The Festivals and Their Meaning:
I
Christmas

  In der Zeiten Wende
  Trat das Welten-Geistes-Licht
  In den irdischen Wesenstrom;
  Nacht-Dunkel
  Hatte ausgewalte;
  Taghelle Licht
  Erstrahlte in Menschenseelen;
  Licht,
  Das erwärmet
  Die armen Hirtenherzen;
  Licht,
  Das erleuchtet
  Die weisen Königshäupter.

  Göttliches Licht,
  Christus-Sonne
  Erwärme
  Unsere Herzen;
  Erleuchte
  Unsere Häupter;
  Dass gut werde,
  Was wir
  Aus Herzen gründen,
  Was wir
  Aus Häuptern führen
  Wollen.

                         Rudolf Steiner, Christmas, 1923.


  At the turning-point of time,
  The Spirit-Light of the World
  Entered the stream of Earthly Evolution.
  Darkness of Night had held its sway;
  Day-radiant Light poured into the souls of men,
  Light that gave warmth to simple shepherds' hearts,
  Light that enlightened the wise heads of kings.

  O Light Divine! O Sun of Christ!
  Warm Thou our hearts,
  Enlighten Thou our heads,
  That good may become
  What from our hearts we would found
  And from our heads direct
  With single purpose.