{"id":16400,"date":"2023-09-03T14:46:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-03T11:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omilo.com\/happy-birthday-in-greek\/"},"modified":"2024-07-26T12:08:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T09:08:33","slug":"happy-birthday-in-greek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omilo.com\/fr\/happy-birthday-in-greek\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Birthday in Greek"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you kow how to say Happy Birthday in Greek?\u00a0 If you have been to Greece, most likely you have already heard the popular wish \u00ab\u03a7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u00bb.
\nIt is not just used for Happy Birthday, but for many other occasions as well.<\/p>\n

When can you use the popular wish \u03a7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac – Xronia Polla?<\/h2>\n

You can use this wish on various national holidays and celebrations, such as
\nNew Year,
\nEaster,
\nMarch 25th<\/a>
\nMay 1st,
\nAugust 15th,
\nOctober 28th<\/a>
\nChristmas
\nNamedays<\/p>\n

Those two words actually mean \u201cmany years\u201d.
\nSo it is easy; you just say or write in Greeklish<\/a>\u2026 \u00ab\u00a0xronia polla\u00a0\u00bb or in Greek- \u03a7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1 \u03a0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac.<\/p>\n

Greek Birthday song<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course, you would pleasantly surprise every Greek, if you could also sing the birthday song in Greek\u2026
\nSo why not give it a try? The words might not be so easy, but it is a short song with a nice message.
\nMost Omilo students know the song since we always sing together on the birthdays of our staff, as well as their fellow students.<\/p>\n

Note: you can only sing this song on the occasion of a Birthday, and not of a Name Day.
\nDo not get confused when you celebrate a Name Day\u2026 for a Name Day you only say \u201cXronia polla\u201d, but you do not sing.
\nThis song is ONLY used for real birthdays.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the lyrics and what they mean:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u03a7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1\u00a0\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u039d\u03b1 \u03b6\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 _____ \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u00a0\u03c7\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1\u00a0\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac,
\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2, -\u03b7<\/strong> \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ac\u03c3\u03c0\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03ac.
\n\u03a0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03cd \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c1\u03c0\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c6\u03c9\u03c2
\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03bb\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2\/\u03bc\u03af\u03b1<\/strong> \u03c3\u03bf\u03c6\u03cc\u03c2.<\/p>\n

Happy Birthday<\/strong><\/em> (literally: many years)<\/p>\n

May you live (name), and many years,
\nMay you become old with white hair.
\nMay you spread the light of knowledge everywhere
\nAnd may everyone say, here is a wise one.<\/p>\n

Now that you know the lyrics, it is time to sing along. Take a look at this video of the Omilo team and students singing<\/a> for the birthdays of students and teachers.
\nThe song in the video is in the female form.
\nIf the person is a man, you need to adjust the song to the male form (see also parts marked in bold in the lyrics above).<\/p>\n

Click on the picture below to listen to the video<\/p>\n

\"Xronia<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Name days<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although there is a song for birthdays, it is good to know that in Greece, birthdays are actually celebrated less than name days, except in the case of children in primary school.<\/p>\n

On name days people gather, invite friends and family, give presents. In addition, they call each other to extend their best wishes \u2026. Due to the fact that many Greeks have the same names such as Giorgos, Konstantinos, Giannis, Dimitris, Maria, Eleni,\u2026 many people have their name day on the same day, which almost makes it a \u2018national celebration\u2019.<\/p>\n

So next time you are in Greece and you attend a name day or birthday, you know what to say or sing!<\/p>\n

When you learn Greek, it is useful to know exactly when and where it is appropriate to wish someone a \u201chappy this\u201d or a \u201chappy that.\u201d In doing so, you will not only get a better feeling for Greek culture, but you will also experience a more authentic way of communicating with Greeks.<\/p>\n

If you want to learn more specific wishes for Name Days or social celebrations, feel free to download our free eBook Greek Wishes for Social Occasions<\/p>\n