Sign Language Christmas Songs and Carols

How do you sign 'manger'?

Updated March 26, 2018
Woman signing the word 'Family' in American Sign Language while communicating with her son
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American Sign Language (ASL) translations are available for many popular Christmas songs. Below is a listing of sources and the Christmas carol translations they offer. Some show you exactly how the signs are performed, while others offer glosses, which are ASL translations in words and signs, but not actual signing.

These classics will always be in style. Schools and churches that serve the deaf community, as well as the hearing community, may want to add signing to their holiday celebrations. You can make holiday programs accessible to more people when signing is included.

Signed Christmas Song Sources

  • ASLBible.com: Flash video files, with captions for the lyrics and signs
    • Away in a Manger
    • The First Noel
    • Joy to the World
    • O Come, O Come Emmanuel
    • O Come, All Ye Faithful
    • Silent Night
  • ASL Christmas Carols
    • The First Noel
    • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
    • Joy To the World
    • Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
    • Silent Night
    • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • Commissioned Believers Deaf Ministry has original videos with signed Christmas songs.
    • Away in a Manger
    • Do You Hear What I Hear
    • Feliz Navidad
    • Feliz Navidad
    • Happy Birthday Jesus
    • Joy to the World
    • The Little Drummer Boy
    • Manger Throne
    • Mary, Did You Know?
    • Silent Night
    • This Baby
    • What Child Is This?
  • Elijah.org has graphical sign language glosses for Christmas songs.
    • Go Tell It on the Mountain
    • Joy to the World
    • O Come All Ye Faithful
    • Ring the Bells
    • Silent Night
    • What Child Is This?
  • LessonTutor.com has graphical ASL glosses for Christmas songs in its store.
    • Auld Lang Syne
    • Away in a Manger
    • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
    • I'll Be Home For Christmas
    • O Christmas Tree
    • O Holy Night
    • Silent Night
    • The First Noel
    • We Wish You A Merry Christmas
    • What Child Is This?
    • White Christmas
  • "Lift Up Holy Hands (Songs of Praise Interpreted in Sign Language)" is a video of religious songs that includes Christmas carols and hymns. Aimed at interpreters, the songs on the video are signed by DeAnn Sampley, an interpreter.
    • Away in a Manger
    • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
    • Joy to the World
    • Mary, Did You Know?
    • More Precious Than Silver
    • O Come All Ye Faithful
    • O Little Town of Bethlehem
    • Silent Night
    • The First Noel
    • We Three Kings
  • "We Sign Santa's Favorite Christmas Songs" is a video from WeSign.com.
    • Away in a Manger
    • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    • Jingle Bells
    • Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
    • Joy to the World
    • O Christmas Tree
    • O Come All Ye Faithful
    • O Little Town of Bethlehem
    • Silent Night
    • The First Noel
    • The Twelve Days of Christmas
    • There is Snow on the Mountain
    • Up On the Housetop
    • We Wish You A Merry Christmas
    • What Child is This?

In addition to these resources, you can find many online videos of ASL performances of Christmas carols. You can easily search for these at your favorite video site (such as Youtube) to be inspired and entertained. Most of those wouldn't be appropriate for teaching situations.

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