Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer

Christmas Songs

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (1) by Johnny Marks

From “A Song-book of Folk and Pop Music”

by Mario Papa & Giuliano Iantorno, Zanichelli Editore, Bologna, 1977

                                                                                                                                                                   Christmas in New York

Chorus:

You know Daschunt and Dachsund

And Pretzel and Vincent,

Carmut and Kilbert and Donna and Blitzen (2);

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?

 

Rudolph the 'red-nosed reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows;

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names,

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games.

 

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say,

"Rudolph, with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him!

As they shouted out with glee, (3)

"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,

You'll go down in history".

 

(1) It is a very nice tune on a fantastic story. Youngsters will like it and grown-ups... may be will like it more.

(2) These are all old names given to the reindeer in the folk song.

(3) Glee: Happiness.

 

Santa Claus

December 6th, the date of St. Nicholas's death, is a special holiday in many European countries. The custom dates back to Middie Ages when people dressed in bishops’ robes, visited children, examined them on their prayers, urged them to be good, and gave them gifts. This custom was brought by Dutch settlers to New Amsterdam, now known all over the world as New York City. `The visit of St. Nicholas' was welcomed by the English settlers, especially by the children, who tried to pronounce the Dutch name for the saint, Sinter Klaas. But they could not pronounce it right, and soon the name changed to Santy Claus and then to Santa Claus. In the United States, Santa Claus is active at Christmas time, when he is very busy bringing presents and Christmas cheer.                                                                                                                                                                                           In England, St. Nicholas Day festivities were banned when Henry VIII founded the Church of England. But later, under Oueen Victoria, St. Nicholas returned as Father Christmas.