Gesu bambino (also known as "The infant Jesus"
and "When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows") -
Frederick H. Martens & Pietro A. Yon

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 21 December 2005, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. FLOWER BLOOM"each" IN SNOW
NOW WINTER NIGHT.
MOST BEAUTIFUL WHICH? CHRIST OUR CHRISTMAS ROSE.
HIMSELF-lf KING OFFER LOVE AND LIGHT.
(<) ANGEL SING, (>) SHEPHERD SING.
EARTH THANKFUL, CELEBRATE.
E-V-E-N STAR DOT-SKY EXPRESS THRILL
GOD BLESS HIS-lf BIRTH.

Refrain: ||: (3 times) COME-ON, WE SHOULD WORSHIP HIM. :|| CHRIST, OUR LORD.

2. AGAIN OUR HEART THRILL REMEMBER.
WE GREET NOW HOLY NIGHT.
LOOK-BACK TIME BORN OUR CHRISTMAS ROSE.
OUR KING OFFER LOVE AND LIGHT.
EVERY VOICE SHOULD ANNOUNCE HIS NAME.
THANKFUL MUSIC SPREADwg.
FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH HE-lf,hi COME,
THAT WE WITH HIM CAN LIVE.


Notes: BLOOM - (2h)[A] are held together but the hands are twisted like the beginning of CHANGE. Hands twist back while opening to (2h)[5:] with the hands still held together.

LIGHT - Same sign as BRIGHT and CLEAR, that is, (2h)[O^], POs away, FOs up, open to (2h)[5], while separating. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Light - 1.

SHEPHERD - SHEEP SUPERVISOR.

DOT-SKY - (2h)[5:], POs and FOs diagonally up, hands jab upwards as if dotting the sky with stars.

BLESS - (2h)[O^], POs ><, held at mouth. Hands are brought downwards while opening to (2h)[5]. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Bless.

The signs between "||:" and ":||" are to be repeated.

COME-ON - (2h)[B^] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

WORSHIP - NDH is clasped over DH [S] and hands circle perpendicular to the chest. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Worship.

HIM - Underlined prounouns (ME</>, YOU</>, HE) are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

GREET - Hands alt. salute from forehead, but hands are more diagonal than a military salute.

HOLY - H-CLEAN. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Holy - 1.

LOOK-BACK - (2h)[H or V] are brought back over the shoulder, POs down, FOs back.

THANKFUL - THANK+.

Lyrics:

1. When blossoms flowered 'mid the snow upon a winter night,
was born the child the Christmas Rose, the King of Love and Light.
The angels sang; the shepherds sang. The grateful earth rejoiced.
And at His blessed birth the stars their exultation voiced.

Refrain: ||: (3x) O come let us adore Him. :|| Christ the Lord.

2. Again the heart with rapture glows to greet the holy night,
that gave the world its Christmas Rose, its King of Love and Light.
Let every voice acclaim his name, the grateful chorus swell.
From paradise to earth He came that we with Him might dwell.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to ViolinOnline: Gesu bambino and click on "MIDI Sound File".

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