Childhood Christmas songs

This time of year childhood memories come flooding back and this week I can't seem to get out of my head a little Welsh Christmas song. We used to sing it to welcome Sion Corn (Santa) to the Christmas Party at the Chapel that I used to go to.

Any of my Welsh friends remember it??

Pwy sy'n dod dros y bryn yn ddistaw ddistaw fach?
Ei fardd yn hir a'i wallt yn wyn
A rhywbeth yn ei sach?
A phwy sy'n eistedd ar y to ar bwys y simne mawr?
SION CORN, SION CORN
helo, helo, tyrd yma, tyrd i lawr.

(my recalled version of the song - apologies if not quite correct!)

Who is coming over the hill very very quietly?
His beard is long and his hair is white
with something in his sack?
and who is sitting on the roof besides the big chimney?
SANTA CLAUS, SANTA CLAUS
hello, hello, come here, come on down.
(doesn't quite  have the same effect once translated!!)

I endeavour to keep some 'welshness' at home and try and sing a few songs with Sibs in the hope that she (or is that I?) feel some connection with the homeland...

We have some favourites for bedtime - 'Nefol Dad' is one, and for some strange reason she likes me to sing the Welsh National Anthem!

Anyhow, back to Christmas songs....

At a recent Christmas party here in Queensland the children sang Jingle Bells to welcome Santa. It was the traditional Jingle Bells - the "dashing through the snow one". (No one seems to get the irony of this!). However....there is another version...a very Australian version that I just have to share.

Sing along and I'll translate!

Australian Jingle Bells

 Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Translations:

ute



Holden Ute = a small pick up type van

esky           = a cool box

Kelpie        = a sheep dog

singlet         = a vest

thongs        = flip flops

So my girl and I have quite different Christmas songs.

I just hope that she remembers both....



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