Christmas Carols from Thrace area
The Christmas carols of Thrace, have roots that are lost deep in history and present a truly exceptional variety.
In many villages of Thrace, they used to say it in disguise "to make the year go well", as they used to say. Accompanied by bagpipes, they sang special carols in each house, according to the persons of the family and their professions.
In many villages of Thrace, they used to say it in disguise "to make the year go well", as they used to say. Accompanied by bagpipes, they sang special carols in each house, according to the persons of the family and their professions.
The carols were sung either at the entrance of the house or inside the house, while they included praise and teasing for each householder and his family members.
The gifts (baxisia) were straws, figs, horns, oranges, nuts, sweets, pork, wine and in recent years money.
Σαράντα μέρες, σαράντα νύχτες
κι ή Παναγιά μας κοιλοπονούσε
Κι η Παναγιά μας κοιλοπονούσε
κοιλοπονούσε παρακαλούσε
Κοιλοπονούσε παρακαλούσε
τους Αρχαγγέλους, τους Ιεράρχες.
"Σεις Αρχαγγέλοι και σεις Ιεράρχες
να 'πα να φέρτε μύρο και μόσχο"
Κι οι Αρχαγγέλοι για μύρο πάνε
κι οι ιεράρχες για μόσχο τρέχουν.
Κι ώσπου να πάνε κι ώσπου να έρθουν,
η Παναγιά μας ξελευθερώθη
Western Thrace
Christmas Carols
For forty days and forty nights,
our Virgin Mary had birth pains
She had birth pains and pleaded
to the Apostles and the High Priests.
"To you, Apostles and High Priests,
you should go and bring rosemary and smyrne."
And the Apostels rush for some rosemary
and the High Priests rush for some smyrne.
And, by the time they come and go,
our Virgin has born a child.
Πόψι Χριστός γεννήθηκε κι ο κόσμος δεν το νοιώθει,
Κι ο κόσμος και τα οικούμενα κι ο βασιλιάς Ηρώδης.
Κι ‘κει π’ ακούμπησ’ ο Χριστός χρυσό δεντράκι βγήκε,
Χρυσό δεντρί, χρυσό κλωνί, χρυσό μαργαριτάρι.
Το δέντρο ήταν ο Χριστός, τα κλώνια οι αποστόλοι,
Και τα γαρουφαλλάκια του ήταν οι προφητάδες,
Που προφητούσαν κι έλεγαν για του Χριστού τα πάθη,
Κι ‘μεις Χριστόν εψάλαμε, Χριστός να μας φυλάει.
Όσ’ άστρα έχειν ο ουρανός και φύλλα τα δεντράκια,
Τόσα καλά να δωσ’ Θεός σ’ αυτόν το νοικοκύρη.
Eastern Thrace
Christmas Carols
Jesus was born tonight and the world does not feel it,
And the people, and the inhabitants, and Herod the king.
And there where Christ touched, a golden tree came forth,
Gold tree, gold branch, gold pearl.
The tree was Christ, the branches were the apostles,
And his little gillyflowers were the prophets,
Who prophesied and told of the sufferings of Christ,
And we have prayed to Christ, Christ preserve us.
As there are stars in the sky and leaves on the trees,
So much goodness shall Lord gives to this landlord.