FST: BUON NATALE! - an Italian 'Axis Powers Hetalia' fst
BUON NATALE!
an Italian 'Axis Powers Hetalia' Christmas fst
Compilation
Cover
Back
This is an Italian 'Axis Powers Hetalia' Christmas fst. I know, I know, you're more used to hear FSTs with English songs in them but I decided to go for something a little different. 'Hetalia' is about countries so I decided to use only songs from my country. And since in Italy Christmas songs are traditionally sung by children... well, you can consider this a fst devoted more to the Chibitalies than to the Italies.
'Axis Powers Hetalia' Himaruya Hidekaz
(Himaruya Hidekaz) 2006 Gentosha Comics
Songs:
PART 1 - THE MOST POPULAR
01 - Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (You come down from the sky)
Italy's main Christmas song. When you think at a typical, traditional Italian Christmas songs you think at this one.
02 - Quanno nascette Ninno (When Ninno Had birth)
Same song but in its original Neapolitan version.
03 - E' Nato Il Redentor (The Redeemer is born)
Second most popular song in Italy, though it's so old I'm not sure new generations know about it. It's the Italian version of 'Piva Piva' and, if 'Quanno nascette Ninno/Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle' is from south Italy, 'E' Nato Il Redentor/Piva Piva' is from north.
04 - Piva Piva
The original Lombard version of 'E' Nato il Redentor'. I think it's more popular in its strumental version but... Anyway there had been attempts to translate it, often changing completely completely the text, maybe because the dialectal versions can't decide which version of the text to use, often stopping before the part involving Christmas... -_-
05 - Maria Lavava (Mary was washing)
Another traditional song rather popular in all Italy... who choses the text to use to sing it according to the region you're it. It seems it's of Neapolitan origin and that it was written by the same author of 'Tu scendi dalle Stelle' but a good part of Italy had forgotten about it and is singing it as they prefer :P. The correct title should be 'Fermarono i Cieli' (The Skies Were Stopped) but it's not like Italy cares... ^_-
06 - A Natale Puoi (At Christmas You Can)
Finally something more modern. This became rather popular here because it was used in a commercial. It's good thought.
07 - Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)
The song wishes Merry Christmas to the people that come from different places, but I find it particularly fitting for Feliciano and Lovino because it wishes Merry Christmas to who comes from north and Merry Christmas to who comes from South though the song likely doesn't refer to people that came from north and south Italy but from farther places.
PART 2 - ABOUT TRADITIONS
08 - L'angioletto del presepio (The Little Angel of the Nativity Scene)
Representing the nativity with small figurines is a Christmas tradition created by San Francesco D'Assisi and it's rather typical of Italy. Really impressive are the Neapolitan figurines, which not only are beautiful and handmade, but can represent real people also, like singers or politicians or actors. Oh, maybe you don't know this, but in some part of Italy it's tradition to place the figurine of Jesus in the nativity scene only after Jesus actually had birth. This means before the 25th you'll see the nativity scene without him.
09 - Viva, Viva l'Alberello (Long Life To the Little Tree)
Christmas tree isn't quite an Italian idea but it slowly became part of the Italian tradition. Now it's rather common for the families but also for the cities to prepare it. According to italian traditions you're supposed to make it the 8th December.
PART 3 - WHO BRING THE PRESENTS?
10 - Magico Natale (Magic Christmas)
Okay, so when you were a child you were probably used to think it was Santa Claus that brougth present but once upon a time, in Italy, it was child Jesus that brought presents. The song isn't supporting commercial Christmas, so it wishes Jesus would bring as presents peace and hope.
11 - Santa Lu-Lucia (Saint Lu-Lucia)
But child Jesus wasn't the only one bringing presents! Actually, in some parts of Italy, he didn't bring presents at all. It was Saint Lucia that brought the presents and she did it the 13th December.
12 - La Befana Quatta Quatta (The Befana Sneaking, Sneaking)
Santa Lucia would bring gifts to the children early but there's who, instead, carried them later, more precisely the 6th of January. I'm talking of the Befana, whose look reminds the one of a witch. Usually however her presents were sweets if you behaved well during the year... in the contrary case you would get coal... however, in honor of this tradition in Italy you can also buy 'Sweet Coal', a sweet made with sugar and shaped ad coloured to look like coal. ^_-
13 - Ecco Arrivano i Re Magi (Here come the Magi Kings)
Of course the main gift bringers of Christmas were the Magi, who carried gifts for Jesus. They're usually included in the nativity scenes as well, but there's who add them later, to show they got to see Jesus later.
14 - Dove Sei Babbo Natale? (Where are you Santa Claus?)
Okay, so in the end Santa Claus became the official gift bringer in Italy too. Here he's called Babbo Natale (Dad Christmas) and, due to American movies and commercial by now he's extremely popular. Funny enough it seems Santa Claus was inspired by San Nicola di Bari.
PART 4 - NATIVITY
15 - Dorme Betlemme fra le mura antiche (Bethlehem sleeps among the ancient walls)
We've plenty of songs celebrating the nativity and the characters that are part of it. Here there's one devoted to the town in which Jesus had birth.
16 - Ninna Nanna dei Bambini (Lullaby of The Children)
Once upon a time the most popular and traditional Christmas songs were lullabies for Jesus. They had kind of disappeared and I doubt this one is based on one of them but well, since lullabies were traditional here there's one.
17 - Brilla, Brilla Stella (Shine, Shine Star)
We're quite fond of the comet that carried the Magi to Jesus. It can't miss in a nativity scene.
PART 5 - PRESENT DAY
18 - La Preghiera (The Prayer)
Here Christmas is supposed to be a time of closeness with God. Generally, even people that's used to skip mass make an effort and take part to the one of Christmas. Officially you're supposed to pray God for peace and serenity so there are many songs talking about humanity praying just for this.
'The Prayer' is technically an English song but, when it had birth, it had a version in Italian (sung by Andrea Bocelli) ad one in English (sung by Celine Dion). It was recorded on the album of both artists and exists also in a duet version sung by them both which is why I didn't place it in the 'translated in Italian' section.
19 - Filastrocca di Fra Martino (Rhyme of Friar Martin)
Song that talks about how Christmas spirit should be in the air.
PART 6 - ALL AROUND THE WORLD
20 - Buon Natale In Allegria (Merry Christmas in happiness)
Christmas is celebrated nearly in all the world and this song talks about it.
PART 7 - TRANSLATED IN ITALIAN
Since we evidently don't have enough Christmas songs, foreign songs have also been 'translated' in Italian. Okay, so sometimes they aren't translated, they're given a completely new text but, well...
21 - Venite Adoriamo (Come, let’s adore) [Adeste Fideles]
Actually we sing this in Latin too. It seems it was an English hymn. There are assorted Italian versions for this one.
22 - Valzer Delle Candele (Waltz of the candles) [Auld Lang Syne]
Another English song translated in Italian. A far as I know it was supposed to be an 'end of the year' song but we've no problems at singing it for Christmas.
23 - Bianco Natale (White Christmas) [White Christmas]
We move to American songs. Many of us have a weak spot for 'White Christmas'. Again it has more 'translations' than you can wish.
24 - Din Don Dan [Jingle Bells]
Another American song. If grown ups love 'White Christmas', children usually favour 'Jingle Bells'... in the translation they prefer...
25 - Astro Del Ciel (Star of the sky) [Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht]
Let's move to one of the most popular Christmas song... which by the way is Austrian. There are assorted translations for this one too. The one I posted is 'Astro del ciel' (Star of the sky) but there are others called 'Notte Santa' (Holy Night) or 'Notte Silente' (Silent Night).
26 - L’Albero Di Natale (Christmas tree) [O Tannenbaum]
German song now. Actually, not only there are assorted 'translated' versions but also assorted titles for this one so you might find the same song but with a different title. What can I say, we like variety.
27 - Nenia Di Natale Polacca [Polish Christmas lullaby] [Gdy się Chrystus rodzi {When Christ is born}]
Thanks to kasinka16 I've discovered the Polish version of this song. It's a very nice song so I suggest you to listen it!
Download
BUON NATALE! - an Italian 'Axis Powers Hetalia' fst
In the end...
I don't know how many people might be interested in a fst sung in Italian by children but well, this has definitely an Italian Christmas feeling to me (and not that I hope someone is interested but I might end up making a fst with Italian adults singing Christmas songs... dear God we've so many... -_-).
Thank you for reading so far and I hope you'll enjoy this!