Sto lat
Encyclopedia
"Sto lat" is a traditional Polish
song
that is sung to express good wishes, good health and long life to a person. The song's author and exact origin are unattributed. The song is sung both at informal gatherings (such as birthday
s or name day
s) or at formal events, such as wedding
s. At state events it is not unusual to hear it performed by an orchestra
or a military band
. It is also noted for being an integral part of Polish immigrant culture even long after assimilation.
" or "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
". Although a secular
song, its message is similar to that of the Ukrainian
song "Mnohaya lita" (Многая літа, Many Years), derived from a Byzantine
liturgical hymn.
This translates roughly into English as:
or good fortune, or as a toast
, without the song. However, the use of "Sto lat!" in this manner will often lead to the song being sung by those present.
The phrase is also sometimes used to acknowledge someone's sneezing - similarly to "God bless you", though for that particular occasion a simple na zdrowie ("To your health") is more frequently used.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
that is sung to express good wishes, good health and long life to a person. The song's author and exact origin are unattributed. The song is sung both at informal gatherings (such as birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
s or name day
Name day
A name day is a tradition in many countries in Europe and Latin America that consists of celebrating the day of the year associated with one's given name....
s) or at formal events, such as wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s. At state events it is not unusual to hear it performed by an orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
or a military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
. It is also noted for being an integral part of Polish immigrant culture even long after assimilation.
Similar songs
The song serves the equivalent function of "Happy Birthday To YouHappy Birthday to You
"Happy Birthday to You", also known more simply as "Happy Birthday", is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth...
" or "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
"For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" is a song which is sung to congratulate a person on a significant event, such as, a promotion, a birthday, the birth of a child, or the winning of a championship sporting event. The melody originates from that of the French song "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre...
". Although a secular
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
song, its message is similar to that of the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
song "Mnohaya lita" (Многая літа, Many Years), derived from a Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
liturgical hymn.
Lyrics
- Sto lat, sto lat,
- Niech żyje, żyje nam.
- Sto lat, sto lat,
- Niech żyje, żyje nam,
- Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech żyje, żyje nam,
- Niech żyje nam!
This translates roughly into English as:
- A hundred years, a hundred years,
- May he (she) live, live with us.
- A hundred years, a hundred years,
- May he live, live with us.
- Once again, once again, may he live, live with us,
- May he live with us!
Use as a phrase
The phrase "Sto lat!" is also often used to wish someone longevityLongevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
or good fortune, or as a toast
Toast (honor)
A toast is a ritual in which a drink is taken as an expression of honor or goodwill. The term may be applied to the person or thing so honored, the drink taken, or the verbal expression accompanying the drink. Thus, a person could be "the toast of the evening," for whom someone "proposes a toast"...
, without the song. However, the use of "Sto lat!" in this manner will often lead to the song being sung by those present.
The phrase is also sometimes used to acknowledge someone's sneezing - similarly to "God bless you", though for that particular occasion a simple na zdrowie ("To your health") is more frequently used.
See also
- Ten thousand yearsTen thousand yearsThe use of the phrase "ten thousand years" in various East Asian languages originated in ancient China as an expression used to wish long life to the Emperor, and is typically translated as "long live" in English...
, translation of a phrase used in many East Asian languages to wish leaders long lives