Polish Carolers - Po Koledzie - Going Caroling!
Not all Polish Christmas Carols are sung in Church to the accompaniment of organ music. For many, many years it was a custom in Poland to go about carol-singing from house to house. This custom is still pacticed in Polish villages today. The carolers would carry a large star and a miniature manger made of cardboard. Caroling would begin on Christmas Eve, in some places on Christmas day, and in other places on the day after Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, and would continue through the twelve days of Christmas and even to Candlemas Day, February 2nd.
Polish carols have a folk song character. They are happy, sad, tender and even humorous. These carols fall into two groups: religious and secular. Religious ones had their origins with monks. The secular carols owe their origins to people of humble birth, who in relating the story of the Nativity used familiar surroundings taken from the home. Thus Bethlehem became a Polish village and Jesus was born in Poland. These carols often contain merry dance rhythms, like the Krakowiak Mazurka, and are called "Pasteroalki" or shepards' carols.
Song Title Information:
1) Niechaj Bedzie Pochwalony / Opening Greetings
2) Panie Gospodarzu / Mister Landlord
3) Z narodzenia Pana / Of the birth of the Lord
4) Wesola Nowina / Happy tidings
5) Bog Sie Z Panny Narodzil / He was born of a maiden
6) Dnia Jednego O Polnocy / Happened at Midnght
7) Do Szopy Hej Pasterze / Shepherds to the Manger
8) Po Kiledzie / Going Caroling
9) Dzisiaj Chor Aniolow / Angels' Choir
10) Przylecieli Aniolkowie / Coming of Angels
11) Sliczna Panienka / Fairest of Maidens
12) Miasto Bethejemskie / Town of Bethlehem
13) Witaj Jezu / Hail to Jesus
14) Przy Onej Dolinie / In Yonder Valley
15) Pasterze Biezeli / Hurry Shepherds
16) W Dzien Bozego Narodzenia / On Christmas Day
17) Jezusa Narodzonego / Newborn Jesus
18) Anieli W Niebe Spiewaja / Angels Sing in Heaven
19) Wykrzyknijmy Wiwat / Hail the Newborn
20) Aniol Panski / Angel of the Lord
21) Przystapmy Do Szopy / Let us enter the manger
22) Dziecina Mala / Little Child
23) Cztery Lata Zawszem Pasal / Tending the Flock Four Years
24) Mesjasz Pszyszedl / The Messiah Came
25) Za Kolede Dziekujemy / Final Greetings
