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

Τούλι Για Το Χριστούλη
(Touli Yia To Hristouli)

(Veil for the Christ Child)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Greek Christmas song "Touli Yia To Hristouli" (Τούλι Για Το Χριστούλη), which was sung 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 song uses Greek lyrics for the well-known Christmas hymn "Adeste Fideles" (Αντεστε Φιντελες), also known as "O Come All Ye Faithful." In 1994, Andrea Bocelli (Ανδρεα Μποτσελι) performed this song in front of Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica at Christmas. The original music was composed by John Francis Wade.

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: Touli Yia To Hristouli (Veil for the Christ Child), 1998

Greek Lyrics: Eleni Yiannatsoulia

Music: John Francis Wade

Original Artist: Keti Garbi with backup vocals by Konstantinos Paliatsaras Pediki Horodia (Childrens Choir) Spirou Labrou

Album: Hristouyena Me Tin Keti

Dance Style: Just for listening, no dance

Τραγούδι: Τούλι Για Το Χριστούλη, 1998

Στίχοι: Ελένη Γιαννατσούλια

Μουσική: Τζον Φρανσες Ουαιντ

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Καίτη Γαρμπή

Συμμετέχουν: Κωνσταντίνος Παλιατσάρας & Παιδική Χορωδία Σπύρου Λάμπρου

Άλμπουμ: Χριστούγεννα Με Την Καίτη

 

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Lyrics

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Αγγέλους και άστρα agelous ke astra Angels and stars.
γιασεμιά και άσπρα yiasemia ke aspra Jasmine and white
απόψε στα χέρια apopse sta heria in my hands tonight,
για 'σένα κρατώ ya 'sena krato for you I hold.
θαύμα στο χιόνι thavma sto hioni Miracle in the snow,
Θεέ μου, με γλυτώνει Theh mou, me glitoni my God, it saves me.
νιφάδες και λαμπιόνια nifades ke labionia Snowflakes and lamps,
με ουρανού σεντόνια me ouranou sedonia with the sky's lanterns,
την πόλη θα σκεπάσουν tin poli tha skepasoun will cover the town,
να κοιμηθείς na kimithis so you sleep.
     
Το θείο σου δάκρυ to Thio sou dakri Your blessed tear
στου γκρεμού την άκρη stou gremou tin akri at the cliff's edge:
θα κρύψω στη' χούφτα tha kripso sti' houfta I will hide [it] in my fist,
και θα το πιώ ke tha to pio and I will drink it.
λόγια κρυμμένα loyia krimena Hidden words,
τρένα φωτισμένα trena fotismena illuminated trains,
από τα λίγα απέχουν apo ta liga apehoun a few steps away,
στη' Βηθλεέμ σου τρέχουν sti' Vithlem sou trehoun they are running to Bethlehem.
για πάντα σου χαρίζουν ya panda sou harizoun Forever they are bestowing on you
τα σ' αγαπώ ta s' agapo the "I love you".
     
Φέρτε μου, μάγοι ferte mou, mayi Bring me, Magi,
και εσείς, πελάγη ke esis, pelayi and you, open sea.
κλωστή μεταξένια klosti metaxenia Silky thread
με τα Χερουβείμ me ta Xerouvim with the Cherubim
να πλέξω τούλι na plexo tuli to weave a veil
για το Χριστούλη ya to Hristouli for Christ
που καίγεται, κρυώνει pou kegete, krioni who is burning, is cold
σε κρυσταλλένιο χιόνι se kristalenio hioni in crystal snow,
σε κρυσταλλένιο χιόνι se kristalenio hioni in crystal snow,
και σε φωτιά ke se fotia and in fire.
     
Φέρτε μου, μάγοι ferte mou, mayi Bring me, Magi, (1)
και εσείς, πελάγη ke esis, pelayi and you, open sea.
κλωστή μεταξένια klosti metaxenia Silky thread
με τα Χερουβείμ me ta Xerouveim with the Cherubim
να πλέξω τούλι na plexo tuli to weave a veil (2)
για το Χριστούλη ya to Hristouli for Christ
που καίγεται, κρυώνει pou kegete, krioni who is burning, is cold
σε κρυσταλλένιο χιόνι se kristalenio hioni in crystal snow,
σε κρυσταλλένιο χιόνι se kristalenio hioni in crystal snow,
και σε φωτιά ke se fotia and in fire.
  1. This is a reference to the three Wise Men. The word "magi" can also mean "magician", "people who do black magic" and "fortune teller", but in this song it has the Biblical mean of the three Wise Men from the East.
  2. The word "tuli" can also refer to the net fabric known as "tulle".

 

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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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