Croatian Christmas Songs
Most people in Croatia are Catholics, and they all celebrate
Christmas, but they are not the only ones: even atheists or
agnostics participate in the glorious winter festivity that is
Christmas.
But what festivity would it be, if there were not songs about
it? Some songs are a couple of centuries old, others are relatively
new, but they all spread joy and peace.
Christmas songs from the northern part of Croatia differ a
little from the southern ones, but both of them are divided into
liturgical and non-liturgical ones. Liturgical songs are often sung
in church, but you can hear them in a bar, in the shops or even on
the radio, but only during Christmas time.
Some liturgical songs, when permitted by the bishops, are sung
during the mass, thus celebrating the traditional Croatian
festivity. Others aren't sung during mass, but are well known and
people sing them together, spreading joy and having a nice
time.
There are some songs that are being forgotten, and those songs
vanish slowly. Some songs that are sung in church are:
- Gospodine smiluj se (God have mercy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VZ95ln-vRg&
- Slava Bogu na visini (Glory to God in the height)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDU8Utrdde0
- Svet i blagoslovljen (Holy and blessed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYAdeQvAj6A
Other liturgical songs aren't sung in church, but elsewhere. You
can't really specify where people sing these songs because you can
hear them everywhere, especially in the smaller towns. These songs
are kind of a general knowledge, and everybody learns them, sooner
or later. The songs are really catchy, easy to follow and sing, and
they all radiate with joy and happiness.
Some of those songs are:
- Veselje ti navjescujem (Preaching you joy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3dZ-EbwZPo
- O, Betleme (Oh, Betlehem)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YygMDCuIMI
- Radujte se narodi (Enjoy, nations!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTp8RKs4wqg
The liturgical, forgotten songs, are very hard to hear anywhere.
You can hear them in small towns, at the local church but soon you
won't even hear them there which is a real shame.
There are, of course, other Christmas songs in Croatia, and
people sing them non-stop, during the whole of the winter time. The
song singing starts in November, and lasts until the end of
January.It's really hard to feel depressed during that time of the
year, because all you can hear around you is happy music and you're
surrounded by a happy atmosphere. Croatians like to hear foreign
songs, like "Jingle bells", "I wish you a merry Christmas", "Joy to
the world" or "All I want for Christmas" but the thing they enjoy
the most is singing Croatian Christmas songs as it's a wonderful
feeling to maintain that tradition, and just be happy.
During Christmas time there are many public events in Croatia,
where you can go out at night and listen to Christmas songs. You
can sing along, too, if you'd like. Many concerts are thrown at
this time of the year, and most of them are charity concerts and in
public places, you can see the uniqueness of the Croatian Christmas
songs, because they are making people feel nearer and more at ease
with each other.
Besides public events, Christmas songs are sung a lot in the
family, mostly in the evening, right after dinner. Everyone singing
together brings the whole family closer, filling each individual
with joy and satisfaction. I know it sounds old, but that's how it
is in Croatia.
There are a lot of songs which people sing, and each and every
one of them is unique in its own way.
Some of those songs are :
- Tiha noc (Silent night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXISe_fEcIo
- Bozic je (It's Christmas)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-1y7DxElyk
- Bijeli Bozic (White Christmas)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB7q71zUKqc
- Big Bozic Song (Great Christmas Song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaSkmE2UDik
Some Croatian songs are just translated from other languages,
like "Tiha noc"(Silent night) or "Zvoncici"(Jingle bells).
Nevertheless, Croatian people have lots of their own songs, and
they're really proud of it. Christmas songs are still current, and
they will continue to be like that for a long time, because with
those songs, especially in Croatia, people are feeling less sad and
disappointed in the real life.
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