Main article: Hanukkah musicOh 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. [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
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the horah
Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat
Dreidels (or Sevivon) to play with, and latkes to eat
| חנוכה אוי חנוכה
אַ יום-טוב אַ שיינער
אַ לוסטיקער אַ פריילעכער
נישט דאָ נאָך אַזוינער
אַלע נאַכט מיט דריידלעך שפילן מיר,
פרישע הייסע לאַטקעס, עסן אָן אַ שיעור.
| (Oy), Chanukah oy Chanukah
A yontif a sheyner,
A lustiker a freylekher
Nisht do nokh azoyner
Ale nakht mit dreydlech shpiln mir,
Frishe heyse latkes, esn on a shir.
| (Oh), Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
A beautiful celebration.
Such a cheerful and happy one,
There is none like it.
Every night with the dreidels we will play,
Fresh, hot latkes we will eat endlessly.
| And while we are playing
The candles are burning bright (or low[2])
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
| געשווינדער, צינדט קינדער
די חנוכה ליכטלעך אָן,
זאָגט על-הניסים, לויבט גאָט פאַר די נסים,
און לאמיר אלע טאנצען אין קאָן.
זאָגט על-הניסים, לויבט גאָט פאַר די נסים,
און לאָמיר אַלע טאַנצען אין קאָן.
| Geshvinder, tsindt kinder
Di Chanukah likhtlech on,
Zogt "Al Hanisim", loybt Got far di nisim,
Un lomir ale tantsen in kon.
Zogt "Al Hanisim", loybt Got far di nisim,
Un lomir ale tantsen in kon.
| Come quickly children
Light the Chanukah candles
Say "Al Hanissim", praise God for the miracles,
And we will all dance together in a circle!
Say "Al Hanissim", praise God for the miracles,
And we will all dance together in a circle!
| [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 sheyner, | | - Sometimes the first "Oy" is omitted, which it also is sometimes done in English versions.
| | A lustiker; a freylekher; nisht do nokh azeyner. | A lustiker; a freylikher; nito nokh azoyner. | - "Azeyner" is sometimes pronounced "azoyner," esp. in standard Yiddish.
- "Nisht do" and "nito" are dialectic variants.
| | Ale nakht in dreydlekh, | Ale nakht mit dreydlekh, | | | Shpiln mir, frishe heyse latkes, esn on a shir. | Shpiln mir, zudik heyse latkes, esn on a shir. | - "Zudik" means "boiling hot."
| | Shpiln mir, frishe heyse latkes, est on a shir. | - "Est" is the imperative form.
| | Geshvinder, tsindt kinder, Di Chanukah likhtlekh on, | Geshvinder, tsindt kinder, Di dininke likhtlekh on, | | | Kumt kinder, geshvinder, Di Chanukah likhtlekh veln mir ontsindn, | | | Alternate verses | | | | (x2) | Zingt "Al Hanisim", | Zol yeder bazunder
Bazingen dem vunder
Un tantsen freylekh in kon. | Mir zingen "Al Hanisim" | | | Un danken far di nisim, | Mir danken far di nisim, | | | Tantsen far di nisim | | Un kumt gikher tantsen in kohn. | Lomir ale tantsen tsuzamen. | | [edit] Hebrew version There is also a Hebrew version, which has the same melody, but its words and meanings are entirely 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 - ^ University of Pennsylvania "OY CHANUKAH"
- ^ BBYO Chanukah - B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
[edit] See also [edit] External links - YouTube Video - Young boy singing "Oy Chanukah" (the Yiddish version)
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