Lunta tulvillaan on raikas talvisää
ei liinakkommekaan nyt enää talliin jää
Sen kohta valjastan reen pienen etehen
ja sitten joutuin matkahan me käymme riemuiten
Kulkuset, kulkuset riemuin helkkäilee
Talven valkohiutaleet ne kilvan leijailee
Rekehen, rekehen nouse matkaamaan
Lumi alla jalasten se laulaa lauluaan
On ryijyn alla lämmin, kun lunta tuiskuttaa
Nyt liinakkomme kiitää ja valkoinen on maa
Kulkuset, kulkuset riemuin helkkäilee
Talven valkohiutaleet ne kilvan leijailee
---
The crisp winter weather is full of snow
and our chestnut horse* won't stay in the barn no more
I'll soon harness it in front of a small sleigh
and then we'll hurry on to our joyful journey
Jingle bells, jingle bells, they're tinkling merrily
The white flakes of winter are racing as they float down
Into the sleigh, into the sleigh, come to ride
The snow under the runners is singing its song
It's warm under the
ryijy** when the snow comes down in a flurry
Now our chestnut horse is dashing and the land is white
Jingle bells, jingle bells, they're tinkling merrily
The white flakes of winter are racing as they float down
---
*
liinakko is a chestnut coloured horse with white mane and tail
**
Here's more photos of ryijys if you want to see the designs!
They're usually put on the walls for decoration. They're also used during weddings: some (if not most?) churches have their own ryijy that is
put in front of the altar. The bride and the groom will
stand on it during the ceremony.