The French version of Jingle Bells, “Vive le Vent,” has the same catchy tune and is just as joyous as it is in English; however, the French Jingle Bells’ lyrics and title are completely different. Here is the literal translation of the French Jingle bells and a few videos of famous people singing it in French.
In French, a Christmas song is called “Les chants de Noël” or “noëls” (with a lowercase letter “n”).
French Jingle Bells lyrics are completely different than the English Version.
Jingle Bells, America’s favourite sing-along Christmas song, is a worldwide sensation.
Over the years, Christmas carols and Christmas songs such as Jingle Bells have been borrowed and translated from one language to another.
What you may not realize is sometimes the translated titles and lyrics of those original Christmas songs are changed completely while the tune remains the same.
I wrote an article about popular French Christmas songs in France here.
My guess is these changes have something to do with the cohesiveness of the song, making songs rhyme and flow. Translating songs word for word can’t really maintain these things, and so songwriters and singers who adapt these Christmas songs to their own language change the words and the title.
The French Jingle Bells
In French, Jingle Bell is called “Vive Le Vent” and literally translates to “Long live the wind” but can also mean “live the wind.”
“Vive” comes from the French verb “Vivre which means (to live). If you say “Vive (something),” it can mean anything from “Hooray (something)” to “Long live (something)” depending on the phrase, and it can be used for a person, place or thing.
For instance…
- “Vive la France”: A patriotic French expression which means “Long live France.”
- “Vive les vacances”: Hooray for the holidays!
- “Vive le roi”: Long live the king!
- “Vive le vent”: Long live the wind!
Borrowing Christmas songs from other languages is nothing new.
The French version of Jingle bells was originally adapted to French by Francis Blanche in 1948, and it’s a popular Christmas song in France. Maybe not quite as popular as the original version is in the US and Canada, but most French children and adults know this catchy Christmas song tune well enough to hum it.
My daughter (pictured below), who has attended French schools her whole life, has sung the French version of Jingle Bells “Vive le vent” at almost all her school holiday Christmas shows.
Dalida singing “Vive le Vent,”: Jingle Bells in French
Just as Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé have all put their own spin on Jingle Bells, many famous singers have done the same for the French version.
Dalida first sang the French version of Jingle bells “Vive le Vent” back in the ’60s.
Dalida is not French, but she was and still is a very iconic singer in France, similar to how Julio Iglesias is popular in the US.
Lyrics to the French version of Jingle Bells.
Although the French version’s lyrics don’t match the English version, both versions celebrate winter fun. The French version has references to Father time, New Year’s Day and Baby New Year.
Jingle Bells in French is extremely popular in France, especially with small children.
French version of Jingle Bells: Title and lyrics translated to English
(French Jingle Bells) | (French Translated To English) |
|---|---|
VIVE LE VENT | LONG LIVE THE WIND |
Sur le long chemin Tout blanc de neige blanche Un vieux monsieur s´avance Avec sa canne dans la main Et tout là-haut le vent Qui siffle dans les branches Lui souffle la romance Qu´il chantait petit enfant, oh : | Along the long path Everything is white as snow An old man advances With his cane in his hand And high above the wind Which whistles in the branches Blows on him some romance That he sang as a small child, oh : |
---{Refrain}--- Vive le vent, vive le vent Vive le vent d´hiver Qui s´en va sifflant, soufflant Dans les grands sapins verts... Oh! Vive le temps, vive le temps Vive le temps d´hiver Boule de neige et jour de l´an Et bonne année grand-mère... | ---{Chorus}--- Long live the wind, long live the wind Long live the winter wind That goes whistling, breathing Between the big fir trees Oh! long live time, long live time Long live the wintertime A snowball and a day of the year And happy year grand-ma! |
Joyeux, joyeux Noël Aux mille bougies Quand chantent vers le ciel Les cloches de la nuit, Oh! Vive le vent, vive le vent Vive le vent d´hiver Qui rapporte aux vieux enfants Leurs souvenirs d´hier, oh... | Merry, Merry Christmas To the thousands of candles Which sing towards the sky The bells of the night. Oh long live the wind, long live the wind Long live the winter wind Which brings old children Their memories of yesteryear, oh |
Et le vieux monsieur Descend vers le village, C´est l´heure où tout est sage Et l´ombre danse au coin du feu Mais dans chaque maison Il flotte un air de fête Partout la table est prête Et l´on entend la même chanson, oh : | And the old man Goes down towards the village It's the time where everything is good And the shadow dances by the fire But in every house There's a festive spirit in the air Everywhere the table is ready And the same song can be heard, oh |
--{Refrain}--- Boule de neige et jour de l´an Et bonne année grand-mère! Vive le vent d´hiver! | ---{Chorus}--- Snowball and new year's day And happy new year grand-ma! Long live the winter wind. |
