Hellije Mann

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Hillije Mann (Kölsch)

Etymology

Literally, “the Holy Man”. Compare Dutch goedheiligman.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhelijə ˈman/

Proper noun

der Hellije Mann m

1. (most dialects) Saint Nicholas (in the sense of German Nikolaus)
   • 1974, “Pänz Pänz Pänz”‎^[1]performed by Bläck Fööss:

     Eimol em Johr ävver es et anders: wenn der Papp der Hillije Mann mäht.
     Dann si’ mir die leevste Pänz op Ääde un et jitt kei Minsch, dä zo uns sät:
     Pänz, Pänz, wo mer jeiht un steiht, nur Pänz, Pänz, Pänz!

     But once per year it’s all different: when Dad plays Saint Nicholas.
     Then we are the dearest children in the world and there’s nobody who says to us:
     Children, children, wherever you stand and go, nothing but children, children, children!