El desembre congelat
The tune to this carol was originally used for a 17th century French drinking song. You can learn more about the melody in the Song Notes below.
El desembre congelat
Frozen December
Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol
(Catalan)
(English)
El desembre congelat
confús es retira.
Abril, de flors coronat,
tot el món admira.
Quan en un jardí d'amor
neix una divina flor,
d'una ro-, ro-, ro-,
d'una -sa, -sa, -sa,
d'una ro-, d'una -sa,
d'una rosa bella,
fecunda i poncella.
El primer pare causà
la nit tenebrosa
que a tot el món ofuscà
la vista penosa;
mes, en una mitjanit,
brilla el sol que n'és eixit
d'una be-, be-, be-,
d'una -lla, -lla, -lla,
d'una be-, d'una -lla,
d'una bella aurora
que el cel enamora.
El mes de maig ha florit,
sense ser encara,
un lliri blanc tot polit
de fragància rara,
que per tot el món se sent,
de Llevant fins a Ponent,
tota sa, sa, sa,
tota dul-, dul-, dul-,
tota sa, tota dul-,
tota sa dulçura
i olor, amb ventura.
Arribaren els tres reis
amb molta alegria,
adorant el rei del cel
en una establia.
Oferint-li tres presents,
com són or, mirra i encens.
A la Ma-, Ma-, Ma-,
a la -re, -re, -re,
a la Ma-, a la -re,
a la Mare pia,
la Verge Maria.
Amb contentament i amor
celebrem el dia,
en què el diví Senyor
neix amb alegria.
Si no tenim més tresor
oferim-li nostre cor,
que és la gran, gran, gran
que és la fi-, fi-, fi-
que és la gran, que és la fi-,
que és la gran finesa
de nostra pobresa.
Frozen December,
Confused, withdraws.
The whole world admires
April, crowned with flowers,
When in a garden of love
A divine flower is born,
Of a ro-, ro-, ro-,
Of a -se, -se, -se,
Of a ro-, of a -se,
Of a beautiful rose,
Fertile and virgin.
The first father caused
The dark night
That overshadowed the painful sight
Of the whole world;
But, one midnight,
The sun that came out of it shines
From a beauti-, beauti-, beauti-,
From a -ful, -ful, -ful,
From a beauti-, of a -ful,
From a beautiful dawn
That the sky falls in love with.
The month of May has blossomed,
Without being yet
A white lily all well groomed
With a rare fragrance,
That can be felt throughout the world,
From the East to the West,
All its, its, its,
All sweet-, sweet-, sweet-,
All its, all sweet-,
All its sweetness
And fragrance, with bliss.
The three kings arrived
With great joy,
Worshiping the king of heaven
In a cowshed
Offering him three presents,
Such as gold, myrrh, and frankincense.
To the Mo-, Mo-, Mo-,
To the -ther, -ther, -ther,
To the Mo-, to the -ther,
To the pious Mother,
The Virgin Mary.
With joy and love
Let's celebrate the day
In which the divine Lord
Was born with joy
If we have no other treasure
Let's give him our hearts,
Which is the great, great, great,
Which is the pre-, pre-, pre-
Which is the great, which is the pre-,
Which is the great present
Of our poverty.
Notes
The tune to this carol originally came from a 17th century French drinking song called "Quand la Mer Rouge apparut" (When the Red Sea Appeared) (or "Le grand-père Noé" = Grandpa Noah). It's now shared with the French carol "Quand Dieu naquit à Noël" (When God Was Born on Christmas Day) (or "Allons, bergers, partons tous" = Come on, Shepherds, Let's All Go) also known in French-speaking Canada as "Les bergers de Bethléem" (The Shepherds of Bethlehem). It's also used by this song, the Catalan carol "El desembre congelat" (Frozen December) and the Provençal circle dance song Lei courdello (The Laces). The tune was also used during the French Revolution in lyrics putting words in the mouth of Dr Guillotin about his improvement of what has been called since then a "guillotine" -which he didn't actually invent.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Monique Palomares with Lisa.
Gràcies!
