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L’Ouferta de Calèna  
(The Christmas’ offering)
Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice.
Initialy called Nouvé dài paisan (Christmas carol for the peasants), this carol was first sung on 1934 in Lucéram, during the offering of the shepherds in the Christmas’ night.
See also Lou Vaquié.
| 1st verse |
Lu pescadou :
La, la, la...
Pescadou, poussas li barca
S’adraian vers Betelèn.
Seguèn l’estella que marca
L’estable doun Jesu vèn.
Au Bambin dins la sièu grupia
Per ouferta li pourtan :
Gobou, mujou, poupre, supia,
M’un pessuc de bouon safran. | | The fishermen:
La, la, la...
Fishermen, push the small boats,
We are setting off to Bethlehem.
We follow the star marking
The cowshed where comes Jesus.
To the small child in his crib
For offering we bring him:
Gudgeons, grey mullets, octopuses, cuttlefishes,
With a pinch of good saffron. |
Chorus |
Es nouvé, souonas campana,
Lu tirignoun, lu tirignoun, din, dan, doun !
Es nouvé, la joia es grana
Dins li maioun, dins li maioun, din, dan, doun ! | | It’s Christmas, ring bells,
Chimes, chimes, ding, ding, dong!
It’s Christmas, the joy is great
In houses, in houses, ding, ding, dong! |
2nd verse |
Li paisana :
La, la, la...
Dins una marida tana
Lou Bambin es su lou jas !
De Nissa, nautri, paisana,
Li pourtan de fin peas.
Pourtan finda de dentèla,
Un bel ange boufarèu,
Pi touplèn de bachiquèla,
De bonbon, de cascavèu. | | The peasant women:
La, la, la...
In a bad lair
The small child is on the litter!
From Nice, we, peasant women,
We bring him fine swaddling clothes.
We carry also laces,
A beautiful bloated angel,
Then plenty of trinkets,
Sweets, rattles. |
3rd verse |
Lu paisan :
La, la, la...
Lu paisan de la mountagna
Camalan toui un gros fai
De faiou sec, de castagna,
D’asebic e de froumai.
Li pourtan, me l’abat mage,
Per ouferta a l’Enfan Bèu
Un agnèu de l’average
Lou pu blanc dai nouostr’ agnèu. | | The farmers:
La, la, la...
The farmers from the mountain
All carry a big load
Of dried beans, chestnuts,
Raisins and cheese.
They bring, with the abat mage,
For offering to the beautiful Child,
A lamb from the herd,
The whitest of our lambs. |
4th verse |
Lou viei :
La, la, la...
Per lu mount, per li vallada
Dou pahis de Luceram
S’espanteg’ en la nuechada
Tirignoun e joious bram.
Ancuei, couma nouostre paire,
Adouran lou bèu Bambin ;
Dapertout en lou terraire
Per toujour que sigue ensin ! | | The old man:
La, la, la...
Across mountains, by the valleys
Of the country of Luceram (1)
Are spreading in the night
Chimes and merry shouts.
To day, as does our father,
Let’s worship the beautiful small child;
Everywhere in the country
Forever, amen! |
1. This Christmas carol was first sung on 1934 in Lucéram, during the offering of the shepherds in the Christmas Eve.
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