
"Away in a Manger," like many tunes on the radio during the holiday season, has a colorful history and tradition rooted in Christian worship. Long attributed to a lullaby Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, sang to his children, the truth about "Away in a Manger," honors Luther and his spirit of seeking comfort and rest in God.
Who Wrote "Away in a Manger"
No one is certain who wrote the first two verses of "Away in a Manger" (the third verse was written by Charles Gabriel). For many years, Martin Luther, the Catholic friar responsible for the rise of Protestantism in Europe and founder of today's Lutheran churches, received credit for the song.
In reality, the words are much younger, dating from the late 19th century and originating in America, not Germany. Richard S. Hill, librarian at the Library of Congress, researched the origins of "Away in a Manger" and found that it originated from celebrations of Martin Luther's 400 birthday among Lutheran churches in the U.S in 1883.
Hill concluded from his research that an unknown person or persons wrote the words of "Away in a Manger" as a poem for use in a children's play at one such Luther birthday party.
How Was "Away in a Manger" First Performed
Worship services, concerts, and children's plays were a few of the ways Lutherans around the world celebrated Lutheran's 400th birthday in 1883. During one such children's play in the U.S., children, acting in a play about Luther's life, first read the words of "Away in a Manger" in imitation of Luther telling his own children a lullaby at bedtime.
Away in the Manger and Christmas
"Away in the Manger" first appears in song form in an 1885 book of music for Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School entitled Little Children's Book for Schools and Families, edited by James R. Murray and has had several tunes attached to its lyrics since then.
How "Away in a Manger" became a popular Christmas carol remains a mystery. Martin Luther's birthday is November 10, so likely Lutheran festivities for his 400th birthday occurred in the weeks before Christmas and the poem gained popularity into the Christmas season. The words of "Away in a Manger" speak of baby Jesus' birth, another connection to Christmas and reason to connect the song with the holiday season.
In any case, "Away in a Manger"'s popularity spread from its first performance at a Luther birthday play to the airwaves of modern Christmas.
SOURCE
Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrat, editors. Oxford Book of Carols. Oxford University Press, 1998.
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