Christmas Carols (Christmas customs part one) Posted by dareios on Dec 22, 2011 in Uncategorized
Christmas is coming!
This will be a series of 3-4 celebrating posts about the Christmas customs in Greece.
I will present the customs of this series in chronologically order. So, in this post I will write to you about the Christmas carols.
Christmas carols (kalanda) is a very old custom in Greece which has remained intact throughout the years. The history of carols goes very deep into the past. Written carols from Ancient Greece have been discovered which are similar to the ones sung today.
The word kalanda(κάλαντα) originates from the Latin word calenda which means the beginning of the month. The word carol comes from the Greek word choros(χορός) which mean dance. There are three different carols; for the Christmas, the New Year and the Epiphany on January 6th .
The carols are sung by children in groups of two or more. They start very early in the Christmas’ Eve morning going door to door singing the carols. The traditional instrument is the triangle which they play while they are singing. They are not actually playing the triangle. In reality they are banging the triangle.
Apart from the triangle, if some of the children know how to play a stringed instrument like the guitar or an aerophone instrument like the melodica or the flute, it is considered as an advantage.
The children knock the door, usually waking up the residents (It is good luck if the carols wake you up). Then, a happy and shy voice comes out of a small person:
“ Na ta poume?”
In direct translation is “shall we say them?” meaning shall we sing to you? After the positive answer the children start singing. A couple of minutes later a wish brings the carols to an end:
“Xronia polla kai tou xronou ! “
In direct translation is “many years and the next year”, meaning many happy returns.
The reward in older times used to be cookies,sweets or fruits. Nowadays most of the people give a small amount of money. Thus every house is prepared with a pile of coins ready to be given to the children.
Such a nice feeling to hear all over the place happy children’s voices singing…
I have to mention that many cities have their own traditional carols. The carols that I am going to show to you are the common carols for the Christmas.
| Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες, Κι αν εί- κι αν είναι ορισμός σας Χριστού την θεία γέννηση Να πω- να πω στ’ αρχοντικό σαςΧριστός γεννάται σήμερον Εν Βη- εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλη, Οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται, Χαίρε- χαίρετ’ η φύσις όληΕν τω σπηλαίω τίκτεται, Εν φά- εν φάτνη των αλόγων, Ο βασιλεύς των ουρανών Και ποι- και ποιητής των όλωνΠλήθος αγγέλων ψάλλουσι το Δόξα εν Υψίστοις και τούτο άξιον εστί η των ποιμένων πίστις.Εκ της Περσίας έρχονται τρεις μάγοι με τα δώρα άστρο λαμπρό τους οδηγεί χωρίς να λείψει ώρα.Source: http://www.greeksongs-greekmusic.com |
Kalin esperan arhontes, Ki an ei- ki an einai orismos sas Hristou tin theia gennisi Na po- na po st’ arhontiko sasHristos gennatai simeron En Vi- en Vithleem ti poli, Oi ouranoi agallontai, Haire- hairet’ i fisis oliEn to spilaio tiktetai, En fa- en fatni ton alogon, O vasilevs ton ouranon Kai poi- kai poiitis ton olonPlithos aggelon psallousi to Doksa en Ipsistois kai touto aksion esti i ton poimenon pistis.Ek tis Persias erhontai treis magoi me ta dora astro labro tous odigei horis na leipsei ora. |
Good evening noble men may I sing at your mansion, this day celebrating Jesus’ holy birth, (that)Jesus is being born today in the town of Bethlehem The skies rejoice the whole nature is happyIn the cave he is being born in the horses’ trough the king of the skies and maker of everythingA large group of angels sing Glory to God and holy be the faith of the shepherdsFrom Persia three magi arrive with their gifts A bright star shows them the way without any delay |
Καλά Χριστούγεννα σε όλους !
Merry christmas to all !
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