Magazinele sunt împodobite de Crăciun încă din noiembrie – dar farmecul anotimpului nu e complet până când nu auzim și cântăm colinde minunate de Crăciun, până când nu simțim miros de portocale și brad natural și ne bucurăm împreună cu cei dragi sau măcar le trimitem urările noastre de bine. Vă propunem o listă de cântece și colinde de Crăciun în engleză pe care toți adulții și copiii ar trebui să le știe și care vă vor aduce, garantat, bună dispoziție și pace în suflete!
Englezii colindă și ei ca noi (sau cum obișnuiam noi, românii), în preajma Crăciunului, din casă în casă, pentru a primi mici tratații cum ar fi fructe, covrigi sau dulciuri (nicidecum pentru a primi bani!). La ei, colindele de Crăciun au început de fapt ca niște cântece care se cântă în luna decembrie, preponderent la slujbele religioase creștine (chiar dacă unele dintre cântece nu au tematică religioasă).
Obiceiul mai vechi se numea house-visiting wassail sau wassailing, adică ritualul de a merge din casă în casă și de a cânta, oferind totodată gazdelor să bea wassail (bere sau vin fiert aromatizat, cu mirodenii și mere coapte) în schimbul cadourilor. Wassail vine din ves heill, preluat din limbile nordice vechi, care însemna be well and in good health (urare de bine și de sănătate). Nu era legat în niciun fel de Crăciun, ci se practica în lunile de iarnă (când activitatea, mai ales cea agricolă, era mult redusă și de aceea exista mai mult timp liber)
Încet încet, obiceiul wassailing a fost înlocuit de carolling. Se pare că acest obicei a început cu Francisc de Assissi, care a încorporat cântece de Crăciun cu urări de bine și sănătate în slujbele sale religioase. Lucru care a avut un real succes și a dezvoltat latura religioasă a cântecelor de iarnă.
Legat de etimologia termenului carol (tradus la noi prin colind), acesta se pare că provine din limba franceză veche, unde carole însemna dans în cerc, sau cerc (un fel de horă). Obiceiul, sub toate formele lui, conduce spre ideea de comuniune, de a fi împreună și de a transmite gânduri de bine.
Ca parte din civilizația nu doar britanică, ci practic și globală, există o serie de cântece de Crăciun pe care toți copiii ar trebui să le audă – fie să le știe, fie să le fie măcar familiare. Colinde în engleză clasice precum Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas sau colinde despre personaje celebre, clasice cum ar fi Frosty the SnowMan și Rudolph the Reindeer sunt importante deoarece ele nu dispar odată cu granițele copilăriei – se vor regăsi în costume, glume și bancuri și alte referințe culturale, la orice vârstă. Sunt colinde pe care nu le vor auzi doar la cursurile de engleză, ci și la radio, TV sau pe internet întotdeauna în preajma Crăciunului.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
See the blazing Yule before us
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight, oh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale, they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day
There must have been some magic in
That old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Oh, Frosty, the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty, clumsy as he can be
See him lopping along
Off he goes on an icicle spree
With a happy song
Oh, Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said, „Let’s run, and we’ll have some fun
Now, before I melt away”
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Runnin’ here and there
All around the square
Sayin’, „Catch me if you can”
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment
When he heard him holler, „Stop!”
Hmm, Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye, sayin’ „Don’t you cry
I’ll be back again some day”
Thumpety, thump thump, thumpety, thump thump
Look at Frosty go!
Thumpety, thump thump, thumpety, thump thump
Over the hills of snow!
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
„Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
„Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history”
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
„Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
„Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history”
You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
He’s making a list
And checking it twice,
Gonna find out
Who’s naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
He sees you when you’re sleepin’,
He knows when you’re awake,
he knows if you’ve been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.
You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
Who’s got a beard that’s long and white?
Santa’s got a beard that’s long and white
Who comes around on a special night?
Santa comes around on a special night
Special night – beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Who wears boots and a suit of red?
Santa wears boots and a suit of red
Who wears a long cap on his head?
Santa wears a long cap on his head
Cap on head – suit that’s red
Special night – beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Who’s got a big red cherry nose?
Santa’s got a big red cherry nose
Who laughs this way: „Ho-ho-ho”?
Santa laughs this way „Ho-ho-ho”
Ho-ho-ho – cherry nose
Cap on head – suit that’s red
Special night – beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Who very soon will come our way?
Santa very soon will come our way
Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
Santa’s little reindeer pull his sleigh
Reindeer sleigh – come our way
Ho-ho-ho – cherry nose
Cap on head – suit that’s red
Special night – beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen
Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen
Reindeer sleigh – come our way
Ho-ho-ho – cherry nose
Cap on head – suit that’s red
Special night – beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
Up on the house top, reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys
Oh, who wouldn’t go? (Oh-oh-oh)
Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with the good St. Nick
First comes the stocking of little Nell
Ol’ dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that can open and shut its eyes
Who wouldn’t go? (Oh-oh-oh)
Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the house top, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick
Look in the stocking of little Bill
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracks
Who wouldn’t go? (Oh-oh-oh)
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
We all do a little clapping, we all do a little clapping,
We all do a little clapping, Till Christmas is here
We all do a little jumping, we all do a little jumping,
We all do a little jumping, till Christmas is here
We all do a little stomping, we all do a little stomping,
We all do a little stomping, Till Christmas is here
We all do a little whispering, we all do a little whispering,
We all do a little whispering, Till Christmas is here
Aici și varianta tradițională, cu urări de bine:
Știi zicala englezească: He is the reason for the season? (El este motivul pentru care exista sezonul). Ei bine, oricare ar fi credințele tale, de fapt și de drept Crăciunul a apărut ca sărbătoare pentru a celebra Nașterea Domnului sau Advent. Colindele de Crăciun în engleză laudă și preamăresc aest eveniment, creând totodată senzația de pace, speranță și armonie. Mesajul e puternic pozitiv și cred cu tărie că toți copiii și adulții pot beneficia de pe urma acestuia și a atmosferei tipice de Crăciun.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born king to see
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the king
Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum
So to honor him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come
Pum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum
Pum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum
Pum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum
Pum pum pum pum pa rum
Little baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our king
Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum
Pum pum pum pum
Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum
Then he smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born king to see
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Rum pum pum pum
Nu putem să nu lăsăm aici și un link către varianta românească a acestui colind tradițional de Crăciun în engleză.
Silent Night este, se pare, cel mai cunoscut colind de Crăciun din lume (și nu e originar din Marea Britanie, mai multe detalii aici). Lăsăm aici interpretarea de excepție a lui Michael Bubble:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
„Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
„Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
„Glory to the new-born king”
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
„Glory to the new-born king”
Hark! The herald angels sing
„Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
„Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
„Glory to the new-born king”
„Glory to the new-born king”
Away in a Manger este unul dintre cele mai dulci și mai inocente colinde de Crăciun în engleză cu tematică religioasă. Motiv pentru care am ales varianta cântată de niște copii absolut grozavi!
Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
‘Til morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
Take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
Carol of the bells – deși un colind originar din Ucraina, a devenit internațional datorită energiei bune pe care o induce și de care ne bucurăm cu toții, indiferent de țară. Versiunea în limba engleză se bucură de mare popularitate deoarece engleza este o limbă internațională și te invită să trăiești Sărbătorile de iarnă nu cu nostalgie și melancolie, ci surprinde cel mai bine iureșul modern al Crăciunului. Și celelalte colinde de Crăciun alese sunt menite să inducă veselie și plăcerea de a petrece timp frumos alături de cei dragi.
Hark! Hear the bells, sweet silver bells,
All seem to say, ding dong, m’kay.
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer,
To young and old, meek and the bold.
Ding-dong-ding-dong, that is their song,
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear, words of the cheer
From everywhere, filling the air, m’kay
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Or here and there, telling their tale
Gaily they ring, while People sing
Songs of the cheer, Christmas is here
On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone, to every home
Hark! Hear the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, ding dong, m’kay
On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone, to every home.
Ding-dong-ding-dong m’kay-m’kay-m’kay, m’kay!
Colindul O, Brad Frumos are variante în toate limbile pământului, probabil. Nici el nu a fost compus și cântat, prima dată, în limba engleză (ci în germană), însă reprezintă un cântec prea faimos pentru a nu cunoaște și această versiune.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
Not only green in summer’s heat,
But also winter’s snow and sleet.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
Each year you bring to us delight
With brightly shining Christmas light!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.
Your bright green leaves with festive cheer,
Give hope and strength throughout the year.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin’ and blowin’ up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell rock
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell rock
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Man it doesn’t show signs of stopping
And I brought me some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow! Let it snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
But if you’ll really hold me tight
All the way home I’ll be warm
And the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we’re still goodbying
But as long as you’d love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow and snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
But if you really grab me tight
All the way home I’ll be warm
Oh, the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we’re still goodbying
But as long as you’d love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
And we’ll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
Sfatul nostru? Alege unul sau câteva colinde de Crăciun în engleză pe sufletul tău și cântă-le împreună cu copilul tău – mai vesele sau mai liniștite, religioase sau laice, vă vor ajuta să savurați voi înșivă spiritul Crăciunului și să îi ajutați și pe cei din jur să îl trăiască. Pentru mai multă atmosferă și cultură dedicată acestui anotimp, poți citi și articolele legate de poezii de Crăciun în engleză pentru toate vârstele sau Poeme despre zăpadă.
Sursa foto: Freepik