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Die heil'gen Drei König

Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)

Die heil'gen Drei Könige aus dem Morgenland,
sie frugen in jedem Städtchen:
"Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem,
ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen?"
Die Jungen und Alten, sie wussten es nicht,
die Könige zogen weiter,
sie folgten einem goldenen Stern,
der leuchtete lieblich und heiter.
Der Stern bleibt stehn über Josefs Haus,
da sind sie hineingegangen;
das Öchslein brüllt, das Kindlein schrie,
die heil'gen Drei Könige sangen.

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A Christmas Tree

William Burford (1927-)

Star,
If you are
A love compassionate,
You will walk with us this year.
We face a glacial distance, who are here
Huddled
At your feet.

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Noël

Armando Valladares (1922-)

C’est Noël et j’ai froid
le vent glacial pénètre jusqu’aux os
comme une baïonnette.
La grille du fond
ouverte
est comme un trou
dans l’épaule
qui gèle les poumons.
C’est Noël et j’ai faim
ils ont apporté de bonne heure
notre dîner de réveillon :
macaronis bouillis
et un bouillon nauséeux
froid
comme le vent dans les os.
C’est Noël et je suis malade
la douleur est une torture
sans médicaments
l’asthme me tourmente
plus que le vent.
C’est Noël et j’ai sommeil
j’ai besoin de dormir
mais le froid
la faim
la toux
m’en empêchent...
C’est Noël
et seul mon coeur a de la chaleur.

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Weihnachtsbäumlein

Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914)

Das Weihnachtsbäumlein
Es war einmal ein Tännelein
mit braunen Kuchenherzlein
und Glitzergold und Äpflein fein
und vielen bunten Kerzlein:
Das war am Weihnachtsfest so grün
als fing es eben an zu blühn.

Doch nach nicht gar zu langer Zeit,
da stands im Garten unten,
und seine ganze Herrlichkeit
war, ach, dahingeschwunden.
die grünen Nadeln warn'n verdorrt,
die Herzlein und die Kerzlein fort.

Bis eines Tags der Gärtner kam,
den fror zu Haus im Dunkeln,
und es in seinen Ofen nahm -
Hei! Tats da sprühn und funkeln!
Und flammte jubelnd himmelwärts
in hundert Flämmlein an Gottes Herz.


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Talking Turkeys!!

Benjamin Zephaniah (1958 - )

 

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos turkeys jus wanna hav fun
Turkeys are cool, an turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,
Don’t eat it, keep it alive,
It could be yu mate an not on yu plate
Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.

I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear christmas time,
Dey say 'Benj man, eh, I wanna enjoy it,
But dose humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind,
Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife.

Turkeys jus wanna play reggae
Turkeys jus wanna hip-hop
Havey you ever seen a nice young turkey saying,
‘I cannot wait for de chop’?
Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,
Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain
In many ways like yu an me.

I once knew a turkey His name was Turkey
He said ‘Benji explain to me please,
Who put de turkey in christmas
An what happens to christmas trees?’
I said, ‘I am not too sure Turkey
But it’s nothing to do wid Christ Mass
Humans get greedy and waste more dan need be
An business men mek loadsa cash.’

So, be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans,
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
An spare dem de cut of de knife,
Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted
An yu will mek new friends ‘FOR LIFE’.

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Petit papa Noël




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.

refrain
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.

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.

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

Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d'abord sur notre maison
Je n'ai pas été tous les jours très sage
Mais j'en demande pardon

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Am Weihnachtsabend

Joachim Ringelnatz (1883-1934)

Ein armer Junge jammert im Bette:
"Ach, wenn ich doch auch einen Weihnachtsbaum hätte!!"
Kaum hatte er diese Worte gesprochen,
Kommt mancherlei aus dem Ofen gekrochen:
Ein Schaukelpferd, Wagen und Bleisoldaten,
Eine Trommel, ein Buch, ein Kaufmannsladen,
Ein Eisenbahnzug und ein Reifenspiel,
Ein Luftschiff, ein Fahrrad, ein Automobil
Und Äpfel und Nüsse und Zuckerschaum
Und ganz zuletzt noch ein Weihnachtsbaum.
Die Engel im Himmel singen mit Macht
Das Festspiel: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.

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Remembrance of Christmas Past

Judith Viorst (1931 - )

They let the children out of school too early.
I left the Christmas shopping till too late.
Each day we had a holiday excursion,
Which gave us the entire week to wait in line for
Movies by Disney,
Gift-wrapping by Lord & Taylor,
And everyone's restrooms.

On Christmas Eve we started to assemble
The easy-to-assemble telescope
And fire truck with forty-seven pieces.
By midnight it was plain there was no hope without
An astronomer,
A mechanical engineer,
And two psychiatrists.

We rose at dawn to three boys singing Rudolph.
We listened numbly to their shouts of glee.
The kitten threw up tinsel on the carpet.
The fire truck collided with the tree, requiring

One rug shampoo,
Several Band-aids,
And Scotch before breakfast.

I bought my husband shirts - wrong size, wrong colors,
And ties he said he couldn't be caught dead in.
I'd hinted Saint Laurent or something furry.
He bought me flannel gowns to go to bed in, also
A Teflon frying pan,
A plaid valise,
And The Weight Watchers Cook Book.

The turkey was still frozen at eleven.
At noon my eldest boy spilled Elmer's glue.
At five I had a swell Excedrin headache,
The kind that lasts till January two...but
Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year,
I think.

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Noël des ramasseurs de neige

Jacques Prévert (1900-1977)


Nos cheminés sont vides
nos poches retournées
ohé ohé ohé
nos cheminés sont vides
nos souliers sont percés
ohé ohé ohé
et nos enfants livides
dansent devant nos buffets
ohé ohé ohé
Et pourtant c’est Noël
Noël qu’il faut fêter
Fêtons fêtons Noël
ça se fait chaque année
Ohé la vie est belle
Ohé joyeux Noël
Mais voilà la neige qui tombe
qui tombe de tout en haut
Elle va se faire mal
en tombant de si haut
ohé ohé ého

Pauvre neige nouvelle
courons courons vers elle
courons avec nos pelles
courons la ramasser
puisque c’est notre métier
ohé ohé ohé

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Vom Christkind

Anna Ritter (1865-1921)

Denkt euch, ich habe das
Christkind gesehen!
Es kam aus dem Walde,
das Mützchen voll Schnee,
mit rotgefrorenem Näschen.

Die kleinen Hände taten ihm weh,
denn es trug einen Sack,
der war gar schwer,
schleppte und polterte hinter ihm her.

Was drin war, möchtet ihr wissen?
Ihre Naseweise, ihr Schelmenpack -
denkt ihr, er wäre offen der Sack?
Zugebunden bis oben hin!
Doch war gewiss etwas Schönes drin!
Es roch so nach Äpfeln und Nüssen!

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Lines For A Christmas Card

Hilaire Belloc (1870 - 1953)

May all my enemies go to hell,
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.

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Chanson pour les enfants l'hiver

Jacques Prévert (1900-1977)


Dans la nuit de l'hiver
galope un grand homme blanc
c'est un bonhomme de neige
avec une pipe en bois
un grand bonhomme de neige
poursuivi par le froid
il arrive au village
voyant de la lumière
le voilà rassuré.
Dans une petite maison
il entre sans frapper
et pour se réchauffer
s'assoit sur le poêle rouge,
et d'un coup disparait
ne laissant que sa pipe
au milieu d'une flaque d'eau
ne laissant que sa pipe

et puis son vieux chapeau.

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Heilige Nacht

Ludwig Thoma (1867-1921)

So ward der Herr Jesus geboren
Im Stall bei der kalten Nacht.
Die Armen, die haben gefroren,
Den Reichen war's warm gemacht.

Sein Vater ist Schreiner gewesen,
Die Mutter war eine Magd.
Sie haben kein Geld nicht besessen,
Sie haben sich wohl geplagt.

Kein Wirt hat ins Haus sie genommen;
Sie waren von Herzen froh,
Daß sie noch in Stall sind gekommen.
Sie legten das Kind auf Stroh.

Die Engel, die haben gesungen,
Daß wohl ein Wunder geschehn.
Da kamen die Hirten gesprungen
Und haben es angesehn.

Die Hirten, die will es erbarmen,
Wie elend das Kindlein sei.
Es ist eine G'schicht' für die Armen,
Kein Reicher war nicht dabei.

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Christmas Carol

Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933)

The kings they came from out the south,
All dressed in ermine fine;
They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,
And gifts of precious wine.

The shepherds came from out the north,
Their coats were brown and old;
They brought Him little new-born lambs--
They had not any gold.

The wise men came from out the east,
And they were wrapped in white;
The star that led them all the way
Did glorify the night.

The angels came from heaven high,
And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
The host of heaven sings.

The kings they knocked upon the door,
The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
To hear the song begin.

The angels sang through all the night
Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
Before the song was done.

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little tree

e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud
and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"

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BC : AD

U. A. Fanthorpe (1929-)

This was the moment when Before
Turned into After, and the future's
Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.

This was the moment when nothing
Happened. Only dull peace
Sprawled boringly over the earth.

This was the moment when even energetic Romans
Could find nothing better to do
Than counting heads in remote provinces.

And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect

Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.

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The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus

Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

In Baltimore there lived a boy.
He wasn't anybody's joy.
Although his name was Jabez Dawes,
His character was full of flaws.

In school he never led his classes,
He hid old ladies' reading glasses,
His mouth was open when he chewed,
And elbows to the table glued.
He stole the milk of hungry kittens,
And walked through doors marked NO ADMITTANCE.
He said he acted thus because
There wasn't any Santa Claus.

Another trick that tickled Jabez
Was crying 'Boo' at little babies.
He brushed his teeth, they said in town,
Sideways instead of up and down.
Yet people pardoned every sin,
And viewed his antics with a grin,
Till they were told by Jabez Dawes,
'There isn't any Santa Claus!'

Deploring how he did behave,
His parents swiftly sought their grave.
They hurried through the portals pearly,
And Jabez left the funeral early.

Like whooping cough, from child to child,
He sped to spread the rumor wild:
'Sure as my name is Jabez Dawes
There isn't any Santa Claus!'
Slunk like a weasel of a marten
Through nursery and kindergarten,
Whispering low to every tot,
'There isn't any, no there's not!'

The children wept all Christmas eve
And Jabez chortled up his sleeve.
No infant dared hang up his stocking
For fear of Jabez' ribald mocking.

He sprawled on his untidy bed,
Fresh malice dancing in his head,
When presently with scalp-a-tingling,
Jabez heard a distant jingling;
He heard the crunch of sleigh and hoof
Crisply alighting on the roof.
What good to rise and bar the door?
A shower of soot was on the floor.

What was beheld by Jabez Dawes?
The fireplace full of Santa Claus!
Then Jabez fell upon his knees
With cries of 'Don't,' and 'Pretty Please.'
He howled, 'I don't know where you read it,
But anyhow, I never said it!'
'Jabez' replied the angry saint,
'It isn't I, it's you that ain't.
Although there is a Santa Claus,
There isn't any Jabez Dawes!'

Said Jabez then with impudent vim,
'Oh, yes there is, and I am him!
Your magic don't scare me, it doesn't'
And suddenly he found he wasn't!
From grimy feet to grimy locks,
Jabez became a Jack-in-the-box,
And ugly toy with springs unsprung,
Forever sticking out his tongue.

The neighbors heard his mournful squeal;
They searched for him, but not with zeal.
No trace was found of Jabez Dawes,
Which led to thunderous applause,
And people drank a loving cup
And went and hung their stockings up.

All you who sneer at Santa Claus,
Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes,
The saucy boy who mocked the saint.
Donner and Blitzen licked off his paint.

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The Cherry Tree Carol

 

When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he,
He married Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee,
He married Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee.

Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green,
There were berries and cherries as thick as might be seen
There were berries and cherries as thick as might be seen

And Mary spoke to Joseph, so meek and so mild,
"Joseph gather me some cherries, for I am with child,
Joseph gather me some cherries, for I am with child."

And Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he,
"Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee,
Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee."

Then up spoke baby Jesus from in Mary's womb,
"Bend down the tallest tree that my mother might have some,
Bend down the tallest tree that my mother might have some."

And bent down the tallest branch, till it touched Mary's hand,
Cried she, "Oh look thou Joseph I have cherries by command,"
Cried she, "Oh look thou Joseph I have cherries by command."

Traditional (English folk ballad)

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