Greek Christmas Carol

Greek Christmas Carol

Nikīphóros Lýtras (1872), "Kálanta"

The Greek word of Christmas Carol is Christugenniátika Kálanta There were children going from door to door singing and celebrating the God Dionysus in Ancient Greece.

 They did that holding branches of olive or bay decorated 

with seeds and white wool and they were given presents. 

The wool symbolized fertility and euphoria. This custom went on in Rome and Byzantium  as "kaléndai" which in turn came in modern times as "kálanta".

"Kalī́n īméran árchontes" verse is sung at the end of every Greek Carol to wish prosperity to the landlord. During this 

day groups of children form informal choirs and visit each house of their neighborhood singing the Christmas Carol, in 

revard the landlord gives back to them money or sweets or 

both money and sweets. 

 Click on the link below to hear the Greek Christmas Carol 

from a Children Choir

                        

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wfYxlEpnjY

Lyrics

kalī́n īméran árchontes 
an eínai o orismós sas 
Christoú tī theía génnīsī
Na 'pṓ st' archontikó sas 
Christós gennátai sī́meron 
en Bī́thleem tī póli 
Oi uranoí agállontai 

Chaírei ī fýsis ólī 

en tō spīlaíō tíktetai 
en fátni tōn alógōn 
o Basilévs tōn uranṓn 
kai Poiītī́s tōn ólōn 

plī́thos angélōn psállusi 
to dóxa en Ypsī́stois 
kai túton áxion estí
Ī tōn poiménōn pístī 

Ek tīs Persías érchontai 
treis Mágoi me ta dṓra 
Ástro lampró tous odīgeí 
Chṓris na leípsei ṓra

S'avtó to spíti pou 'rthame 
pétra,  pétra na mī ragísei 

ki o noikokýrīs tou spitioú 
Chrónia pollá na zī́sei

Translation

Good evening noblemen
If this is your will,
Christ's holy birth 
May I sing in your noble house
Christ is being born today
In the town of Bethlehem
Heavens rejoice 
All of nature is happy.

Inside the cave (He) is being born
In a manger for horses
The King of all the universe
The Creator of everything.
A crowd of angels are singing,
The glory of the Lord,
And excellence is
The faith of the shepherds.

From Persia three Magi arrive
With their gifts
A bright star shows them the way
Without any delay.

In this house we have come
May no stone ever crack
And the landlord
May live for many years

                                                In Greek

Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες,
αν είναι ορισμός σας,
Χριστού τη Θεία γέννηση,
να πω στ' αρχοντικό σας.
Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον,
εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλη,
οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται,
χαίρεται η φύσις όλη.

Εν τω σπηλαίω τίκτεται,
εν φάτνη των αλόγων,
ο βασιλεύς των ουρανών,
και ποιητής των όλων.
Πλήθος 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.

Σ' αυτό το σπίτι που 'ρθαμε,
πέτρα να μη ραγίσει
κι ο νοικοκύρης του σπιτιού
χρόνια πολλά να ζήσει.

Traditionaly the children bear this music instrument