Щедрівка is a traditional Ukrainian song, which people sing on Щедрий вечір – Generous Eve. This holiday is celebrated on January 13, and it is also the Eve of Старий Новий Рік – the Old New Year. This name came from the times when people lived acсording to the Julian calendar and had different numbers of days so that New Year was celebrated on this day, two weeks after our modern celebration.
More on the calendars and winter holidays: When is Ukrainian Christmas and why?
The lyrics and melodies of щедрівки are joyful and gleeful. According to the tradition, young boys and girls organize вертеп – the nativity show. They wear traditional costumes and go from house to house singing щедрівки and wishing hosts health, happiness, and wealth.
You have probably heard of one famous Ukrainian щедрівка – “Щедрик”, which is popular all over the world. We offer you to listen to one more popular song in Ukraine. Its lyrics are quite simple, but there are some archaic words (терем, красне, жона).
Listen and read the translation of this щедрівка. You can even try to sing it as karaoke with this video. Good luck!
We publish Ukrainian songs with translation so that you could discover Ukrainian modern culture and practice your listening skills. Find more translated songs at the category Songs. Enjoy listening and good luck in learning Ukrainian language!
Ой сивая та і зозуленька
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
Усі сади та і облітала,
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
А в одному та і не бувала.
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
А в тім саду три тереми.
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
А в першому – ясен місяць,
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
А в другому – красне сонце,
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
А в третьому – дрібні зірки.
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
Ясен місяць – пан господар
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
Красне сонце – жона його
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
Дрібні зірки – їхні дітки
Приспів:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,
Добрим людям на здоров’я!
Oh, gray cuckoo
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
Has flown all gardens around
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
but hasn’t been to one
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
And there are three palaces in this garden
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
In the first one there is the bright moon
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
In the second one there is the lovely sun
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
In the third one there are tiny stars.
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
The bright moon is a mister host,
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people
The lovely sun is a wife of him
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
The tiny stars are their children.
Chorus:
Generous Evening, good evening
For the health of the good people!
Would you like to learn to understand more Ukrainian? Check our article about the best Ukrainian radio stations online and prepare your ear to a lot of Ukrainian!
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