Happy Birthday in Greek

Today in Greek we learned the "birthday" song. It is very different from the American version. In fact, our teacher, Marienetta says that she thinks the American song is, "quite stupid" because "it doesn't say anything except happy birthday and the person's name."

The Greek version:

Να ζησειs...
και χρονια πολλα.
Μεγαλοs να γινειs
με ασπρα μαλλια.
Παγτου να σκορηιζειs
τηs γνωσηs το φωs
και ολοι να λενε
να εναs/μια σοφοs.

Which translates roughly to:

To life...(insert name, plus familiar ending "aki" or "iki")
and for many years.
To become old
with white hair.
Everywhere to spread
the light of knowledge
And everyone to say
"there's a wise person."

As you can see, it is more a toast than a silly song sung while blowing out candles. I like it. Perhaps I'll use it when I return to the States. Marienetta upon teaching us the tune, handed out little pastries. She did this because, "When it is someone's birthday, we have to celebrate. And because we are Greek, celebration means food." It was yummy.