Grates nunc omnes facts for kids

Grates nunc omnes is a special song title from long ago. It's the first few words of a Latin song called a "sequence." This song was sung during the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. A sequence is a type of hymn or chant that was added to church services.

A Look Back in Time

This song, 'Grates nunc omnes', is very old! It first appeared in the 11th century, around the year 1030, in a book from a place called Regensburg. This book was a "troparion," which is a collection of short musical pieces or verses.

Over time, many sequences like 'Grates nunc omnes' stopped being used in the main church services of the Roman Catholic Church. This happened after an important meeting called the Council of Trent.

But 'Grates nunc omnes' wasn't just for Midnight Mass. It was also sung during Communion (a special part of the church service) and as a song people sang while walking in a procession.

In the 14th century, people started linking these Latin sequences with German songs. One famous German song, 'Lovet sistu Ihesu Crist', was first written down around 1380 in a book from a Cistercian monastery. A monastery is a place where monks live and worship.

Later, a very famous person named Martin Luther used this old German song and added more verses to create his own Christmas hymn. This hymn is called Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, and it's still sung today! A hymn is a religious song of praise.

What the Song Says

The original 'Grates nunc omnes' is in Latin. It's a song of thanks to God. It talks about how Jesus's birth freed people from evil. The song encourages everyone to sing with the angels, giving glory to God.

Here's what the first part of the Latin song means in English: