“O Holy Night” (French: Cantique de Noël) is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem “Minuit, chrétiens” (Midnight, Christians) by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877).
At the end of the year 1843, the church organ in Roquemaure was recently renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked Placide Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem, even though the latter never showed an interest in religion, and Cappeau obliged.
Soon after, Adolphe Adam wrote the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey.