Paulo Coelho
On Christmas Eve, the king invited the prime minister to join him for their usual walk together. He enjoyed seeing the decorations in the streets, but since he didn’t want his subjects to spend too much money on these just to please him, the two men always disguised themselves as traders from some far distant land.
They walked through the centre of the city, admiring the lights, the Christmas trees, the candles burning on the steps of the houses, the stalls selling gifts, and the men, women and children hurrying off to celebrate a family Christmas around a table laden with food.
On the way back, they passed through a poorer area, where the atmosphere was quite different. There were no lights, no candles, no delicious smells of food about to be served. There was hardly a soul in the street, and, as he did every year, the king remarked to the prime minister that he really must pay more attention to the poor in his kingdom. The prime minister nodded, knowing that the matter would soon be forgotten again, buried beneath the day-to-day bureaucracy of budgets to be approved and discussions with foreign dignitaries.
Suddenly, they heard music coming from one of the poorest houses. The hut was so ramshackle and the rotten wooden timbers so full of cracks, that they were able to peer through and see what was happening inside. And what they saw was utterly absurd: an old man in a wheelchair apparently crying, a shaven-headed young woman dancing, and a young man with sad eyes shaking a tambourine and singing a folk song.
‘I’m going to find out what they’re up to,’ said the king.
He knocked. The music stopped, and the young man came to the door.
‘We are merchants in search of a place to sleep. We heard the music, saw that you were still awake, and wondered if we could spend the night here.’
‘You can find shelter in a hotel in the city. We, alas, cannot help you. Despite the music, this house is full of sadness and suffering.’
‘And may we know why?’
‘It’s all because of me.’ It was the old man in the wheelchair who spoke. ‘I’ve spent my life teaching my son calligraphy, so that he could one day get a job as a palace scribe. But the years have passed and no post has ever come up. And then, last night, I had a stupid dream: an angel appeared to me and asked me to buy a silver goblet because, the angel said, the king would be coming to visit me. He would drink from the goblet and give my son a job.
‘The angel was so persuasive that I decided to do as he said. Since we have no money, my daughter-in-law went to the market this morning to sell her hair so that we could buy that goblet over there. The two of them are doing their best to get me in the Christmas spirit by singing and dancing, but it’s no use.’
The king saw the silver goblet, asked to be given a little water to quench his thirst and, before leaving, said to the family:
‘Do you know, we were talking to the prime minister only today, and he told us that an opening for a palace scribe would be announced next week.’
The old man nodded, not really believing what he was hearing, and bade farewell to the strangers. The following morning, however, a royal proclamation was read out in all the city streets; a new scribe was needed at court. On the appointed day, the audience room at the palace was packed with people eager to compete for that much-sought-after post. The prime minister entered and asked everyone there to prepare their paper and pens:
‘Here is the subject of the composition: Why is an old man weeping, a shaven-headed woman dancing, and a sad young man singing?’
A murmur of disbelief went round the room. No one knew how to tell such a story, apart, that is, from the shabbily dressed young man sitting in one corner, who smiled broadly and began to write.
(Based on an Indian story)
Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa
—
Send to your friends this tale in English – click here
Envie a sus amigos este cuento en castellano – pinche aquí
Envie aos seus amigos este conto em português – clique aqui
Envoyez ce conte à vos amis en français – cliquez ici
Um dieses Märchen nach Irhen Freunden auf deutsch schicken – bitte klick hier
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Thank you for this beautiful story ;-)
May angels visit us in our dreams. Amen.
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for sharing and giving us inspiration, new hopes and new horizons daily . Merry Christmas and Happy New year
raj
Hi paulo Coelho,
Nothing happens by chance but by choice…N going through your blog was my choice not by chance….
I love reading your work and this story was indeed very much uplifting the spirit of faith and positivity.
Merry Christmas!!
Your Christmas Tale is about a dream. The old man believed in his dream in spite of it was silly, but he had right.
I don´t care so much about my dreams, but I have one, wich I dream very often. I´m rather tired of this. My dream is about a tornado, one or more but it doesn´t frighten me, it fascinate me. What does it mean? Thanks a lot for all your comments.
Merry Christmas Paulo!!!
Thank you for the Beautiful story!!!
Thanks Coelho,Thanks a lot for the lovely Tale
an inspiring tale, thanks for sharing. merry Christmas
Miracles are just around the corner…never give up, because someone has listened to your prayer.Thank you, Mr Coelho,for telling us stories which go straight to our hearts.Barbara
There is always an Angel waiting for us to receive It in our souls…My 2 years old daughter Maria tells me this every night, when, before sleeping,talks to some nice “flies”she sees on the ceiling; I can’t see them, but I’m sure they’re there!!!
Music, is, indeed,one of the fastest way to the Angels, and from my inner house I try to always let the Music to enchant the souls around me.
I dance on the music of your soul, revealed in your books, Paulo Coelho!
Merry Christmas!
I don’t know if you read this blog, I don’t even know if you actually still there reading this,… but hey… I certainly want you to know something, you brought happiness into my heart with your story, and I certainly will love to share some interesting stories with you,… you can write in portuguesse… mine is pretty dangerous enough that I could get slapped for my grammar..
…heard the music. Music is a language of both sadness and joy, but is a language of hearts.
We all should sing and dance, as baby Jesus has been born again. Angels sing, that’s how Christmas song has been invented: from the shepards that heard them in the magic night.
Good evening,
Dear Mr.Coelho, thank you for this Xmas tale. Music saved the house…Meaning their hope.
The king knew about their existence just because h
Paulo,
Hope you have a beautiful winter holiday. Thank you for generously sharing your gift with the world.
Namasté,
Kim S.
Thank you for the wonderful story. While Xmas has been a low key profile during recession ..this will certainly give many people hope that “All is not lost” ..
Wish you a very wonderful new year and yes may the angel come in your dream to fulfill your wish.
Merry Xmas and happy new year to you and your fans.
Lovely story.
One may say , how irrational was that that poor old man bought a silver goblet. Makes me wonder , how many things we have let passed by because they look irrational.
Sometime ago I started blogging in English, a language I don’t master well. People ask me “why in English ?” It doesn’t make sense to most of them. Sometimes I can’t explain that to myself either so I stoped asking. Deep inside me , I know the reasons.That blog, for me, is the way back to Home, and I travel light.
Happy Holidays everyone
——-
http://horseandmoon.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing this beautifully profound and moving tale. May we all listen to the voice within, and never give up!
Odavno nisam pročitala novu bajku… hvala!
Merry Christmas and the New Taleyear!
Merry Christmas to you all and especially to You Paulo !!! Thank you for everything words aren´t enough for the love you are giving!!!
I couldn´t pick one song, maybe because I had a dream about chosing one way out of three. Here is a triologi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4VM41immWI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3PX267adKs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKNIs078x38
My call to keep the light shining, I think there isn´t a other way, who knows I don´t know?
Wishes from Tina
Predivna prica….
Sretan Bozic!
Thanks a lot for spreading Christmas cheer the story was gripping and piognant till the end
Paulo, feliz Natal e um 2009 dez, para você, sua espôsa Christina e família!
What a fantastic story of hope and the strength of dreams, which is so very much needed in these trying times. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. Merry Christmas, Paulo.
A beautiful story!
Now I will sit back, and read my new book “Brida” that my grandmother gave me for Christmas=) I’m looking forward to a day in “the world of Paulo Coelho literature”!
Merry Christmas to you!
Remember that as you present yourself to the world is how you will be perceived. Let us all take this time of joy, safety, and harmony forward into 2009 and beyond. From my heart to yours,
Barbara
Paulo, your’e amazing. like a flowing river. but we always need each other. to live. to advanture of life. please come to me. to see more…
I’m waiting
s.a.araby
Beste Paulo,
Dankjewel voor dit mooie verhaal!!
Zalig Kerstfeest aan iedereen!!
Liefs,
Leen xx
Paulo,
Thank you. I have passed this story on to all of my family members and many friends in hopes that it will inspire in them, as it did me, with the idea that faith, hope, and the presence of the “King” of us all is always there watching over us; as is the answer to our prayers when we least expect it and have all but given up hope of an answer.
Thank you for the lovely story.
I wish you and everyone a very lovely Xmas!!!!
Love, Mirjam
Reading your tale while listening to Astor Piazzolla was magical…
Merry christmas
Gracias.. por los cuentos-leyendas personales.
Oh.. vida….
Noche larga y buena para todos!
Beautiful story…
Thank you for this, and merry Christmas to everybody!
Love.
dear paulo,thanks for a hope-laden tale in strife-ridden times…people like u n my spritual guru sri sri ravishankar(founder of art of living foundation)inspire optimism n good cheer in such times by sharing of wisdom…love n wishes for a merry christmas and a peaceful year ahead..
wonderful story..And for the first time i actually think i got the message..!(maria tonidu)Merry christmas!!
A few days ago I answered your question,”what is your call?”
I said that I was going to follow your lead and publish my novel One More Day on the Net at Cafe Crem where there are several of us who meet there to share our stories and our work. We encourage each other and that is what happened today. I have been told that I should serialize the “first draft” of my novel One More Day on Cafe Crem and on this Christmas Eve I decided to do it. You can read about it at http://cafecrem.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/one-more-day-a-novel/
Nobody knows me like they know you, but the people that do know me are as happy and grateful that I am doing this as I and your other readers are for you doing what you have done here and elsewhere on the Net.
I thank you so much for this story because I feel like the “the shabbily dressed young man sitting in one corner, who smiled broadly and began to write.”
I begin within a few days and allow the readers to see the “first draft” and we figured out that when the final version is ready for the publisher, I will have entertained everyone by sharing freely as you say is the right and the good thing to do.
This is something I have been wishing for for twenty years Paulo and thank you so much for all your efforts to keep the literature alive and well, and give hope for many of us writers out there to receive the joy that just one reader who comments on one’s writing can give to the writer.
Merry Christmas Santa!!!
Michael Pokocky
ps. Anyone who wants to write me can at mwp [at] michaelpokocky [dot] com [please change "at" and "dot" and you have my email address]
pss. I want to help others Paulo and that is why I put in my address. You can take it out if you wish.
Merry Christmas! Wesolych Swiat rom Poland!
Despite the cold, sickness, poverty in that poor house love and music was residing in the three people’s heart. And their belief in the supernatural world, in dreams, in angles kept them living in harmony.
Many rich houses have abundance of lights, food, wines, beautiful clothes, but they lack the energy and warmth of tenderness and love.
May the love of God is in everybody’s heart leading us to the Light and Eternal Life and Peace.
Thank you, once again, Paulo Coelho for the warm presence of yours in the Blog and all the treasures of your heart given to us.
LOVE,
Thelma.
Thank you so much for the story….. It’s so Christmas and lovely.
Merry Christmas :)
love,
amanda
thank you for this lovely tale,to see angels we must just to believe; que l’amour apporte la paix dans nos coeurs.
Thank you for this beautiful tale, Paulo Coelho! It makes me feel that, if this poor young man can obtain such a post, if this young woman’s sacrifice did not go in vain, if this old man’s dream came true and this silver goblet could quench the thirst of a king, then there is hope left in the world, even hope still for me.
And thank you for the video, Pandora.
Love,
Savita
I believe in angels and
I have a dream, Abba: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2YOGfBFAbs
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday
Thank you for this Blog Paulo and your stories, they are presents to my soul.
Much love to everybody
xXx
Feliz Natal Paulo!!
Abrações Grandes!
Dear Paulo,In your opinion, what is considered as old?
the shaven headed woman could have had cancer, she is dancing , so on her way towards recovery.
as for the sad young man singing, if he is singing he must be concentrating on his breathing, so therefore, he won’t be sad for much longer, his creativity is going to flourish.
so all in all, a good “recip” for a good story.
Peace and light to all,
xx Love
Paz a los hombres de mala voluntad (a ver si así dejan a los de buena voluntad en Paz).
Thank you for the reminder of miracles and the power of angels in dreams.I needed this so much.May your season be filled with peace and joy.Thank you again.
due minuti di sogni, di speranze, perchè prima o poi succede a tutti nella vita… ma prima e dopo il sogno c’è la vita da vivere…
in these troubled times of economic crisis ( brought about by self appointed pandits of finance, drawing their obsecene salaries ) and for us indians terrorist violence ( amzing – everyday far more people are killed in naxalite related violence than terrorist attackes, but the moment a high profile target like a 5 star hotel becomes the target, the whole nation is forced into a mourning mood, literally forced into it ); in these troubled times it is words alone which help keep the faith !
thabk yo for this beautiful story
USING YOUR BLOG TO WISH U A MERRY CHRISTMAS ( MERRIER THAN LAST YEAR :-; ) AND WISHING ALL OF US HERE A MERRY CHRITMAS AND A LUCKY NEW YEAR .
love
aditya
Bom dia Paulo!
Por muitas vezes hesitei em te escrever, e acabava sempre deixando pra outro dia. Hj, aproveito a ocasião pra te desejar um feliz natal, pleno de amor, luz e harmonia pra vc e sua familia.
Eu sou uma grande fã sua, e quero agradecer por todos os insights que obtive atraves da leitura de suas obras, que não foram poucos… Como nada na vida, não é coiencidência que vc seja o autor mais lido no mundo.
Ainda, agradeço por tudo que aprendi através a leitura de suas obras… quero continuar sempre aprendendo e aguardo ansiosamente seu proximo livro.
Que Deus continue te iluminando Paulo, que vc tenha um ano de 2009 maravilhoso, pq é o minimo que vc merece.
Com carinho, respeito e admiração.
Cassia
gracias por este hermoso cuento que me mandaron por mail me hace creer que debo insistir en encontrar mi destino y atender las señales como siempre gracias paulo por darme esperanza feliz navidad para todos vanesa
recibi este cuento al email,
la verdad es que me encantó :)
me hace sentir que el destino va a ayudarme
y que debo creer en aquello más profundo
que crea mi corazón…
porque puede ser que tenga razón..
gracias por el cuento :)
Thank you for this lovely story. It keeps the hope, faith and love warm.
Have a Merry Christmas and God bless always.
Next Comments →
{ 1 trackback }