"Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld" A Norwegian Christmas Song
Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld ("I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve") was composed in 1859 by Peder Knudsen with lyrics by Marie Wexelsen. Translated to English, in 1931, by Professor Peder Andrew Sveeggen.
I sang this song, in Norwegian, during a Sunday School Christmas program at church, many, many years ago.
My mother helped me, she could speak Norwegian, she was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants.
I sang this song, in Norwegian, during a Sunday School Christmas program at church, many, many years ago.
My mother helped me, she could speak Norwegian, she was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants.
Jeg er så glad hver Julekveld
"I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve"
My story about this famous Norwegian Christmas song is in Chapter 10 of my book "Christmas in Dairyland".
Follow along with the Norwegian lyrics below...
Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld - Norwegian Lyrics
"I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve"
Jeg er så glad hver julekveld,for da ble Jesus født,
da lyste stjernen som en sol,
og engler sang så søtt.
Det lille barn i Betlehem,
han var en konge stor
som kom fra himlens høye slott
ned til vår arme jord.
Nå bor han høyt i himmerik,
han er Guds egen Sønn,
men husker alltis på de små
og hører deres bønn.
Jeg er så glad hver julekveld,
da synger vi hans pris:
da åpner han for alle små
sitt søte paradis.
Da tenner moder alle lys,
så ingen krok er mørk;
hun sier stjernen lyste så
i hele verdens ørk.
Hun sier at den lyser enn
og slukkes aldri ut,
og hvis den skinner på min vei,
da kommer jeg til Gud.
Jeg holder av vår julekveld
og av den herre Krist
og at han elsker meg igjen,
det vet jeg ganske visst.
Professor Peder Andrew Sveeggen
I received the following in an email. It's from Daniel C Johnson, the great nephew of Professor Peder Andrew Sveeggen, who translated "Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld" into english in 1931.
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My maternal grandfather's oldest brother is credited with the translation of this song from Norwegian into English.
Professor Peder Andrew Sveeggen (1881-1959) for 37 years was the chair of the English Dept. at Augsburg College, Minneapolis. In addition to English, he taught Shakespeare and homiletics, there.
Professor Sveeggen had taught high school in Decorah, Iowa for a year, and also at Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, Iowa for a year before he joined the faculty of Augsburg in 1915. Before that, he had taught for four years at the University of MN, where he had rec'd his MA in 1909. He had also attended the Hauge synod Lutheran seminary, in Red Wing, MN, and Jewell College, Jewell, Iowa. (the following needs verification) but he may have attended the Augustana Lutheran Academy in Canton, SD.
He would have attended the Nora Country School, in rural Alcester, SD for 1st through 8th grade. Sveeggen, born, rural Alcester, near Nora, to Andrew Pedersen & Johanna (Sommervold) Sveeggen.
---
From:
Daniel C Johnson
---
My maternal grandfather's oldest brother is credited with the translation of this song from Norwegian into English.
Professor Peder Andrew Sveeggen (1881-1959) for 37 years was the chair of the English Dept. at Augsburg College, Minneapolis. In addition to English, he taught Shakespeare and homiletics, there.
Professor Sveeggen had taught high school in Decorah, Iowa for a year, and also at Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, Iowa for a year before he joined the faculty of Augsburg in 1915. Before that, he had taught for four years at the University of MN, where he had rec'd his MA in 1909. He had also attended the Hauge synod Lutheran seminary, in Red Wing, MN, and Jewell College, Jewell, Iowa. (the following needs verification) but he may have attended the Augustana Lutheran Academy in Canton, SD.
He would have attended the Nora Country School, in rural Alcester, SD for 1st through 8th grade. Sveeggen, born, rural Alcester, near Nora, to Andrew Pedersen & Johanna (Sommervold) Sveeggen.
---
From:
Daniel C Johnson
"I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve" - English Lyrics
Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld
I am so glad each Christmas Eve,
The night of Jesus' birth!
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.
The little Child in Bethlehem,
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from heaven above
To help a world in need.
He dwells again in heaven's realm,
The Son of God today;
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.
I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.
When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light,
She tells me of the wondrous Star
That made the dark world bright.
She says the Star is shining still,
And never will grow dim;
And if it shines upon my way,
It leads me up to Him.
And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.
The night of Jesus' birth!
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.
The little Child in Bethlehem,
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from heaven above
To help a world in need.
He dwells again in heaven's realm,
The Son of God today;
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.
I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.
When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light,
She tells me of the wondrous Star
That made the dark world bright.
She says the Star is shining still,
And never will grow dim;
And if it shines upon my way,
It leads me up to Him.
And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.
Norton Lutheran Church at Christmas Time
This is the little church in which I sang "Jeg Er Sa Glad Hver Julekveld" for the Sunday School Christmas program.
The story is in Chapter 10 of my book
"Christmas in Dairyland".
Christmas in Dairyland
True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm
Christmas in Dairyland: True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm
I've just finished reading my autographed copy of your fine book that I received as a birthday gift from a friend, a great and unexpected pleasure. Christmas in Dairyland really tugged my heartstrings.
A reader from Idaho
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Are you Glad Each Christmas Eve?
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- Edy T Johnson Edy T Johnson Dec 28, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
- I delight in the message of the angels, the glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people: our Savior is born! To me, our candlelight Christmas Eve service is the essence of the most beautiful night of the year.
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- sally patterson sally patterson Aug 12, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
- what a wonderful way to celebrate the birth jesus and the wonderful season of love
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- CDT CDT Dec 16, 2008 @ 7:36 am
- This lens is lovely...
Merry Christmas to you and to everyone :)
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- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Dec 15, 2008 @ 10:40 am
- Christmas Eve is about family for me. If we are together, I am happy.
Brenda
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- Jimmie Jimmie Dec 15, 2008 @ 2:41 am
- Beautiful song with a deep meaning! Thanks for sharing!
You're officially blessed!
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- RuralRoute2 RuralRoute2 Dec 7, 2008 @ 6:33 pm | in reply to JaguarJulie
- Julie;
I'm glad you enjoyed "Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld". There are many beautiful Christmas songs from all over the world. I just happen to be descended from Norwegian immigrants.
LeAnn
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Dec 7, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
- Ah, I am delighted to see a Norwegian Christmas song! You see, my stepfather was a Knudson -- Norwegian! I'm sure he must have heard of this one. Lovely job on your lens. Hope you are enjoying Squidoo. Merry Christmas to you.
by RuralRoute2
LeAnn R. Ralph is a writer and newspaper reporter who lives in west central Wisconsin in the house her folks built (on Rural Route 2) when they retire... (more)
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