asbestosman wrote:There's also some stuff from The Nutcracker even though it doesn't have lyrics.
I was 3 1/2 yo when I watched it. It was the event in which I were committed forever to the symphonic music.
Today every tone of the work are my close relatives.
********************************************
I should start some thread about translation.just me wrote:...Santa songs. It is all part of the current xmas mythology...
Santa = "Mikulás" in Hungarian. This name is a version of Nicholas, from where the story originates. After this, the similarity ends.
Our Mikulás has nothing to do with christmas:
Although the role of gift-giver on Christmas Day itself is assigned to the Christ Child, on Saint Nicholas' feast day of 6 December Hungarian children traditionally place a boot on their windowsill waiting for Mikulás to come by and fill it with treats. While "good" children receive various fruits, candies and toys, "bad" children can expect nothing more than a wooden spoon, coal or a willow switch ("virgács") left by Mikulás' somewhat sinister elf companion, Krampusz. (However, as no one is either all good or all bad, most children get both sweets and a switch.)
Treats
Treats are traditionally sweets, chocolate, candy and different nuts. In modern times, chocolate Santa figures are most common. To get the presents, the boots must be polished, because Santa does not fill boots that are not shiny enough.
Bad kids may also get onions, raw potatoes or a lump of coal in their boots next to their presents as a warning that next year they might get only these.
Although presents are usually given to children by parents, it is not uncommon between adults to place small surprises (such as presents or a virgács) into the boots of others.
Virgács
The virgács is often painted gold and is sold on the streets. The material used to make the virgács can be simple twigs or branches from a bush, or the same material used to make brooms.
Krampus is a mythical creature recognized in Alpine countries.[1] According to legend, Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children, in contrast to St. Nicholas, who gives gifts to good children. When the Krampus finds a particularly naughty child, it stuffs the child in its sack and carries the frightened thing away to its lair, presumably to devour for its Christmas dinner.
In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by a demon-like creature. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria and South Tyrol during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December, and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells.[2]
In the aftermath of the 1934 Austrian Civil War, the Krampus tradition was prohibited by the Dollfuss regime[3] under the the Fatherland Front (Vaterländische Front) and the Christian Social Party but the tradition returned after the end of World War II.
You see, the word can be easily translated, but the cultural background, the real meaning of the word remains hidden.
What would You think about a [well] translated novel about Santa, then no reindeer, no socks, no fireplace, no 25 Dec.
You get krampus, shoes, window and 5th Dec instead.
Apparently the writer (Hungarian, German, Austrian, Slovakian one) can't know what he/she is talking about. Weird...
