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‘Good Christian Men, Rejoice’ or 'In Dulci Jubilo'?...a 14th century joyful medieval Christmas carol!

  • larees24
  • Dec 2, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Samuel Dsouza playing 'Good Christian Men Rejoice - In Dulci Jubilo' (Music & Lyrics: Heinrich Seuse | English Translation: John Mason Neale | arr. David Lantz)

🎄 Welcome, everyone to ‘Christmas around the Piano’…a nostalgic musical journey!🎄 


Day 2 - December 2, 2025:

‘Good Christian Men, Rejoice’ is a joyful medieval Christmas carol.


The carol comes from ‘In dulci jubilo’, a jubilant medieval hymn, composed in the 14th century (around the 1320s–1330s), by Heinrich Seuse (Henry Suso), a German Dominican friar and mystic.


Seuse claimed he was inspired by a mystical vision in which angels invited him to join their dance of praise. His description of himself dancing with angels when he first composed the hymn, makes for an unusual origin story for a carol.



‘In dulci jubilo’, catalogued as Zahn No. 4947 (by German music scholar Johannes Zahn in his work on German church hymns and their melodies), beautifully blends sacred Latin with vernacular German, (called macaronic style). This reflected the cultural and religious practices of the time, and made it both sacred and accessible to ordinary worshippers.


The hymn celebrates the birth of Christ with dance-like rhythm, typical of folk carols of the time, and vivid imagery, that retells the Nativity story. It emphasizes both the immediacy of Christ’s birth and the eternal bliss it brings, echoing Luke 2’s account of this event.


The tune was widely published in collections like the 1582 Finnish music collection Piae Cantiones (1582), and also notably used in several compositions by JS Bach, including chorale harmonizations and organ preludes, such as BWV 608 and BWV 724. 


Many others like Bartholomaeus Gesius, Dieterich Buxtehude, Franz Liszt, Gustav Holst, Thomas Pynchon, also used this carol’s melody in their compositions.


As part of the Nine Lessons and Carols, Robert Pearsall’s 1837 translation of In dulci jubilo remains a staple in the famous King’s College Cambridge Christmas service.



In 1853, Anglican priest John Mason Neale translated it into English as “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”. His version adapted it for modern congregations, for use in church services.


It emphasized the Nativity story in simple, memorable language. This brought the carol into modern worship, and popularized it; it continues to inspire joy and reverence during the Christmas season.


Many hymnals now use the inclusive title “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” or “Good Christian All, Rejoice” to reflect contemporary language, to make the carol more universally welcoming.


This carol is one of the few medieval hymns still widely sung today. Its bilingual nature made it unique among carols of its time, and it has remained a timeless Christmas favourite for centuries.



Samuel Dsouza has played the David Lantz Piano Solo Arrangement for this song. You can purchase this on https://www.jwpepper.com/good-christian-friends-rejoice-11558493-902113/p


I do hope you have enjoyed reading about this carol, as much as I have enjoyed presenting this to you.


Thank you for joining me on this festive journey! Wishing you and your loved ones, a season filled with light, laughter, love, and of course, MUSIC! 🌟🎄


If you have enjoyed this Post and Video, do Like, Share, and Subscribe. 

 

Christmas cheer and good tidings to you!

Larissa

Useful Links:

🎼For more in-depth history: https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/in-dulci-jubilo


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