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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

χρόνια πολλά
(Xronia Polla)

(For Many Years)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Greek Christmas song "Xronia Polla" (χρόνια πολλά), which was sung by Sakis Rouvas. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Although literally the song title of "Xronia Polla" means "Many Years", it can also be interpreted as "For Many More Years." It's also a way of saying "Happy Birthday" or "Happy New Year".

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About Sakis Rouvas

"Sakis" is the professional name for Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas, a multi-talented recording artist, actor, model, and athlete. During the 1980's he earned medals as a pole vaulter on Greece's national athletics team. He is known for departing from traditional Greek musical styles and innovating with costumes and choreography.

Rouvas is a huge star in Greece, similar to how Ricky Martin was a huge star in the U.S.A. All the young girls would go crazy for him, not only in the 1990's, but still today.

In the early 1990's, he won the Thessaloniki Song Festival. Rouvas has won 6 Arion Music Awards, 15 Pop Corn Music Awards, 22 MAD Video Music Awards, four Status Man of the Year Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and a World Music Award. His single "Shake It" is the all-time best-selling single in Greece.

About Nikos Terzis

Nikos Terzis is the professional name for Nikolaos Terzis, a composer who works with many of Greece's popular artists. He is the one who discovered Elena Paparizou and brought her to Greece.

He started his work in music at an early age. At age 13, Terzis was working in professional music studios programming electronic music, such as the recording of the soundtrack for Oh Babylon. His major breakthrough came in 1992 when he was 19 years old. He was discovered by Sakis Rouvas, a major pop star of the time. Rouvas gave him the opportunity to compose, produce, and record his first single. This recording went on to win first place at Greece's music competition, Festival Thessaloniki. 

Terzis' compositions have resulted in successful hits for many Greek artists, including Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi, Elena Paparizou, Glykeria, and more.

Song: Xronia Polla (Happy New Year), 2003

Lyrics: Vagelis Konstantinidis

Music: Nikos Terzis

Original Artist: Sakis Rouvas with backup vocals by Alexandros Panayis, Viktoria Halkiti

Album: To Hrono Stamatao (I'm Stopping The Time)

Dance Style: Just listening, not for dancing

Τραγούδι: Χρόνια Πολλά, 2003

Στίχοι: Βαγγέλης Κωνσταντινίδης

Μουσική: Νίκος Τερζής

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Σάκης Ρουβάς
Συμμετέχουν: Αλέξανδρος Παναγής, Βικτώρια Χαλκίτη

Άλμπουμ: Το Χρόνο Σταματάω

 

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Lyrics

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Κάτι με πιάνει τις γιορτές kati me piani tis yiortes Something comes over me during [the Christmas] holidays.
μελαγχολία απ' αυτές melanholia ap' aftes Like melancholy
που σου κυκλώνουν τη' ψυχή pou sou kiklonoun ti' psihi that encircles your soul.
kι όλο ρωτάνε ke olo rotane And they are always asking
αυτά που πονάνε afta pou ponane these things that hurt.
     
Στολίδια, φώτα, μουσικές stolidia, fota, mousikes Ornaments, lights, music:
οι νύχτες τόσο μαγικές ee nihtes toso mayikes the nights so magical.
σε πάρτι φίλοι με καλούν se parti fili me kaloun friends invite me to parties
μα νιώθω μια λύπη ma niotho mia lipi but I feel some sorrow
και κάτι μου λείπει ke kati mou lipi and something is missing
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Χρόνια πολλά hronia polla For many years, (1)
χρόνια να έρθεις περιμένω hronia na erthis perimeno I've been waiting for you to come for many years.
τόσα Χριστούγεννα σωπαίνω tosa Hristouyena sopeno So many Christmases I'm silent,
και πέφτει χιόνι πάντα ke pefti hioni panda and snow is always falling
μέσα στη' καρδιά mesa sti' kardia in my heart.
     
Πρωτοχρονιά protohronia New Year's Day,
έλα την πόρτα να χτυπήσεις ela tin porta na htipisis come knock on the door.
ούτε λεπτό να μην αργήσεις oute lepto na min aryisis Don't be even a minute late.
αυτή θα είναι afti tha ine This will be
η τυχερή μου η χρονιά ee tiheri mou ee hronia my lucky year.
     
Ζευγάρια βγαίνουν zevgaria vgenoun Couples go out,
και γελούν ke yeloun and they laugh,
και χέρι χέρι περπατούν ke heri heri perpatoun and hand in hand they walk.
ατμόσφαιρα γιορταστική atmosfera yiortastiki Holiday atmosphere
στους δρόμους στη' πόλη stous dromous sti' poli in the streets in the city:
χαρά έχουν όλοι hara ehoun oli everyone has joy.
     
Μα εγώ μονάχος τριγυρνώ ma ego monahos triyirno Well, I wander alone
βιτρίνες άσκοπα κοιτώ vitrines askoma kito pointless window shopping.
δεν έχω κάποια αγκαλιά den eho kapia agalia I don't have anyone to embrace,
και λέω, στο αστέρι ke leo, sto asteri and I tell the star
εδώ να σε φέρει edo na se feri to bring you here.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Χρόνια πολλά hronia polla For many years, (1)
χρόνια να έρθεις περιμένω hronia na erthis perimeno I've been waiting for you to come for many years.
τόσα Χριστούγεννα σωπαίνω tosa Hristouyena sopeno So many Christmases I'm silent,
και πέφτει χιόνι πάντα ke pefti hioni panda and snow is always falling
μέσα στη' καρδιά mesa sti' kardia in my heart.
     
Πρωτοχρονιά protohronia New Year's Day,
έλα την πόρτα να χτυπήσεις ela tin porta na htipisis come knock on the door.
ούτε λεπτό να μην αργήσεις oute lepto na min aryisis Don't be even a minute late.
αυτή θα είναι afti tha ine This will be
η τυχερή μου η χρονιά ee tiheri mou ee hronia my lucky year.
     
αυτή θα είναι afti tha ine This will be
η τυχερή μου η χρονιά ee tiheri mou ee hronia my lucky year.
     
αυτή θα είναι afti tha ine This will be
η τυχερή μου η χρονιά ee tiheri moue e hronia my lucky year.
  1. Literally "Xronia Polla" means "Many Years", as in "for many more years". The word "hronia" means "years", and "polla" means "many". However, the expression "Hronia Polla" can also be used as a greeting to honor special occasions, including "Happy Birthday", "Happy New Year", "Happy Nameday", and "Happy Anniversary".

 

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About the Translator

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.

Panayiota

 

 

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