Laylat al MiladThe night before Christmas

To end this 12-part series on Christmas, I thought, it would be ideal to do so with a song. Laylat al Milad or 'the night before Christmas' is a traditional Arabic Christmas carol, which is usually sung on Christmas-eve and has words that have special relevance to today's troubled world.

If you click this link, you'll be able to listen to the Bethlehem Star Choir singing the carol, and I thought it was touching that these singers would sing these words of hope despite living in a battle torn and war weary land.


Refrain
Laylat al-Milad ... yummahah-l-bughdou
Laylat al-Milad ... tuzhiru-l-ardou
Laylat al-Milad ... tudfanou-l-harbou
Laylat al-Milad ... yanbutou-l-hubbou.

Verse 1
'Indama nusqee 'atshan ka'sa ma' ... nakoonu fi-l-milad
'Indama naksoo 'uryan thaowba hub ... nakoonu fi-l-milad
'Indama nukafkifu-d-dumoo' fi-l-'uyoon ... nakoonu fi-l-milad
'Indama nafrishu-l-qulooba bi-r-raja' ... nakoonu fi-l-milad.

Verse 2
'Indama uqabbilou rafeeqi douna ghush ... akoonu fi-l-milad
'Indama tamootu fiyya roohu-l-intiqam ... akoonu fi -l-milad
'Indama yarqudu fi qalbi-ya-l-jafa ... akoonu fi-l-milad
'Indama tamootu nafsi fi kiyan il-lah ... akoonu fi-l-milad.

English translation:

Refrain
On the night of Christmas ... Hatred will vanish
On the night of Christmas ... The Earth blooms
On the night of Christmas ... War is buried
On the night of Christmas ... Love is born

Verse 1
When we offer a glass of water to a thirsty person, we are in Christmas
When we clothe a naked person with a gown of love, we are in Christmas
When we wipe the tears from weeping eyes, we are in Christmas
When we cushion a hopeless heart with love, we are in Christmas

Verse 2
When I kiss a friend without hypocrisy, I am in Christmas
When the spirit of revenge dies in me, I am in Christmas
When hardness is gone from my heart, I am in Christmas
When my soul melts in the Being of God, I am in Christmas