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kalėda

English translation: kalėda / Sun

20:06 Jun 7, 2016
Lithuanian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music / dainos
Lithuanian term or phrase: kalėda
This word occurs as a refrain in a daina composed in a dialect from the Highlands. It seems to be connected with Kalėdos but the subject of the song is the planting of an apple tree, which is incongruous with the season at which Kalėdos is observed, and I've never come across a singular form of Kalėdos.
Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 18:21
English translation:kalėda / Sun
Explanation:
The ancient belief is that Kalėda is a female deity/goddess depicting the Sun that returns. 'Kalėda' is often accompanied by 'auksiniai ratai' (golden wheels, or rays) and 'šilkų botagai' (silken whips, i.e., gentle, caressing warmth). In old Lithuanian folk songs, Kalėda is often accompanied by 'lėlių', which is by some associated with the Lithuanian deity of winter, Lada or Lela.

In his book 'Lietuvių senosios religijos kelias' (The Path of the Old Lithuanian Religion), Jonas Trinkūnas also writes that Kalėda is actually the Sun.

The most straightforward answer would be 'the Sun', but I would leave 'Kalėda' and - if at all possible - explain what it is.

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Note added at 32 mins (2016-06-07 20:39:40 GMT)
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In addition to 'lėlių', kalėda is often accompanied by 'elnias devyniaragis' in old folk songs. Elnias devyniaragis is a nine-point deer, which is the symbol of the Moon in Lithuanian pagan religion.

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Note added at 1 hr (2016-06-07 21:44:51 GMT)
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'Kalėda' is also one of the typical refrains of old Christmas songs, others being 'leliumai', 'aleliuma rūta', 'vai lėliu kalėda'. For comparison, Easter songs usually have refrains 'vai lalu lalu', 'vynelis vyno žaliasai', while the songs of St John's Eve can be identified from the refrains 'kupole rože', 'oi kupoli, kupolėli'.

Selected response from:

diana bb
Lithuania
Local time: 01:21
Grading comment
Ačiu.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1kalėda / Sun
diana bb


  

Answers


25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
kalėda / Sun


Explanation:
The ancient belief is that Kalėda is a female deity/goddess depicting the Sun that returns. 'Kalėda' is often accompanied by 'auksiniai ratai' (golden wheels, or rays) and 'šilkų botagai' (silken whips, i.e., gentle, caressing warmth). In old Lithuanian folk songs, Kalėda is often accompanied by 'lėlių', which is by some associated with the Lithuanian deity of winter, Lada or Lela.

In his book 'Lietuvių senosios religijos kelias' (The Path of the Old Lithuanian Religion), Jonas Trinkūnas also writes that Kalėda is actually the Sun.

The most straightforward answer would be 'the Sun', but I would leave 'Kalėda' and - if at all possible - explain what it is.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2016-06-07 20:39:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In addition to 'lėlių', kalėda is often accompanied by 'elnias devyniaragis' in old folk songs. Elnias devyniaragis is a nine-point deer, which is the symbol of the Moon in Lithuanian pagan religion.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-06-07 21:44:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Kalėda' is also one of the typical refrains of old Christmas songs, others being 'leliumai', 'aleliuma rūta', 'vai lėliu kalėda'. For comparison, Easter songs usually have refrains 'vai lalu lalu', 'vynelis vyno žaliasai', while the songs of St John's Eve can be identified from the refrains 'kupole rože', 'oi kupoli, kupolėli'.




    Reference: http://www.romuva.lt/new/uploads/Literat%C5%ABra/relig%20ist...
diana bb
Lithuania
Local time: 01:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Lithuanian
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Ačiu.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gintautas Kaminskas: The word „Kalėdos“ is a Lithuanianisation of Latin "Calendae" – 1st of month; day of interest on loans due. How that got to mean Christmas, I have never had a satisfactory answer for. This connection to the Sun is a new one on me.
10 mins
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