You probably know the famous Christmas song “Carol of the Bells”
The truly interesting fact about this that this is a song from Ukraine my home country by the way. The music was originally written by ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych and was based on an ukrainian folk song named “Schedryk”. The English interpretation is very different from the original and here I’m going to show you why:
1. Schedryk, schedryk, schedryvochka
The first sentence of the original “Schedryk” isn’t that much full of meaning, because it’s just the repeating of the same word “schedryvochka” which means “сarol” (the “schedryk” is just a short version of “schedryvochka”)
This basically means “A swallow has arrived”. Swallows are very symbolic in the urainian folklore, as they represent love and can predict the birth of a new sheep, horse, pig etc.
3. Stala sobi schebetaty, hospodarya vyklykaty
“It started to sing, calling the owner”. Pretty self-explanatory
4. “Vyydy, vyydy, hospodaryu, podyvysya na kosharu, tam ovechky pokotylys’, a yahnychky narodyly’s”
“Come out, come out, dear owner, look at the sheepfold, the sheep gave birth, and the lambs were born” This basically means that the swallow called out to the owner, so he could see the newborn lambs. Sheep are often associated with Jesus Christ and the Christmas is the day when Jesus was born. This line has a deep symbolic meaning to it.
5. “V tebe tovar ves’ horoshyy, budesh maty mirku hroshey”
“You have good product, you will have a lot of money” The swallow says that he will have a lot of money because of the products he sells on Christmas, so he can feed all of his livestock and family
6. “Hoch ne hroshi, to polova”
“Maybe not money, but fodder” That means if he won’t have a lot of money, he will have a lot of fodder to feed his livestock
7. “V tebe zhinka chornobrova”
“Your wife has dark brows” The word “chornobrova” is usually used to describe a beautiful woman with dark hair and brows, and often represents something beautiful even if it’s not a living object.
8. Schedryk, schedryk, schedryvochka, pryletila lastivochka
These lines are used to start and finish the circle of the song, this move is commonly used in ukrainian folk songs.
If you are interested how does it sound in the original version, listen to this:
I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour in Ukrainian culture!
Bonus!!! Here’s the original Ukrainian lyrics!
Щедрик, щедрик, щедрівочка,
Прилетіла ластівочка,
Стала собі щебетати,
Господаря викликати:
– Вийди, вийди, господарю,
Подивися на кошару,
Там овечки покотились,
А ягнички народились.
В тебе товар весь хороший,
Будеш мати мірку грошей.
Хоч не гроші, то полова,
В тебе жінка чорноброва.
Щедрик, щедрик, щедрівочка,
Прилетіла ластівочка.
