Щедрівка is a traditional Ukrainian song that people sing on Щедрий вечір – Generous Eve. This holiday is celebrated on January 13, and it is also the Eve of Старий Новий Рік – the Old New Year. This name came from the times when people lived according to the Julian calendar and had different numbers of days, so New Year was celebrated on this day, two weeks after our modern celebration.

More on the calendars and winter holidays: When is Ukrainian Christmas and why?

The lyrics and melodies of щедрівки are joyful and gleeful. According to the tradition, young boys and girls organize вертеп – the nativity show. They wear traditional costumes and go from house to house singing щедрівки and wishing hosts health, happiness, and wealth.

You have probably heard of one famous Ukrainian щедрівка – “Щедрик,” which is popular all over the world. We offer you to listen to one more popular song in Ukraine. Its lyrics are quite simple, but there are some archaic words (терем, красне, жона).

Щедрівка “Ой сивая та і зозуленька” (Oi Syvaia Ta I Zozulenka) — Video

Listen and read the translation of this щедрівка. You can even try to sing it as karaoke with this video. Good luck!

We publish Ukrainian songs with translations so that you could discover Ukrainian modern culture and practice your listening skills. Find more translated songs in the category Songs. Enjoy listening, and good luck with learning the Ukrainian language!

Щедрівка “Ой сивая та і зозуленька” (Oi Syvaia Ta I Zozulenka) — Lyrics with translations

Ой сивая та і зозуленькаOh, gray cuckoo
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
Усі сади та і облітала,Has flown all gardens around
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
А в одному та і не бувала.But hasn’t been to one
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
А в тім саду три тереми.And there are three palaces in this garden
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
А в першому – ясен місяць,In the first one, there is the bright moon,
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
А в другому – красне сонце,In the second one, there is the lovely sun,
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
А в третьому – дрібні зірки.In the third one, there are tiny stars.
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
Ясен місяць – пан господарThe bright moon is a mister host,
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
Красне сонце – жона йогоThe lovely sun is a wife of his
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!
Дрібні зірки – їхні діткиThe tiny stars are their children.
Приспів:Chorus:
Щедрий вечір, добрий вечір,Generous Evening, good evening
Добрим людям на здоров’я!For the health of the good people!

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