Christmas Carols # 18

This is not actually a Christmas Psalm, but a scene from Children's Advent TV back in 1979.
A dear memory and a timely reminder of how much children's song always has been a part of Christmas celebration.
It has been said that Christmas also is a light feast and a time for the hearts.
Let's keep it that way.

Christmas Carols # 16

This is also an Advent song written by Eyvind Skeie in 1988.
Originally for a children's TV program back then when we only had one TV channel.
The lyrics content one verse for every Sunday of Advent.
I maybe most of all love the expression of verse four, "Now earth and heaven meet in the child resting on straw."
I give you the Norwegian text. It should be easy to Google.

TENN LYS !   (Eyvind Skeie) Tenn lys Et lys skal brenne for denne lille jord. Den blanke himmelstjerne, der vi og alle bor. Må alle dele håpet så gode ting kan skje. Må jord og himmel møtes. Et lys er tent for det. Tenn lys ! To lys skal skinne for kjærlighet og tro, for dem som viser omsorg og alltid bygger bro. Må fanger få sin frihet og flyktninger et hjem. Tenn lys for dem som gråter og dem som trøster dem

Tenn lys! Tre lys skal flamme for alle som må sloss. For rettferd og for frihet. De trenger hjelp av oss. Må ingen miste motet før alle folk er ett. Tenn lys for dem som kjemper for frihet og for rett. Tenn lys ! Nå stråler alle de fire lys for ham som elsker alt som lever, hver løve og hvert lam. Tenn lys for himmelkongen som gjeterflokken så. Nå møtes jord og himmel i barnet lagt på strå.

Christmas Carols # 12

I'm sharing my Christmas Carols with you while Christmas melodies are filling the air here in my mother's room. She's had a stroke, and no one knows what the outcome will be. There's no doubt she's listening and enjoying the familiar songs.

1. Thy little ones, dear Lord, are we,
And come Thy lowly bed to see;
Enlighten every soul and mind,
That we the way to Thee may find.
2. With songs we hasten Thee to greet,
And kiss the dust before Thy feet;
O blessed hour, O sweetest night,
That gave Thee birth, our soul's delight.
3. O draw us wholly to Thee, Lord,
Do Thou to us Thy grace accord,
True faith and love to us impart,
That we may hold Thee in our heart.
4. Until at last we too proclaim
With all Thy saints, Thy glorious Name;
In paradise our songs renew,
And praise Thee as the angels do.

Notes:
Regarding "Her kommer, Jesus, dine små", this is the title in the modern lyrics of the song in Norway. The title translates as "Here Come, Jesus, Your Little Ones". Originally, however, it was called "Her kommer dine arme små", which translates as "Here Come  Your Little Poor(*) Ones" (*: or helpless). However, in Norwegian "arm" meaning poor or helpless is a very antiquated form, and the word "arm" also means arm (the limb) - for kids it was probably a bit confusing to sing a Christmas carol about a lot of little arms coming. Therefore the alteration of the lyrics.

These are not my notes, but some I found on the Internet. A great Christmas story is written about a little boy believing he was singing about the small arms. Some day, before I'm getting too old, I must have it translated. I'd love to share it.

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/her_kommer_jesus_dine_sma.htm

Norwegian Christmas Carols # 9

From radiodays Alf Prøysen was a beloved "Uncle" of children's entertainment. He wrote his version of Christmas Eve where the nativity scene took place in the poor Norwegian snow landscape where he grew up.
It has always been easy to relate for grown ups as well as for children.
First video clip shows another Norwegian tradition. Artists singing for the benefit of Salvation Army's Christmas kettle.




Julekveldsvisa (Christmas Eve Song)
Nå har vi vaska golvet og vi har børi ved
og vi har satt opp fuggelband og vi har pynte tre.
Nå sett vi oss og hvile og puste på ei stund
imens jeg rugge vogga, så bror din får en blund

Dra krakken bort ått glaset, så sett vi oss og ser
og prøve finne leia der julestjerne er,
Den blankeste ta alle, hu er så klar og stor
du ser a over taket der hvor Jordmor Matja bor.

Hu er så snill den stjerna, hu blonke', kan du sjå
og nå skal jeg fortælja, og du skal høre på.
Den fyrste gong ho skinte så laga hu ei bru
imellom seg og himmel'n og ei krybbe og ei ku.

I krybba låg en liten gutt så fresk og rein og god
og mor hans dreiv og stelte'n og far hans sto og lo.
Og gjeter gutta deromkring dom kom til og frå
og bar med seg små lam-ungar som gutten skulle få.

Og tel og med tre vise menn - dom rei i flere da'r
og ingen visste vegen og itte 'hen det bar.
Men stjerna sto og blonke på himmel velvet blå
så ingen ta dom gikk bort seg og alle tre fekk sjå.

Ja, det var fyrste gongen som julestjerna brann
og sida har a brunnet i alle verdens land.
Og samme hva som hende er stjerna like stor
du ser a over taket der a Jordmor Matja bor.

Norwegian Christmas Carols # 5

I'm So Glad Each Christmas Eve is written by  a young maiden, Maria Wexelsen, in 1858. Norwegian children has sung this song ever since it was published the year after.
I therefor find it suitable to present the song performed by young school girls. They also sing the carol from yesterday, A Child is Born in Bethlehem.

I am so glad each Christmas Eve,
The night of Jesus’ birth!
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.

The little Child in Bethlehem,
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from Heaven above
To help a world in need.

He dwells again in heaven’s realm,
The Son of God today;
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.

I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.

When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light,
She tells me of the wondrous Star
That made the dark world bright.

She says the Star is shining still,
And never will grow dim;
And if it shines upon my way,
It leads me up to Him.

And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.

REGIFTING

I cannot say I entirely buy all stuff Gibran has written. This poem has, however, been important to me since I first read it in the early seventies.

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

MY FRIEND TOBIAS

Some days, when life feels not that great, I like to focus on the golden moments.
This is Tobias, grandchild of my old (61) years friend Mia.
He celebrated his grandmother's birthday, January 8th with 6 elderly women.

He indeed made our day.A born Charmer, that's what he is.

The angles are handed with greatest care!
Eyes of a child

(John Lodge) Listen, hear the sound The child awakes Wonder all around The child awakes Now in his life He never must be lost No thoughts must deceive him IN life he must trust CHORUS With the eyes of a child You must come out and see That your world's spinning 'round And through life you will be A small part of a hope, of a love that exists In the eyes of a child you will see Earth falls far away New life awaits Time, it has no day New life awaits Here is your dream And now, how does it feel No words will go with you And now, what is real?

DECEMBER FOURTEENTH

Serina is home.
Peace in heart, peace in mind.
We shall be together for three weeks.
The greatest gift.
I've chosen a lullaby for today.
Not any lullaby.
It was written by a man, Per Sivle, who lost his Mom at the age of 2 1/2. He would cherish the memory of the first song he heard all his life.
Later this very song has been sung by most cradles in Norway.
My Grandmom sung it to her children, my Mom sung it to me, and I sung it over and over again to my daughter.

Den fyrste song

Lars Søraas words: Per Sivle

Den fyrste song eg høyra fekk, var mor sin song ved vogga, dei mjuke ord til hjarta gjekk, dei kunne gråten stogga. Dei sulla meg så underleg, så stilt og mjukt te sova, dei synte meg ein fager veg opp frå vår vesle stova. Den vegen ser eg enno tidt når eg får auga kvila, der stend ein engel, smiler blidt, som berre ei kan smila. Og når eg sliten trøytnar av i strid mot alt som veilar, eg høyrer stilt frå mor si grav den song som all ting heilar.

I know for sure these two guys' moms have song to them too.