Europe in crisis

“Silent Night” was created during a period of hunger and hardship

The song “Silent Night” came to be during an era when the entirety of Europe was in a state of dramatic transition. Political upheavals, wars and economic hardships bled and traumatised the peoples of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, the Habsburg Monarchy and Bavaria for decades. Napoleon had disempowered, looted and set fire to entire stretches of land through a series of wars and military campaigns. Additionally, a natural catastrophe with dire consequences came to haunt Europe in the years 1816: Crop failures, debts and a “Year Without a Summer” led to hunger and even more hardship. Against this backdrop, Joseph Mohr composed his poem “Silent Night” in 1816. On Christmas 1818, he passed the lyrics to Franz Xaver Gruber, who added a melody. The result was a Christmas message filled with hope and solace.

There are thirteen Silent Night locations in the federal states of Upper Austria, Tirol and the Salzburger Land. All of them are municipalities that are closely connected with the song: This is either because Franz Xaver Gruber or Joseph Mohr lived there for a period of time or because the song itself is of particular importance here.
The song “Silent Night!” has always been commemorated and celebrated in a special way in these locations: either with museums, remembrance points, chapels and churches, theme trails or guided tours. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary in 2018, these endeavours were intensified in all Silent-Night-Locations: Museums were renewed and reopened, new exhibition ideas were turned into reality and an abundance of events enriched the advent and Christmas periods. The anniversary year 2018 was a time of joy and celebration! But also after this special year there is a lot to see and experience in the Silent-Night-Locations.