Добрий вечір тобі
(Dobryy vechir tobi)
This is one of the most well-known Christmas Carols in Ukraine. It's sung for Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, St. Basil's Day and the Epiphany.
You can find the pronunciation in the Song Notes.
Добрий вечір тобі
(Dobryy vechir tobi)
Good Evening to Thee
Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol
(Ukrainian)
(English)
Добрий вечір тобі, пане господарю,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Застеляйте столи, та все килимами,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Та кладіть калачі з ярої пшениці,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Бо прийдуть до тебе три празники в гості,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
А той перший празник – Рождество Христове,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
А той другий празник – Святого Василя,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
А той третій празник – Святе Водохреща,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Хай святкує з нами вся наша родина,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Вся наша родина, славна Україна,
Радуйся!
Ой радуйся, земле,
Син Божий народився!
Good evening to thee, master,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
Cover the tables with fine linens,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
Bake loaves of spring wheat,*
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
For three holidays will come visit thee as guests,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
And that first holiday is Christmas,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
And that second holiday is St. Basil's Day,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
And that third holiday is the Holy Epiphany,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
Let our whole family celebrate with us,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
All our whole family, glorious Ukraine,
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!
 - Ukranian Children's Songs - Ukraine - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
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Notes
*This loaf of bread is called kolach. It's a ceremonial bread that's used for some special occasions. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:
"Ukrainian kolaches are made by braiding dough made with wheat flour into ring-shaped or oblong forms. They are a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good bounty, and are traditionally prepared for Svyat Vechir (Holy Supper), the Ukrainian Christmas Eve ritual.
For Christmas kolach three braided loaves of varied sizes are stacked representing the Trinity. The bread's circular shape symbolizes eternity. When served as part of Christmas dinner, a candle is placed in the centre of the intricately braided loaves, but the bread can't be eaten until Christmas Day because observance of the Advent fasting requires abstaining from eggs until midnight on Christmas Eve."
Pronunciation:
Dobryi vechir tobi, pane hospodariu,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Zasteliaite stoly, ta vse kylymamy,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Ta kladit kalachi z yaroi pshenytsi,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Bo pryidut do tebe try praznyky v hosti,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
A toi pershyi praznyk – Rozhdestvo Khrystove,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
A toi druhyi praznyk – Sviatoho Vasylia,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
A toi tretii praznyk – Sviate Vodokhreshcha,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Khai sviatkuie z namy vsia nasha rodyna,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Vsia nasha rodyna, slavna Ukraina,
Raduisia!
Oi raduisia, zemle,
Syn Bozhyi narodyvsia!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Image 1: Christmas Stamp of Ukraine, 2001.
Image 2: Ukrainian postage stamp from 2013 with kolach.
