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Sto lat |
"Sto lat" (One Hundred Years) is a traditional Polish song that is sung to express good wishes to a person. The song's author and exact origin are unattributed. The song is sung both at informal gatherings (such as birthdays or name days) or at formal events, such as weddings; it was played, for example, at the presidential inauguration of Lech Kaczyński [1] and during visits by Pope John Paul II. [2] [3] 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 at birthdays or other important events.
The song serves the equivalent function of "Happy Birthday To You" 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. [4]
The song's lyrics are:
This translates roughly into English as:
Other verses exist that can be sung, but they are less common.
The phrase "Sto lat!" is also often used to wish someone longevity or good fortune, or as a toast, without the song. [5] 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.
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