Russian traditions and music: New Year's song

There remain only 10 days before New Year. It's the biggest holiday in Russia, and it's very close to Christmas in USA and many european countries. Do you know that we don't celebrate Christmas? I mean, we celebrate, but another day (the 7th of January), because there is orthodox church in Russia and Gregorian calendar for relgious holidays.

But we have Christmas tree (новогодняя ёлка), Santa Claus (Дед Мороз) and a lot of presents (новогодние подарки) at New Year (Новый год).

Look at the video below. It's one of the famous New Year's song in Russia – “В лесу родилась ёлочка”. Listen and try to sing it together. I put lyrics in both Russian and English.

 

В лесу родилась ёлочка, В лесу она росла. Зимой и летом стройная, Зелёная была. Метель ей пела песенку: "Спи, ёлочка, бай-бай!" Мороз снежком укутывал: "Смотри, не замерзай!" Трусишка, зайка серенький Под ёлочкой скакал. Порою волк, сердитый волк, Рысцою пробегал. Чу! Снег по лесу частому Под полозом скрипит Лошадка мохноногая Торопится, бежит. Везёт лошадка дровенки, На дровнях мужичок. Срубил он нашу ёлочку Под самый корешок. И вот она, нарядная, На праздник к нам пришла, И много, много радости Детишкам принесла. В лесу родилась ёлочка, В лесу она росла. Зимой и летом стройная, Зелёная была.

There was a Fir-Tree born in woods, And there she was grown, In winter and in summer both The grace and green she was. The Snowstorm sang a song for her: "Sleep, Firry, sleep tight-tight!" The Frost was covering with snow: "Don't freeze in such cold night!" A yellow-bellied Bunny there Was leaping under fir. From time to time an angry Wolf Was running over near. The snow around the thicky woods Is creaking under skid, A shaggy Gee-Gee frisks ahead In greatest rush indeed. The Gee-Gee's carrying firewoods On them there is a Man. He chopped down our little Fir At the very rootlet. And now in gallant here she is On feast to us she came, And many many joyances All little kids she gave. There was a Fir-Tree born in woods, And there she was grown. In winter and in summer both The grace and green she was.

English lyrics by Joe White

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The Russian alphabet

Probably you've already known that the Russian alphabet is not same as English, Spanish, Swedish and other latin languages. And probably you think that some letters (or all of them?) look wierd and it's almost impossible to understand and remember how you must pronounce and read them. But don't worry. It's more easier that you think. Especially if you compare it with other parts of Russian grammar which really are difficult, even for native Russians.


The Russian alphabet is based on the old Cyrillic alphabet, and it's longer than the Latin alphabet.

 

There are 33 letters

The Russian alphabet consists of:

• 10 vowels: а, о, у, ы, э, я, е, ё, ю, и;
• 21 consonants: б, в, г, д, й, ж, з, к, л, м, н, п, р, с, т, ф, х, ц, ч, ш, щ;
• 2 letters without any sounds: ь, ъ.

 

Аа	Бб	Вв	Гг	Дд	Ее	Ёё	Жж	Зз
[а]	[бэ]	[вэ]	[гэ]	[дэ]	[е]	[ё]	[жэ]	[зэ]

Ии	Йй	Кк	Лл	Мм	Нн	Оо	Пп	Рр
[и]	и краткое	[ка]	[эль]	[эм]	[эн]	[о]	[пэ]	[эр]

Сс	Тт	Уу	Фф	Хх	Цц	Чч	Шш	Щщ
[эс]	[тэ]	[у]	[эф]	[ха]	[ц]	[че]	[ша]	[ща]

Ъъ	Ыы	Ьь	Ээ	Юю	Яя
твёрдый знак	[ы]	мягкий знак	[э]	[ю]	[я]

Vowels – red, consonants – green. 

I will show you how to convert Russian letters into Latin letters. You will see that it's not so difficult to recognize them and to start reading.

 

In Cyrylic	Transliteration	Pronunciation	Examples
Aa	A	ah	up
Бб	B	b or p	band, top
Вв	V	v or f	vanish, stuff
Гг	G	g or k	good, duck
Дд	D	d or t	doll, colt
Ее	Ye	yo or ee	yes, seek
Ёё	Yo	yo	New York
Жж	Zh	zh or sh	Jean (in French), establish
Зз	Z	z or s	zip, pause
Ии	I	ee/ea	peak
Йй	J	very short y	lay
Кк	K	k	kitten
Лл	L	l	lose
Мм	M	m	May
Нн	N	n	notice
Оо	O	oh or ah	talk, mother
Пп	P	p	park
Рр	R	strong r	Madrid (in Spanish)
Сс	S	s	soon
Тт	T	t	time
Уу	U	oo	spoon
Фф	F	f	fast
Хх	Kh	kh	hold
Цц	Ts	ts	pets
Чч	Ch	ch	Chaplin
Шш	Sh	sh	shrimp
Щщ	Sh’	soft sh	-
Ъъ	-	hard sign	-
Ыы	Y	ih	-
Ьь	‘	soft sign	-
Ээ	E	e	election
Юю	Yu	yu	usually
Яя	Ya	ya, ee or ye	yacht, seek, yet

 

Look at this funny video below. They are singning all sounds of the Russian alphabet twice. It's easy to remember when you try to sing this simple song, too.

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