Something a little different for the feast of St. Basil. I wasn’t aware of it, but St. Basil brings presents on January 1st to children in Cyprus (instead of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6th or Santa Claus on Dec. 25th). This carol is very catchy. Beware of earworms…

ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΣ (New Year Carol)

St. Basil comes and passes by.

He overlooks us, I know not why.

He comes from Caesara Town.

Mistress bring, mistress, bring, mistress, bring us something down.

He carries pen and paper white

And sugar candies, sweet and bright.

He brings his pen and ink for writing.

You should see, you should see, you should see me in the fighting

The pen, it jumped up with one bound
And on the paper scribbled round
And then the paper started speaking.
Yes, we swear, yes, we swear that the paper started speaking.

The paper said, “Tis New Year’s Eve!
Oh, Mistress fair, I beg your leave;
Joy be your lot the whole year round
May your house, may your house, may your house be holy ground!”

“The New Year follows on Christ’s birth
So holy Christ who walks the earth.
May bless you, every girl and boy
And fill all, and fill all—and fill all your hearts with joy!”

h/t Byzantine Texas

Incidentally, George Winston used this melody in “Night, Part 3: Minstrels”.