What does 'bedight' mean in the second stanza?

"Bedight" is an old English term that means dressed or adorned. Field uses it to depict the infant Jesus in royal robes, creating a striking contrast with the modest manger setting.

What does 'ransomed seed of Adam' mean?

It pertains to the Christian belief in original sin and redemption. The term "Seed of Adam" signifies all of humanity, tracing back to Adam. "Ransomed" refers to being bought back or set free — suggesting that Christ's arrival settles the debt incurred by Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden.

Why does the poem mention Israel being redeemed?

Field draws on the Old Testament prophecies, where the arrival of a Messiah represented a long-awaited promise for the people of Israel. By making this reference, he links the Christmas story to a much older story of hope and anticipation.

What is the significance of the final stanza turning inward?

The first three stanzas invite outside influences—like bells, angels, and other people—to join in the celebration. In contrast, the fourth stanza focuses on the speaker, making the poem more personal. This shift is significant as it introduces a moral aspect: simply singing isn't sufficient; the speaker vows to engage in charitable actions. It's the poem's most genuine and thoughtful moment.

What does 'Him that died upon the tree' refer to?

This refers to Jesus' crucifixion. "The tree" is a common term for the cross. By mentioning it in a Christmas poem, Field highlights that the birth and death are intertwined in the same narrative.

Is this poem meant to be sung?

It sounds like what it is. The repeating refrain, the rising layers of voices, and the direct appeal to the community all mimic the style of a Christian hymn. Field doesn’t assign it a particular melody, but the rhythm is consistent enough that it could be easily set to music.

Who is the intended audience of this poem?

Field directly speaks to everyone — the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the free and the enslaved. The poem emphasizes that the Christmas message is meant for all people, without exception. However, it was crafted primarily for a predominantly Christian American audience in the 19th century.

The Annotated Edition

CHRISTMAS HYMN by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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A cheerful Christmas poem that invites bells, angels, and people to join in singing about Jesus's birth, culminating with the poet's own heart.

Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: faith, freedom, hope

The PoemFull text

CHRISTMAS HYMN

Eugene Field

Sing, Christmas bells! Say to the earth this is the morn Whereon our Saviour-King is born; Sing to all men,--the bond, the free, The rich, the poor, the high, the low, The little child that sports in glee, The aged folk that tottering go,-- Proclaim the morn That Christ is born, That saveth them and saveth me! Sing, angel host! Sing of the star that God has placed Above the manger in the east; Sing of the glories of the night, The virgin's sweet humility, The Babe with kingly robes bedight, Sing to all men where'er they be This Christmas morn; For Christ is born, That saveth them and saveth me! Sing, sons of earth! O ransomed seed of Adam, sing! God liveth, and we have a king! The curse is gone, the bond are free,-- By Bethlehem's star that brightly beamed, By all the heavenly signs that be, We know that Israel is redeemed; That on this morn The Christ is born That saveth you and saveth me! Sing, O my heart! Sing thou in rapture this dear morn Whereon the blessed Prince is born! And as thy songs shall be of love, So let my deeds be charity,-- By the dear Lord that reigns above, By Him that died upon the tree, By this fair morn Whereon is born The Christ that saveth all and me!

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A cheerful Christmas poem that invites bells, angels, and people to join in singing about Jesus's birth, culminating with the poet's own heart. Each stanza introduces a fresh voice to the celebration, starting from the external world and moving inward. By the conclusion, the poem becomes intimate — the speaker vows to support his singing with genuine acts of kindness.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

Sing, Christmas bells! / Say to the earth this is the morn
Editor's note
Field opens with a command to the bells—a well-known public symbol of Christmas—to announce the birth of Christ to *everyone*. The subsequent list (bond and free, rich and poor, young and old) is intentional: this message is for all people, without exception. The refrain "saveth them and saveth me" establishes a personal connection right from the beginning.
Sing, angel host! / Sing of the star that God has placed
Editor's note
The second voice called upon is the heavenly choir. Field directly references the nativity story — the eastern star, the manger, the Virgin Mary's humility, and the infant Jesus dressed in royal robes (with "bedight" being an old-fashioned term for adorned). This stanza maintains the universal scope of the first but changes the setting from earth to sky, expanding the scene.
Sing, sons of earth! / O ransomed seed of Adam, sing!
Editor's note
Now it's humanity's turn. Field employs theological language here — "ransomed seed of Adam" points to the Christian belief that everyone inherited a curse from Adam's fall, and that Christ's birth initiates the process of lifting that curse. By mentioning Israel's redemption, the salvation narrative connects back to its Old Testament origins. The tone is more triumphant than solemn.
Sing, O my heart! / Sing thou in rapture this dear morn
Editor's note
The final stanza takes a reflective turn. After urging bells, angels, and all of humanity to join in song, the speaker turns his attention to himself. The crucial shift here is from song to action: feeling joy isn't sufficient — he vows to express that joy through "deeds of charity." The closing lines connect both the Nativity and the Crucifixion ("Him that died upon the tree"), intertwining themes of birth and sacrifice seamlessly.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is joyfully sincere and reverent — this is a hymn meant to be experienced as much as it is to be read. There’s no irony, no darkness, no complexity. Field writes with the heartfelt warmth of someone who truly believes in every word, and the repeating refrain infuses the poem with a shared, almost church-like spirit. By the last stanza, the joy shifts to something more personal than grand, preventing the poem from feeling like mere showmanship.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Christmas bells: Bells are a collective voice of celebration and announcement. In this context, they symbolize the universal message of the nativity—a sound that connects with everyone, no matter their status or circumstances.
The star of Bethlehem: The eastern star symbolizes divine purpose. Field references it as evidence — "by Bethlehem's star that brightly beamed" — that humanity's redemption is not just a rumor but a truth clearly marked in the sky.
The manger: A feeding trough for animals, the manger highlights the paradox at the heart of the nativity: a king born into poverty. Field contrasts this with "kingly robes" on the infant, intentionally emphasizing that tension.
The tree (cross): In the final stanza, "Him that died upon the tree" refers to the crucifixion. By placing this next to the birth, Field suggests that Christmas symbolizes more than just a joyful beginning; it marks the start of a story with a significant cost.
Ransomed seed of Adam: This phrase captures the essence of Christian theology — humanity's fall through Adam and redemption through Christ. It presents the nativity as a solution to an enduring issue.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote this poem in the late 19th century, a time when sentimental, faith-driven poetry was hugely popular in American homes. Field was primarily known as a journalist and poet from Chicago, focusing on poems for and about children — his most famous pieces include "Little Boy Blue" and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." During this time, Christmas poetry was a significant cultural phenomenon: it appeared in newspapers, was recited at church events, and memorized by students. Field's hymn fits perfectly into that tradition. It takes on the form of a traditional hymn — with a repeating refrain, rising voices, and a call to the community — making it instantly singable for a Victorian audience. The theology is mainstream Protestant, highlighting universal salvation and connecting Christ's birth to his later sacrifice.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing ten lines. Each stanza begins with a command directed at a distinct voice—bells, angels, humanity, and the speaker's own heart—and concludes with the same refrain about Christ saving "them and me." This repeating refrain is what gives it the feel of a true hymn.

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CHRISTMAS HYMN by Eugene Field

CHRISTMAS HYMN

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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