{"id":30969,"date":"2018-12-19T20:17:51","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T19:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=30969"},"modified":"2018-12-19T20:17:51","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T19:17:51","slug":"merry-christmas-to-all-and-to-all-une-bonne-nuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/merry-christmas-to-all-and-to-all-une-bonne-nuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Merry Christmas To All And To All Une Bonne Nuit!"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Christmas right around the corner<\/a>, visions of sugar plums have started to dance in my head. The holiday spirit has my remembering all the childhood nursery<\/a> rhymes I used to hear ever year and wondering if they exist en version fran\u00e7aise<\/strong> (in French).<\/p>\n

\"\"

Image<\/a> from Pixabay. Licensed under CC0.<\/p><\/div>\n

The holidays are a happy time of les march\u00e9s de No\u00ebl<\/a>, les chants de No\u00ebl et les cadeaux de No\u00ebl<\/strong> (Christmas markets, Christmas carols, and Christmas presents). From December 1st to December 25th the month is filled with the unique sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas with decorations, mulled wine<\/a>, stories, and music all creating the warm and often nostalgic feel that defines the season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking of la musique et les histoires<\/strong> (music and stories), sometimes the difference between modern holiday music and traditional carols is as dramatic as a rock anthem and une berceuse<\/strong><\/a> (a lullaby), and sometimes the line between un chant de No\u00ebl et un compte de No\u00ebl<\/strong> (a Christmas carol and a Christmas tale) can be just as blurry.<\/p>\n

Whatever it may be, one of my favorite Christmas stories<\/a> is the one I grew up calling, Thas the Night Before Christmas<\/em>. Cependant<\/strong> (however), in doing research for this post, I found out that it’s original name was actually A Visit from St. Nicholas<\/em>. I also discovered it’s slightly unclear who originally wrote it, with both Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston Junior having claims to le po\u00e8me<\/strong><\/a> (the poem).<\/p>\n

What’s more certain is the reputation of l’histoire<\/strong> (the story). It is considered the most well known quatrain to have come from les \u00c9tats-Unis<\/strong><\/a> (the United States) and is attributed with establishing many of the modern ideas behind le p\u00e8re No\u00ebl<\/strong> (Santa Claus) and his jolly gift giving. It’s also an easy to follow story that brings up memories of waiting for the best day of the year for me and many other children who grew up hearing it year after year.<\/p>\n

In fact, without ever seeing une version fran\u00e7aise<\/a><\/strong> (a French version), the first few lines are easy to recognize:<\/p>\n

C’\u00e9tait la nuit de No\u00ebl, un peu avant minuit,
\nA l’heure o\u00f9 tout est calme, m\u00eame les souris.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house<\/em>
\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Malheuresement<\/strong><\/a> (unfortunately), while looking up the story, I was sad to find it’s not really as common in la francophonie<\/strong><\/a> (the French speaking world) as it is for les anglophones<\/strong> (English speakers). I did find a decent translation however and I think it makes for a fun way to add some French to the holiday season. It is slightly different from la version anglaise<\/strong> (the English version), but all the changes make it sound more natural in French and help it fit the language’s rhythm and cadence more.<\/p>\n

Take a moment and listen to l’histoire<\/strong> (the story) in French and get ready to shout out from votre traineau<\/strong> (your sleigh):<\/p>\n

Joyeux No\u00ebl<\/a> \u00e0 tous, et \u00e0 tous, une bonne nuit !<\/strong><\/p>\n

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good nigh!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Voici l’histoire en version fran\u00e7aise et en version originale<\/strong> (here’s the French version and the original version of the story):<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eKphtnG8-KQ<\/p>\n

Twas the Night Before Christmas<\/strong>
\nC’\u00e9tait la nuit de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/p>\n

C’\u00e9tait la nuit de No\u00ebl, un peu avant minuit,<\/strong>
\nA l’heure o\u00f9 tout est calme, m\u00eame les souris.<\/strong>
\nOn avait pendu nos bas devant la chemin\u00e9e,<\/strong>
\nPour que le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl les trouve d\u00e8s son arriv\u00e9e.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house<\/em>
\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;<\/em>
\nThe stockings were hung by the chimney with care,<\/em>
\nIn hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;<\/em><\/p>\n

Blottis bien au chaud dans leurs petits lits,<\/strong>
\nLes enfants sages s’\u00e9taient d\u00e9j\u00e0 endormis.<\/strong>
\nMaman et moi, dans nos chemises de nuit,<\/strong>
\nVenions \u00e0 peine de souffler la bougie,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,<\/em>
\nWhile visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads,<\/em>
\nAnd Mama in her \u2018kerchief, and I in my cap,<\/em>
\nHad just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap<\/em><\/p>\n

Quand au dehors, un bruit de clochettes,<\/strong>
\nMe fit sortir d’un coup de sous ma couette.<\/strong>
\nFilant comme une fl\u00e8che vers la fen\u00eatre,<\/strong>
\nJe scrutais tout l\u00e0 haut le ciel \u00e9toil\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,<\/em>
\nI sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.<\/em>
\nAway to the window I flew like a flash,<\/em>
\nTore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.<\/em><\/p>\n

Au dessus de la neige, la lune \u00e9tincelante,<\/strong>
\nIlluminait la nuit comme si c’\u00e9tait le jour.<\/strong>
\nJe n’en crus pas mes yeux quand apparut au loin,<\/strong>
\nUn tra\u00eeneau et huit rennes pas plus gros que le poing,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,<\/em>
\nGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;<\/em>
\nWhen, what to my wondering eyes should appear,<\/em>
\nBut a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,<\/em><\/p>\n

Dirig\u00e9s par un petit personnage enjou\u00e9 :<\/strong>
\nC’\u00e9tait le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl je le savais.<\/strong>
\nSes coursiers volaient comme s’ils avaient des ailes.<\/strong>
\nEt lui chantait, afin de les encourager :<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,<\/em>
\nI knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.<\/em>
\nMore rapid than eagles his coursers they came,<\/em>
\nAnd he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00ab Allez Tornade ! Allez Danseur ! Allez, Furie et Fringuant !
\nEn avant Com\u00e8te et Cupidon ! Allez \u00c9clair et Tonnerre !
\nTout droit vers ce porche, tout droit vers ce mur !
\nAu galop au galop mes amis ! au triple galop ! \u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ab Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen,<\/em>
\nOn! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;<\/em>
\nTo the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!<\/em>
\nNow dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! \u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

Pareils aux feuilles mortes, emport\u00e9es par le vent,
\nQui montent vers le ciel pour franchir les obstacles,
\nLes coursiers s’envol\u00e8rent, jusqu’au dessus de ma t\u00eate,
\nAvec le tra\u00eeneau, les jouets et m\u00eame le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,<\/em>
\nWhen they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;<\/em>
\nSo up to the house-top the coursers they flew,<\/em>
\nWith the sleigh full of toys \u2014 and St. Nicholas too:<\/em><\/p>\n

Peu apr\u00e8s j’entendis r\u00e9sonner sur le toit<\/strong>
\nLe pi\u00e9tinement fougueux de leurs petits sabots.<\/strong>
\nUne fois la fen\u00eatre referm\u00e9e, je me retournais,<\/strong>
\nJuste quand le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl sortait de la chemin\u00e9e.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof<\/em>
\nThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.<\/em>
\nAs I drew in my head, and was turning around,<\/em>
\nDown the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:<\/em><\/p>\n

Son habit de fourrure, ses bottes et son bonnet,<\/strong>
\n\u00c9taient un peu salis par la cendre et la suie.<\/strong>
\nJet\u00e9 sur son \u00e9paule, un sac plein de jouets,<\/strong>
\nLui donnait l’air d’un bien curieux marchand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was dress’d all in fur, from his head to his foot,<\/em>
\nAnd his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot;<\/em>
\nA bundle of toys was flung on his back,<\/em>
\nAnd he look’d like a peddler just opening his pack:<\/em><\/p>\n

Il avait des joues roses, des fossettes charmantes,
\nUn nez comme une cerise et des yeux p\u00e9tillants,
\nUne petite bouche qui souriait tout le temps,
\nEt une tr\u00e8s grande barbe d’un blanc vraiment immacul\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

His eyes \u2014 how they twinkled! His dimples: how merry,<\/em>
\nHis cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;<\/em>
\nHis droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,<\/em>
\nAnd the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;<\/em><\/p>\n

De sa pipe allum\u00e9e coinc\u00e9e entre ses dents,
\nMontaient en tourbillons des volutes de fum\u00e9e.
\nIl avait le visage \u00e9panoui, et son ventre tout rond
\nSautait quand il riait, comme un petit ballon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,<\/em>
\nAnd the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.<\/em>
\nHe had a broad face, and a little round belly<\/em>
\nThat shook when he laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly:<\/em><\/p>\n

Il \u00e9tait si dodu, si joufflu, cet espi\u00e8gle lutin,<\/strong>
\nQue je me mis malgr\u00e9 moi \u00e0 rire derri\u00e8re ma main.<\/strong>
\nMais d’un clin d’oeil et d’un signe de la t\u00eate,<\/strong>
\nIl me fit comprendre que je ne risquais rien.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,<\/em>
\nAnd I laugh’d when I saw him in spite of myself;<\/em>
\nA wink of his eye and a twist of his head<\/em>
\nSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.<\/em><\/p>\n

Puis sans dire un mot, car il \u00e9tait press\u00e9,
\nSe h\u00e2ta de remplir les bas, jusqu’au dernier,
\nEt me salua d’un doigt pos\u00e9 sur l’aile du nez,
\nAvant de dispara\u00eetre dans la chemin\u00e9e.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,<\/em>
\nAnd fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jerk,<\/em>
\nAnd laying his finger aside of his nose<\/em>
\nAnd giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.<\/em><\/p>\n

Je l’entendis ensuite siffler son bel \u00e9quipage.<\/strong>
\nEnsemble ils s’envol\u00e8rent comme une plume au vent.<\/strong>
\nAvant de dispara\u00eetre le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl cria :<\/strong>
\n\u00ab Joyeux No\u00ebl \u00e0 tous et \u00e0 tous une bonne nuit \u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,<\/em>
\nAnd away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:<\/em>
\nBut I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight \u2014<\/em>
\n\u00ab Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night \u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

With Christmas right around the corner, visions of sugar plums have started to dance in my head. The holiday spirit has my remembering all the childhood nursery rhymes I used to hear ever year and wondering if they exist en version fran\u00e7aise (in French). The holidays are a happy time of les march\u00e9s de No\u00ebl…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":30970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30969","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30969\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}