Deschide Uşa
Romanian Traditional Carol
English Translation: Christian, Open Up Your Door
Translation provided by Cristian Mocanu, a member of Christmas International
1. Deschide uşa, creştine, (bis)
Să venim şi noi la tine,
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
2. Noi la Viflaim am fost, (bis)
Unde s-o născut Cristos.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
3. Ş-am vazut şi p-a sa mamă. (bis)
Pă care Maria-o cheamă.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
4. Cum umbla din casă-n casă, (bis)
Ca pă Fiul său să-l nască.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
5. Umbla-n sus şi umbla-n jos (bis)
Ca să-l nasca pă Cristos
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
6. Umbla-n jos şi umbla-n sus (bis)
Ca să-l nască pă Isus.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
7. Tot umblānd, gasi apoi (bis)
Un staul māndru de oi.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
8. Īngerii cu flori in mānă (bis)
Īmpleteau māndră cunună.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
9. Pă cunună-i scris frumos(bis)
Astăzi s-o născut Cristos.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
10. Pă cunună-i scris aşa
Că s-o născut Mesia.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
11. Care cu puterea Sa
Va īmpărăţi lumea.
La mulţi ani, mulţi ani cu bine
Cristian included this note concerning the three carols that he emailed:
All 3 of them are folkloric, i.e. they have no known author. The first two seem to have existed since times immemorial. They are documented from the late 18th,early 19th century. They were known throughout the country and, having no distinctive dialectal features, one cannot determine where they originated either.
Between 1948 and 1989, one got arrested for singing these or any other similar carol publicly. The very word "Christmas" was banned. Saying it in a larger gathering meant expulsion from school or from any well-paid job. Only the carols making no explicit mention of Christ, Mary or the word Christmas were somehow permitted. But people still treasured them and they were never lost.
This 3rd one [this carol] has a somehow different history. It comes from the Maramures (northwestern Romania) a region where traditions were exceptionally well preserved. A lot of beautiful carols were discovered there during the 1990-s by the ethnologist Ioan Zubascu, and thanks to the Maramures-born, now Canada-based singer Stefan Hrusca, they rapidly became a hit throughout Romania.
You should hear the first two sung by the Bucharest Madrigal Choir and this one by Stefan Hrusca. Even to those who don't understand the words it brings tears to their eyes!
The other two carols which Cristian sent were:
If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.
Related Hymns and Carols