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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Των Χριστουγέννων Καμπάνες
(Ton Hristouyenon Kabanes)

(The Christmas Bells)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Ton Hristouyenon Kabanes" (Των Χριστουγέννων Καμπάνες), which was sung by Thanos Kalliris, and later by Keti Garbi. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About this Song

This Greek Christmas song uses the melody of the beloved American Christmas classic, "Silver Bells". This song was recorded by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1950, and then later performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the motion picture The Lemon Drop Kid, which was released in 1951.

The Greek version with lyrics by Spiros Labrou was recorded in 1995 by Thanos Kalliris, then again in 1998 by Keti Garbi.

About Thanos Kalliris

Thanos Kalliris is the stage name for Athanasios Kalliris. He was born to a musical family in 1962 in Athens, Greece. In 1987, he teamed up with Vassilis Dertilis to represent Greece in the Eurovision competition as a duo act named Bang. They reached 10th place, and became a great commercial success back home in Greece. Over the following years, they released three successful albums, then disbanded in 1991.

Since 1991, Kalliris has gone on to pursue a solo career. He has released 10 solo albums and many singles.

About Keti Garbi

Keti Garbi is the stage name for Ekaterini Garbi, the artist who recorded the version of this song with Greek lyrics. She has been considered a queen of Laiko & Greek pop styles of music. She robbed the cradle by marrying her younger colleague Dionisis Shinas (Διονύσης Σχοινάς).

Keti Garbi rose to fame in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, taking ninth place. She became one of the most successful Greek artists of the 1990's. She achieved great commercial success with the album To Kati, which was released in 2000. She has won 11 Pop Corn Music Awards (including 3 for Album of the Year) and one Arion Music Award.

To this day all her work is phenomenal.

Keti Garbi

Song: Ton Hristouyenon Kabanes (The Christmas Bells), 1995

Lyrics: Spiros Labrou

Music: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

Original Artist: Thanos Kalliris

Back Up Vocals: Childrens Choir of Spiros Labrou

Also Recorded By:

  • Bing Crosby and Carol Richards, 1950 (in English)
  • Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell, 1951 (in English)
  • Keti Garbi, 1998

Album: Hristouyena Ston Galaxy (Christmas In The Galaxy)

Τραγούδι: Των Χριστουγέννων Καμπάνες, 1995

Στίχοι: Σπύρος Λάμπρου

Μουσική: Τζει Λιβινστον κ Ραι Εβανς

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Θάνος Καλλίρης

Συμμετέχουν: Παιδική Χορωδία Σπύρου Λάμπρου

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

  • Καίτη Γαρμπή, 1998

Άλμπουμ: Χριστούγεννα Στον Galaxy

 

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Lyrics

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Όλοι οι δρόμοι φωτισμένοι oli ee dromi fotismeni All the streets lit,
κόσμος στα μαγαζιά kosmos sta magazia people at the stores,
τα Χριστούγεννα ήρθαν ξανά ta Hristouyena irthan xana Christmas came again.
να το δέντρο στολισμένο na to dendro stolismeno There is the decorated tree,
τα παιδάκια γελούν ta pedakia yeloun the kids are laughing,
και τα κάλαντα γύρω ηχούν ke ta kalanda yiro ihoun and the carols around are sounding:
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
των Χριστουγέννων καμπάνες ton Hristouyenon kabanes the Christmas bells.
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
στην εκκλησιά μας καλούν stin eklisia mas kaloun they are calling us to church.
     
Δώστε δώρα doste dora Give gifts,
δώστε αγάπη doste agapi give love.
άγια είναι η βραδιά ayia ine ee vradia The night is holy.
κάθε έννοια kathe enia Every thought —
ας φύγει μακριά as fiyi makria may it go far away.
ξεχυθείτε μες 'τους δρόμους xehithite mes 'tous dromous Go out into the streets,
τραγουδήστε γλυκά tragoudiste glika sing sweetly,
τα Χριστούγεννα ήρθαν ξανά ta Hristouyena irthan xana Christmas came again.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
των Χριστουγέννων καμπάνες ton Hristouyenon kabanes the Christmas bells.
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
στην εκκλησιά μας καλούν stin eklisia mas kaloun they are calling us to church.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
των Χριστουγέννων καμπάνες ton Hristouyenon kabanes the Christmas bells.
Τι γλυκά ti glika How sweet,
τι γλυκά ti glika how sweet
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
που χτυπούν pou htipoun they strike, (1)
στην εκκλησιά μας καλούν stin eklisia mas kaloun they are calling us to church.
  1. Here, "strike" refers to the bells ringing.

 

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Translations of
Thanos Kalliris' Songs On This Site

Translations of songs performed by Thanos Kalliris on this web site include:

  • Roudolf to Elafaki (Rudolph the Reindeer). A version of the song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with Greek lyrics.

 

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Translations of
Keti Garbi's Songs On This Site

Translations on this web site of lyrics for songs performed by Keti Garbi include:

  • Τin Kardia Sou Rota (Ask Your Heart). A duet with Burak Kut that is partly in Greek, partly in Turkish. The Turkish title is "Kalbine Sor".
  • To Narkotiko Mou (My Drug). The same melody was later used for the Turkish song "Zordur Oğlum".
  • Ton Hristouyenon Kabanes (The Christmas Bells). A version of the song "Silver Bells" with Greek lyrics
  • Touli Gia To Hristouli (Veil for the Christ Child). A version of the song "Adeste Fideles" with Greek lyrics
  • Zilia (Jealousy). A version of Amr Diab's "Kalast Feek Kol al Kalam" with Greek lyrics.

 

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About the Translator

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.

Panayiota

 

 

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