Paithalam Yeshuve [Devotional 1]

Unnikuttan,

For the last few years, we have been baking cookies together around Christmas time as our little family tradition. You really want to be in the
middle of all of this, making the cookie dough, rolling it out, cutting out the shapes, decorating them and then setting them up in boxes for
gifting our friends. We have so much fun mixing up colors and coming up with new shades. I hope you find this exciting for more years to come.

When I was little, we used to go to my grandparents place to celebrate Christmas. It was much fun with all our aunts, uncles and cousins
gathered at one place. My Ammachi’s kitchen used to be the gathering place. I remember sitting on top of a wooden box and watching all stuff
happening around on Christmas eve. The ladies would be busy prepping for the Christmas day meal and men would stand around chatting with all of
us. Since I am the eldest among all kiddos, my job was to babysit which ever baby cousin there was at the time and listening to all news each of them
had to say.

Another activity we did was making the nativity scene as you know it. We used to call it Christmas crib. All of us cousins would help our uncle
gather grass stalks to line the little bamboo house he would have already made. Then he would bring out the tiny figurines of Mary, Joseph,
shepherds, wise men and animals.I remember blowing up tiny balloons to hang up all around that crib.

Then we would all go to midnight mass and there would be a light chill in the air. It was nothing like the sub zero weather we have here, but
it was colder than usual around that time. It was a great feeling when the priest would bring the baby Jesus for the ceremony. After the mass,
everyone gathers around the Christmas tree for singing carols and eat fruit cake someone would have brought from their home. Finally when we
come home, our little baby Jesus figurine would be placed in the crib. 🙂

I thought this was a fitting translation for the season. This is your dad’s favorite devotional song and it is played at home more as we move
towards Christmas. Please listen to the original version sung by K.S.Chitra.

Paithalaam Yeshuve
Umma vachu umma vachu unarthiya…
[The baby Jesus
who was woken up by kisses…]
Attidayar… unnathare…, ningal than hruthil
Yeshu naadhan pirannu
[…by the shepherds… and wise men…, it was in your hearts’
that Lord Jesus was born]

Paithalaam Yeshuve
Umma vachu umma vachu unarthiya…
[The baby Jesus
who was woken up by kisses…]
Attidayar… unnathare…, ningal than hruthil
Yeshu naadhan pirannu
[…by the shepherds… and wise men…, it was in your hearts’
that Lord Jesus was born]

La la laaa… La la laaa… La la la la la
La la Aahaaa aahaaa… Aahaha

Thaalapoli* yekan… thamburu** meettuvan
Tharattu paadi urakkiduvan
[To give a warm welcome for You…To play the thamburu
and to sing lullabies…]
Thaalapoli* yekan… thamburu** meettuvan
Tharattu paadi urakkiduvan
[To give a warm welcome for You…To play the thamburu
and to sing lullabies…]
Tharaganangalal aagathar akunnu
Vanaaroopikal gaayakasreshtar
Vanaaroopikal gaayakasreshtar
[With a fleet of stars, they are coming
… the angels from heaven above, the great singers
… the angels from heaven above, the great singers]

Paithalaam Yeshuve
Umma vachu umma vachu unarthiya…
[The baby Jesus
who was woken up by kisses…]
Attidayar… unnathare…, ningal than hruthil
Yeshu naadhan pirannu
[…by the shepherds… and wise men…, it was in your hearts’
that Lord Jesus was born]

La la laaa… La la laaa… La la la la la
La la Aahaaa aahaaa… Aahaha

Ullil thirathallum modhathodethum
Paarake prekshakar nira nirayayi
[In their hearts, with waves of happiness
people on earth worship You in droves]
Nadhadhi nadhanayi vaazhumen eeshanayi
Unarvodekunnen ulthadam njan
Unarvodekunnen ulthadam njan
[For the Lord or Lords, my God
With great elation, I will give my heart
With great elation, I will give my heart]

Paithalaam Yeshuve
Umma vachu umma vachu unarthiya…
[The baby Jesus
who was woken up by kisses…]
Attidayar… unnathare…, ningal than hruthil
Yeshu naadhan pirannu
[…by the shepherds… and wise men…, it was in your hearts’
that Lord Jesus was born]

La la laaa… La la laaa… La la la la la
La la Aahaaa aahaaa… Aahaha

* Thaalapoli is a Malayali tradition for welcoming someone. Ladies dressed in the Kerala kasavu saree stands in line on either side of a path
where the guest would pass, bearing a thaalam (flat metal plate) containing flowers and a small lamp. It is a beautiful sight.
** thamburu is a string instrument.