Ælfred se Lytel and the Holly Jolly Christmas

A belated celebration…

Eala and happy (late) holidays everyone! I hope your winter celebrations were joyful and restful. Ælfred’s certainly was! As someone who absolutely loves the holidays, this was one of my favorite stories to write. I mixed some of my own traditions (sticky rolls!!) into some that are left over from the Anglo-Saxon people who would have spoken Old English every day. Some of the words, I discovered, have not changed at all (for example, box is apparently still box) while some, like eggnog, I had to piece together in my usual experimental way.

Ælfred the Small and the Holly Jolly Christmas  

Ælfred se Lytel ond se Holen-Welan Cristes-mæsse

Ælfred is awake!

Ælfred biþ a-wehte!

It is very early and the dawn is still pink and new in the sky

Biþ þurh ærne ond seo uhte biþ git þurh-hwit read ond niwe in þam wolcene

Distant bells are ringing out for Christmas morning!

Feorra bella beoþ hringende ut Cristes-mæsse morgene!

Following a sweet smell, he jumps out of bed

Fyliende an lec stenc, he hlepþ ut fram bedde

In the kitchen is grandmother with sticky rolls!

In þære cycenan biþ Ealdmodor mid clibbor-hlafum!

Ælfred is too excited to sit and eat

Ælfred biþ ofer-acol sittan ond etan

He peeks under the big tree

He wlitþ under þam greatum treowan

So many colorful and shiny gifts!

Swa manig bleoh-lice ond bihrtende giefa!

Ælfred’s whole family gathers around him.

An-wealg hiwen Ælfredes gæderaþ emb him

Mother gives him a very special package

Modor agyfþ him an þurh syndrig-lic box

Inside is a very tiny, very dashing hat!

Inne biþ an þurh lytel, þurh fæger hæt!

Ælfred is overflowing with joy

Ælfred biþ be-baþaþ mid heofon-dreame

All day and into the night, the family sings and dances

Eall dæg ond in niht, se hiwen singþ ond fricaþ

They drink eggnog and sit by the fire

Hie dricaþ æg-meolc ond sittaþ emb þam lig-brynan

It is cold out in the snow 

Biþ ceald ut in þam snawe

But in Ælfred’s heart, it is warm and bright

Ac in þam heortan Ælfredes, biþ wearm ond briht 

Happy Christmas!

Dreamlic Cristes-mæsse!