London Walks by Val: Carol of the bells...is ukrainian pagan song?

There is month and half still left for Christmas. However everything around is already decorated in Christmas style and we feel the festive mood in the air. As we pass by windy streets we already visualize the warm atmosphere of Christmas Eve with people we love and care about. With food we love, with stories we share and songs we got used to. We think about presents for our dear ones. We give ourselves promises fo the next year. We loose, we achieve, we fight, we dream. We live.

How can we imagine Christmas without our favorite traditional song? Moreover, could you ever guess that the song which is associated with warmth of the family evening turns out to be originally ukrainian?

"Carol of the bells" is Ukrainian folk song sung by Ukrainians in pagan times to celebrate the New Year, which was in April those days. It tells the tale about swallow flying over to the household.

The song is based on a Ukrainian folk chant, re-worked by Mykola Leontovych with lyrics by Peter Wilhousky

It was introduced to Western audiences in 1918 and by October 1921 it reached the American continent. By 1936 the song became so popular that Peter Wilhousky created English version of it.

Since then it is associated with Christmas around the world.

Nowadays this Ukrainian song is videly used on TV ads, movies, perfomances and shows. For instance you can hear it in "Christmas Carol" and " Home Alone 2" movies, Wall-mart ,Victoria's secret and NBA store TV ads and Bellagio fountain (Las Vegas) show.

Original song in ukrainian can be found on this link: