Grateful Together
5000 Strong: Exclusive Carols and a Surprise!🌟
🌟💖 Hello, Medium community of 5000 writers!
I’m sending you all warm embraces of love and gratitude for joining me on this fantastic adventure. In this story, I’ve tagged you — writers close to my heart, whom I honor and admire, and others whose brilliance I’ve only recently discovered. This is my way of giving each one of you a special shout-out.
Please read until the end and leave a comment with a traditional song from your area. Let’s share the festive spirit and celebrate the diversity of our traditions! 🎶
To the ones who celebrate it, Merry Christmas! 🎄💖✨
And… if you no longer wish to be tagged in our articles, please let me know. 🌟💖🎉
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Looking Back on a Year of Writing and Community
It’s been a year and a half since I started my Medium journey, a year of FOM, and a year of New Literary Society — a time filled with thousands of stories, reading marathons, and the thrill of meeting many new creators.
Million thanks to our editors, Sal Gallaher and D. Denise Dianaty for their invaluable support, work, and guidance.
Our community has provided us with strength both professionally and personally.
We recently reached 600 Readers and have around 200 Writers.
We’ve had wonderful Author Interviews with writers from all over, most of which have been translated into Romanian. We’ve also had the Summer Memoir Contest and now have the Winter Wonders Drabble Contest running. Also… we are preparing for the second round of featured stories and for new projects in 2025.
And now… to elevate our spirits even higher, let us immerse ourselves in some Christmas Carols, which I translated into English, a long time ago, and have adapted and improved last year.
Also, remember to stay until the end for a literary surprise.
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“White Flowers” — “Florile Dalbe”
Imagine
Christmas Eve is here, beneath a blanket of stars.
Imagine young men, their breath misty in the wintry air, clutching an icon that tells the story of Christ’s birth. They serenade the sleeping houses with the melodious notes of “White Flowers,” a carol as delicate and ethereal as the name suggests.
But that is not all. They hold aloft “Steaua,” a bright paper star whose light shines through the chilly dusk. It’s like grasping a piece of the night sky, a celestial beacon leading them through the peaceful streets. Vasile Alecsandri, the poet, collected this charming carol, which is a beautiful tradition.
Can you hear it? The gentle rustle of the paper star, the harmonious chorus of voices, and the crunch of snow beneath.
Can you see it? The warmth of the “Steaua,” throws swirling shadows on the cobblestones.
Can you sense it? The chill on your cheeks, the excitement of Christmas enchantment in the air.
This is more than a carol. It’s a memory, a tradition, a slice of culture wrapped up in a melody.
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Verse 1:
Wake up, wake up, noble folk so grand,
White flowers bright,
Awake, O Roman plowers of the land,
White flowers bright,
For carolers are on their way,
White flowers bright,
In the night, by singers they’ll sway,
White flowers bright.
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Chorus:
And they bring a newborn God,
White flowers bright,
To save you from the dark’s facade,
White flowers bright,
A newborn God with lilies adorned,
White flowers bright,
True God, by the sun’s rays adorned,
White flowers bright.
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Verse 2:
Wake up, wake up, noble folk so grand,
White flowers bright,
Awake, O Roman plowers of the land,
White flowers bright,
For in the sky, a sign’s displayed,
White flowers bright,
A star, an emperor’s light arrayed,
White flowers bright.
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Chorus:
A comet star shining so clear,
White flowers bright,
Destined for happiness, drawing near,
White flowers bright,
Now the world begins to bloom,
White flowers bright,
The earth regains its youthful room,
White flowers bright.
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Verse 3:
Singing in the meadow, doves in flight,
White flowers bright,
By the window, swallows take their height,
White flowers bright,
And a beautiful corn, just arrived,
White flowers bright,
From the sunset, it has thrived,
White flowers bright.
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Chorus:
A white flower it brings so fair,
White flowers bright,
On the cradle, placed with care,
White flowers bright,
He will wish you a life so sweet,
White flowers bright,
In many happy years complete,
White flowers bright.
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Verse 4:
And may you blossom like the trees,
White flowers bright,
As you age with grace and ease,
White flowers bright,
So let the joy forever be,
White flowers bright,
In the garden of eternity,
White flowers bright.
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Final Thanks
A special thank you to all our fantastic Writers, Followers, and Friends for being the heart of our community. I have something special for you…
Although the New Literary Society will not accept new Author Interview submissions until (probably) March 2025, the first writer to respond will have the opportunity to be featured in a promotional interview. Also, keep in mind that we’ll translate this interview. Don’t miss out — this is my way of thanking each one of you for being… you!
❤️ ❤️ Never Give Up Ninja ❤️ ❤️ , 🚀 🚀 Manifestations of LOVE ✅🍿 , 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓝𝓸𝓸𝓴 , Maaz Ahmad , The Soulful Author , Alejandro Werther , Tristan Robert Lange , Joyce Martin , Katarina Miletic , StorySculptres , 🄹🅴🅂🆂🄴 🅂🅷🄴🅻🄻🅴🅈 , Michael Rhodes , Andulile , Dustin Arand , Darrin Atkins , Your True Direction , Lisa Lauro ,
M. Cole Grady , Wendy Tomlinson , 🄿ixel 🄵loyd , Qusay Alzubaidy , NickCammarata , Andrew Rupert Crocker , Liz H , ALEX KIRKLAND , Amy Ocean , Allykaymoms , HAROLD BIGGS , Dr John Frederick Rose , John Pearce 🌻 , Eric Warui , Lakshmi Marikumar , Written By Mo Jo Jo (Melissa LaDue) , Giuseppe Bartoli , Scott Elrod , Suma Narayan , Chantal Weiss , Clement Binnings , Robyn Morrison , Advocate, Author, Jason Sandifer , Imkingcash , Sue Banerji , Lily Lum , Professor António Francisco , Aslynn Roe 🐈 , Trisna Sunawar , Sceriff , Stephan Pinkwart , Alan Yarborough , Marta Calderon, MScE , mttsus , Chris Pinadella , Zeerak , Angela Treat Lyon , James Mullen , Ilana Estelle Author , JT. Alexander -FMT , Michael De Shannon , Lamcer31210 , Tim Davis , By HBN💫 , Long After the Thrill , 1Spot , Paul A Domenick , Ronwriter , NAZAN AY , Jess Create , Muhammad Naveed Arshad,MSc |Writer|Editor| AI Engr , Jacqueline Lay , Ben Abdelhafid , Melvin H Waller
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Please, clap, engage, and… stay tuned for the next Christmas story…! But, most importantly, a profound thank you to each one of you. Your unwavering support has been invaluable.
If you’d like to support my projects, feel free to show some love here:
Julia Kalman 