Created in collaboration with Shetland ForWirds, here's a peerie (Shetland for small) festive treat for you to enjoy.
Shetlanders young and old(er) came together to recite the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, with a Shetland twist.
Enjoy the classic verse translated into Shetland dialect. You can read along with the words below.
Havin some trouble with some of the words? You can find out the meaning and how to pronounce words using the Shetland Dictionary.
Hit wis da nicht afore Yöl, whan aa troo da hoose
naethin wis mövin, no even a moose.
Da socks dey wir hingin (a)pö da raep wi care,
i da hoop at Santy shön wid be dere.
Da bairns dey wir cooried aa snug i der beds,
while tochts o sweeties danced i der heads
An Mam in her gravit an me i mi kep
wir jöst dovered awa fur a lang winter’s nap.
Whin oot i da yerd der cam sic a clatter
I sprang fae da bed ta see whit wis da maitter.
Awa tae da window I med me a dash
Tör back da shutters an pu'ed up da sash.
Da mön (a)pö da briest o da new faain snaa
glinkit laek sun on aathin below.
Whan, tae mi een foo o winder, whit sud appear
But a mintie sleigh an eicht peerie deer.
Wi a peerie aald driver, sae swack an sae quick,
I kent in a meenit hit man be St Nick.
Mair speedy is erne his reindeer dey cam,
An he whistled, an routit, an caa’d dem bi nem!
“Noo, Dasher! Noo, Dancer! Noo Prancer an Vixen!
Oh, Comet! Oh Cupid! Oh Donner an Blitzen!
Tae da tap o da porch! Tae da tap o da waa!
Noo dash awa! Dash awa! Dash awa aa!!”
As dry laeves i da vaelensi birl roond an sift,
Whan dey strick a obstruction an rise tae da lift.
Sae up owre da aeshins da reindeer dey flew,
wi da sleigh foo o laalies, an aald Santy tö.
An in nae time ava, I heard (a)pö da röf
Da clivgeng, da prancin o mintiest hövs.
As I cam fae da window, an wis turnin aroond,
Doon da lum Santy cam wi a graet muckle soond!
He wis cled aa in fur, fae his head tae his fit,
An his claes wir aa clertit wi ess an wi söt.
A bödie o laalies he wis flung (a)pö his back,
An he luikit laek a postie, oppenin his pack.
His een- foo dey twinklt! His dimples dat merry!
His cheeks wis laek roses, his nose laek a cherry!
His bow-shaepit mooth med me gaff mair an aa
An da baerd (a)pön his chin wis as whicht as da snaa.
Da stump o his pipe he hüld ticht in his teeth,
An da reek hit circled his head laek a wreath.
He hed a broad face an a peerie roond belly,
Dat shiggled when he gaffed, laek a bowlfoo o jelly!
He wis fat as a tystie, a richt lichtsome aald elf,
An I gaffed whin I saa him, in spite o meesel!
A wink o his een an tilt o his heid,
shön lat me ken I had naethin ta dreid!
He spack naa a wird, but gud straicht tae his wark,
An filt aa da socks, dan turned wi a jerk.
An layin his finger alang da side o his nose,
An gie’in a nod, up da lum he shön rose.
He loupit tae his sleigh, tae his reindeer a whistle,
An awa dey aa fled laek da doon o a tistle.
But I heard him cry oot, as he drove oot o sicht,
“A Göd Yöl tae you aa, an tae aa a göd-nicht!”
With thanks to Bruce Eunson, Karlin Anderson, Eileen Brooke-Freeman, Nicola Johnston and all the bairns at Lunnasting Primary school for taking part.
Translation by Christine De Luca and Shetland ForWirds.
Shetland ForWirds is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Shetland dialect. This unique dialect, a blend of Old Norse and Scots, is an integral part of Shetland's rich cultural heritage. The charity's efforts are focused on fostering an appreciation and understanding of the dialect among both locals and visitors.