"Love Came Down at Christmas" is a Christmas poem by Christina Rossetti. It was first published without a title in Time Flies: A Reading Diary in 1885. It was later included in the collection Verses in 1893 under the title "Christmastide".[1]
The poem has been set to music as a Christmas carol by many composers including Harold Darke, Leo Sowerby, John Kelsall and John Rutter[2] and is also sung to the traditional Irish melody "Garton".[3] More recently, the poem was given a modern treatment by Christian band Jars of Clay on their 2007 album, Christmas Songs.[4]
Studwell describes the poem as "simple, direct and sincere" and notes that it is a rare example of a carol which has overcome the disadvantage of "not having a tune (or two or three) which has caught the imagination of holiday audiences."[5]
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token, Love shall be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.