3rd Grade: "Yolochka"

The 3rd graders are learning a Russian Christmas song, "Yolochka," for the winter concert.

A Russian cartoon, Masha and the Bear, using the song "Yolochka"

There's another cartoon at the end of this post that shows the story of the tree as the song is sung.

The song is about the life of a Christmas tree (or fir tree) growing in a forest.

Photo courtesy of High Country Christmas Trees

This song has an interesting history behind it. It was first published in Russia in 1903. Russia is a country in the continent of Asia, and it's really big!

Image from mapsofworld.com 

Russia is the largest country in the world - it's almost twice the size of the United States. The map below shows an outline of Russia placed over the United States so you can compare the sizes of the two countries. 

Image from mapfrappe.blogspot.com

In 1917, a civil war started in Russia. It ended in 1922, but with a new government in place, and with larger borders. Russia combined with some other countries to form the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). 

The new government was very strict, and they had harsh punishments for people who did not follow their laws. People were no longer allowed to celebrate Christmas! Instead, the people of the USSR moved a bunch of their Christmas traditions (like decorating a fir tree and exchanging gifts) to New Year's, which they were allowed to celebrate. Since "Yolochka" is about a tree, they were still allowed to sing that song. 

The USSR dissolved (broke apart) in 1991, and now the people can celebrate Christmas again. New Year's is still a big holiday, though, after celebrating it as such for so many years.

The lyrics (or words) of the first verse look like this in Russian (which uses a different alphabet than English):

В лесу родилась елочка,

В лесу она росла.

Зимой и летом стройная,

Зеленая была.

 This is what that sounds like in English:

Vlayzoo rodeelas Yolochka
Vlayzoo ohna rosla
Zeemoy ee lee-ehtome stroynaya
Zelyonaya bilah 

And finally, here are all five verses in English:

1. The forest raised a Christmas tree,

‘Twas silent and serene

In winter and in summer

It was slender and so green.

2. The wind sang it a lullaby:

Sleep Christmas tree, sleep tight!

The snow was making clothes for it:

It was a pretty sight!

3. A trembling bunny put himself

Beneath its arms so wide;

The hungry wolf just passed him by -

A lovely place to hide!

4. Some sleigh bells rang throughout the woods,

The snow was crisp and clean,

A horsey brought a forester

To hew that tree so green.

5. And now it comes to visit us,

With lights and garlands bright,

While all the children dance and sing

To greet it with delight!