All is calm here in Salzburg, Austria, tonight–much like we imagine it was on this day 200 years ago, when the song ‘Silent Night’ made its debut in the world. This is the bicentennial of the popular carol, written by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr, and first performed in a chapel in the nearby town of Oberndorf. The song has since been performed by artists around the world and was given intangible cultural heritage status by UNESCO. But the most popular recording of the song belongs to Bing Crosby, whose rendition remains the third best-selling single of all time.
The birthplace of a classic Christmas carol
Today in History
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Look to the north sky tonight for the Perseids
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An unlikely friendship in the wild
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A circular celebration
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International Cheetah Day
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Giving Tuesday
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Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii
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Surf s up—Down Under
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National Go Birding Day
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Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
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47 years of Badlands National Park
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Pasadena Chalk Festival supports local arts education
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It s leap day!
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National Umbrella Day
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The dog days of summer
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Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
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Balloon Ascension Day
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World Art Day
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The roots of invention
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

