Petit Papa Noël

 

It's been so long since I've blogged.. however, it's now December and it's time for an advent calendar. I've been singing this song for a week now, since the decorating began in earnest.  

I grew up in France, spent well over 12 years there. Lived in Orléans, a beautiful city on the banks of the Loire river, southwest of Paris. The Loire is a beautiful area, dotted with many chateaux, most of which I've had to pleasure to see thanks to a dad who loved traveling along with numerous school field trips.  Orléans was besieged with many wars, the Romans, Attila the Hun, the English and then World War II. Some of the old buildings still remain, but much has been rebuilt. 

 Petit Papa Noël
is a very famous French song, I believe from 1946. 

Lyrics and translation:

Petit Papa Noel

Petit Papa Noel – French Christmas Song

Petit Papa Noël is by far the most popular French Christmas songs. The song first came out in 1946 by Tino Rossi and has been sung by many singers over the decades. Most recently the song was made famous by the American singer, Josh Groban. In the video below you can listen to the song performed by the famous French-Canadian singer, Céline Dion, in English and French. The video also includes the French words. Below that you’ll find both the lyrics in French with English translation.

Lyrics – French & English

C’est la belle nuit de Noël La neige étend son manteau blanc Et les yeux levés vers le ciel À genoux, les petits enfants Avant de fermer les paupières Font une dernière prière.It’s a beautiful Christmas night Snow spreads its white coat And eyes lift toward the sky On their knees, small children Before closing their eyes Say a last prayer.Petit papa Noël Quand tu descendras du ciel Avec des jouets par milliers N’oublie pas mon petit soulier. Mais avant de partir Il faudra bien te couvrir Dehors tu vas avoir si froid C’est un peu à cause de moi. Little Santa Claus When you come down from the sky With thousands of toys Don’t forget my little stocking. But before you leave You should dress well Outside you will be so cold And it’s kind of my fault.

Le marchand de sable est passé Les enfants vont faire dodo Et tu vas pouvoir commencer Avec ta hotte sur le dos Au son des cloches des églises Ta distribution de surprises.The sandman has passed The children are going to sleep And you will be able to begin, With your sack on your back, To the sound of church bells, Your distribution of surprises.Il me tarde que le jour se lève Pour voir si tu m’as apporté Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve Et que je t’ai commandés. I can’t wait for sunrise To see if you brought me All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams And that I ordered from you.

- See more at: http://www.frenchlearner.com/songs/petit-papa-noel/#sthash.7ZjqADQD.dpuf

C’est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière.It’s a beautiful Christmas night
Snow spreads its white coat
And eyes lift toward the sky
On their knees, small children
Before closing their eyes
Say a last prayer.Petit papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C’est un peu à cause de moi. Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking.
But before you leave
You should dress well
Outside you will be so cold
And it’s kind of my fault.
Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises.The sandman has passed
The children are going to sleep
And you will be able to begin,
With your sack on your back,
To the sound of church bells,
Your distribution of surprises.Il me tarde que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m’as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t’ai commandés. I can’t wait for sunrise
To see if you brought me
All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you.
- See more at: http://www.frenchlearner.com/songs/petit-papa-noel/#sthash.7ZjqADQD.dpuf

C’est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière.It’s a beautiful Christmas night
Snow spreads its white coat
And eyes lift toward the sky
On their knees, small children
Before closing their eyes
Say a last prayer.Petit papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C’est un peu à cause de moi. Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking.
But before you leave
You should dress well
Outside you will be so cold
And it’s kind of my fault.
Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises.The sandman has passed
The children are going to sleep
And you will be able to begin,
With your sack on your back,
To the sound of church bells,
Your distribution of surprises.Il me tarde que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m’as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t’ai commandés. I can’t wait for sunrise
To see if you brought me
All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you.
- See more at: http://www.frenchlearner.com/songs/petit-papa-noel/#sthash.7ZjqADQD.dpuf

C’est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière.

It’s a beautiful Christmas night
Snow spreads its white coat
And eyes lift toward the sky
On their knees, small children
Before closing their eyes
Say a last prayer.

Petit papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C’est un peu à cause de moi.

Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking.
But before you leave
You should dress well
Outside you will be so cold
And it’s kind of my fault.

Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises. 

The sandman has passed
The children are going to sleep
And you will be able to begin,
With your sack on your back,
To the sound of church bells,
Your distribution of surprises.

Il me tarde que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m’as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t’ai commandés.

I can’t wait for sunrise
To see if you brought me
All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you.

It is well with my soul..

It is well with my soul.... written by Horace Spafford.
From Wikipedia:This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871 at the age of four, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago which was decimated by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873 at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone . . .". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

He did later have more children, one of which died in infancy. He and his wife and the two children moved to Israel

Advent Calendar 2012 - Christmas in a Small Town

I love this song. It's so nostalgic. Ricky Tims sings about Christmas in LaVeta, Colorado where he lives. I consider Ricky Tims a friend and hope that you will go by his website to see the beauty he creates both with his music and his art quilts. Rickytims.com