Oh Chanukah
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| Al Hanisim • Mi Y'malel • Ner Li |
Oh Chanukah (also Chanukah, Oh Chanukah) is an English version of the Yiddish Oy Chanukah (Yiddish: חנוכּה אױ חנוכּה Khanike Oy Khanike). The English words, while not a translation, are roughly based on the Yiddish. Oy Chanukah is a traditional Yiddish Chanukah song and Chanukah. Oh Chanukah is a very popular modern English Chanukah song. This upbeat playful children's song has lines about dancing the Horah, eating latkes, lighting the candles and singing happy songs.
Contents |
[edit] Naming
According to archives at the University of Pennsylvania Library, "Freedman Jewish Music Archive," alternate names the Yiddish version of song has been recorded under include "Khanike Days,"Khanike Khag Yafe," "Khanike Li Yesh," "Latke Song (Khanike Oy Khanike)", "Yemi Khanike," and "Chanike Oy Chanike."[1] Chanukah is and was sometimes written as Khanike as that was the standard transliteration from Yiddish according to the YIVO system.
[edit] Versions
| English version | Yiddish version | Yiddish transliteration | Yiddish literal translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Oh), Chanukah, Oh Chanukah Come light the menorah |
חנוכה אוי חנוכה |
(Oy), Chanukah oy Chanukah A yontif a scheiner |
(Oh), Chanukah, Oh Chanukah This is a wonderful celebration |
| And while we are playing The candles are burning bright (or low[2]) |
קומט קינדער געשווינדער |
Kumt kinder geschvinder Die Chanukkah lich voln mir untzinden |
Come quickly children We will light the Chanukah candles |
[edit] Alternate Yiddish versions and pronunciations
A very common Yiddish version of the song is below with alternate words, lines, verses, or pronunciations on the right. The bolded words are what is changed. The "(x2)" in the bottom left indicated that part is repeated.
| A common version | Alternate words | Alternate pronunciations (see Yiddish regional dialects) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oy Chanukah, Oy Chanukah a yontif a scheiner, |
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| A lustiker; a freilicher; nischt do noch azeiner. | A lustiker; a freilicher; nito noch azeiner. |
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| Alleh nacht in dredlech, | Alleh nacht mit dredlech, |
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| Shpiln mir, zudik hesse latkes, est ohne a shir. | Shpiln mir, frishe heisse latkes, est ohne a shir. | |||
| Shpiln mir, heisse frishe latkes, est ohne a shir. | ||||
| Shpiln mir, zudik hesse latkes, essen ohne a shir. | ||||
| Tsindt kinder, geshvinder | Geshvinder, tsindt kinder, | |||
| Kumt kinder geschvinder, | ||||
| Die deninke lichtelech ohne. | Di Chanukkah lich voln mir untzinden. |
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| Alternate verses | ||||
| (x2) | Zingt "Al Hanisim", |
Zol yeder bazunder bazingen dem |
Mir zangen "Al Hanisim" |
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| Loibt Gott for di nisim. | Mir danken far die nisim |
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| Tantzen far die nisim | ||||
| Un kumt giher tantzen in kohn. | Lomir alleh tantzen tzusamen | |||
[edit] Hebrew version
There is also a Hebrew version, which has the same melody, but its words and meanings are enitrely different. In Israel, its popularity is not matched to the popularity of the English version in English speaking countries, or the Yiddish version in the past, whereas for instance, Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov has a high popularity in Israel.
| Hebrew transliteration | Hebrew literal translation | English version |
|---|---|---|
| Y'mey haChanukah | The days of Chanukah - | (Oh), Chanukah, Oh Chanukah |
| Chanukat mikdasheinu, | The Rededication of our Sanctuary - | Come light the menorah |
| B'gil uv'simchah | With joy and happiness | Let's have a party |
| M'mal'im et libeinu. | We fill our hearts. | We'll all dance the horah |
| Layla vayom, S'vivoteinu yisov, | Night and day, our top (dreidel / s'vivon) turns | Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat |
| Sufganiot, Nochal gam larov! | Jelly doughnuts (sufganiot), we'll also eat many. | Dreidels (or Sevivon) to play with, and latkes to eat |
| Ha'iru, hadliku, | Light 'em, ignite 'em | And while we are playing |
| Nerot Chanukah rabbim. | The many candles of Chanukah. | The candles are burning bright (or low) |
| Al hanissim, v'al haniflaot | For the miracles, And for the wonders | One for each night, they shed a sweet light |
| asher chollalu haMakabim. | Which the Maccabees accomplished. | To remind us of days long ago |
| Al hanissim, v'al haniflaot | For the miracles, And for the wonders | One for each night, they shed a sweet light |
| asher chollalu haMakabim. | Which the Maccabees accomplished. | To remind us of days long ago |
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- YouTube Video - Young boy singing "Oy Chanukah" (the Yiddish version)
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