What Child Is This? Christmas carols Christmas hymns Greensleeves William Chatterton Dix Nativity Christ the King Christmas music

Listen to the carol:

This is my own recording of the carol above, from my Cassia & Myrrh project.

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What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping…?

What Child Is This? is one of the most beloved Christmas carols of the English-speaking world. First published in 1865, it reflects on the mystery of Christ’s birth by asking a simple question before answering it: Who is this child lying in the manger?

Rather than telling the Nativity story from beginning to end, the carol pauses to contemplate the Christ Child Himself. Its opening question invites the listener to look more closely at the scene before proclaiming that the infant in Mary’s arms is Christ the King.

The Meaning of What Child Is This?

The carol draws together several themes found in the Gospel accounts of Christ’s birth.

The shepherds come to adore the newborn Savior.

The angels proclaim His coming.

Mary watches over her Son.

As the verses continue, however, the carol also looks beyond Christmas itself. It points ahead to Christ’s suffering and His mission of redemption, reminding us that the Child born in Bethlehem came into the world to save humanity.

This connection between the Nativity and the Cross has long been part of Christian reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation, and What Child Is This? expresses it with remarkable simplicity.

The Tune: Greensleeves

One of the reasons this carol is so recognizable is its melody.

The words were written by the English hymn writer William Chatterton Dix and later set to the traditional English tune Greensleeves, a melody that had already been well known for centuries.

The pairing proved to be an enduring one. The reflective character of Greensleeves complements the text beautifully, giving the carol a more contemplative quality than many of the brighter Christmas hymns sung during the season.

A Christmas Carol That Endures

More than 150 years after it was first published, What Child Is This? remains a favorite in churches, concerts, and Christmas gatherings around the world.

Its memorable melody, thoughtful text, and focus on the identity of Christ have made it one of the enduring classics of the Christmas repertoire.