Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Maja's Christmas Awakening: Rediscovering Festive Magic
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2024-11-15-23-34-02-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: U Zagrebu, na Trgu bana Jelačića, zima je dolazila polako, noseći magičnu atmosferu.
En: In Zagreb, at Trg bana Jelačića, winter approached slowly, bringing a magical atmosphere.

Hr: Drvene kućice usred grada bile su ukrašene lampicama i mirisom kuhanog vina.
En: Wooden stalls in the middle of the city were decorated with lights and the scent of mulled wine.

Hr: Snijeg još nije prekrio krovove, ali hladni zrak nosio je dah zime.
En: Snow had yet to cover the rooftops, but the cold air carried the breath of winter.

Hr: Maja, mlada profesionalka u IT kompaniji, nije osjećala veselje Božića.
En: Maja, a young professional at an IT company, did not feel the joy of Christmas.

Hr: Godinama je govorila da je Božić samo reklama, ništa više.
En: For years, she had said that Christmas was just an advertisement, nothing more.

Hr: Ipak, nešto duboko u njoj željelo je ponovno osjetiti čaroliju Božića kakvu je poznavala kao dijete.
En: Yet, something deep inside her longed to feel the magic of Christmas she knew as a child.

Hr: Jednog listopadskog popodneva, njeni prijatelji Ivana i Goran pozvali su je da odu na advent na Trgu.
En: One October afternoon, her friends Ivana and Goran invited her to visit the advent at the Trg.

Hr: Ivana je bila entuzijastična, stalno pričajući o toplom vinu i medenjacima.
En: Ivana was enthusiastic, constantly talking about hot wine and gingerbread.

Hr: "Idemo, Majo, bit će zabavno!
En: "Come on, Maja, it'll be fun!"

Hr: ", rekla je s osmijehom.
En: she said with a smile.

Hr: Na početku, Maja je oklijevala.
En: At first, Maja hesitated.

Hr: Imala je previše obaveza i zadataka na poslu.
En: She had too many obligations and tasks at work.

Hr: Ali unutarnji glas šaptao je da ide.
En: But an inner voice whispered for her to go.

Hr: Možda joj treba promjena.
En: Maybe she needed a change.

Hr: Napokon je pristala.
En: Finally, she agreed.

Hr: Kad su stigli na Trg, svijetla su blistala iznad njih.
En: When they arrived at the Trg, lights shone above them.

Hr: Atmosfera je bila živa i vesela.
En: The atmosphere was lively and cheerful.

Hr: Prilazili su štandovima, uživajući u mirisima cimeta i klinčića.
En: They approached the stalls, enjoying the scents of cinnamon and cloves.

Hr: Goran je kupio pečene kestene, a Ivana im je podijelila tople šalice s kuhanim vinom.
En: Goran bought roasted chestnuts, and Ivana handed out warm cups of mulled wine.

Hr: No, usred gužve, Maja se izdvojila.
En: In the midst of the crowd, however, Maja got separated.

Hr: Gomila ju je povukla u drugi smjer, dok su Ivana i Goran nestali iz vida.
En: The crowd pulled her in another direction, while Ivana and Goran disappeared from view.

Hr: Na trenutak osjetila je paniku, ali onda je začula glazbu.
En: For a moment, she felt panic, but then she heard music.

Hr: Na kraju ulice, stajao je zbor dječaka i djevojčica pjevajući staru božićnu pjesmu.
En: At the end of the street stood a choir of boys and girls singing an old Christmas song.

Hr: Glasovi su bili čisti i iskreni.
En: The voices were pure and sincere.

Hr: Maja se zaustavila, slušajući pjesmu koja joj je grijala srce.
En: Maja stopped, listening to the song that warmed her heart.

Hr: Dok su pjevali, shvatila je koliko je zanemarivala jednostavne, iskrene stvari u životu.
En: As they sang, she realized how much she had neglected the simple, genuine things in life.

Hr: Kada je zbor završio, osjetila je suzu na obrazu.
En: When the choir finished, she felt a tear on her cheek.

Hr: Bilo je to od sreće, od olakšanja, od ljubavi prema trenutku.
En: It was one of happiness, relief, and love for the moment.

Hr: Okrenula se i vidjela Ivanu i Gorana kako joj mašu.
En: She turned around and saw Ivana and Goran waving at her.

Hr: Pronašli su je.
En: They had found her.

Hr: "Uspio sam te pronaći!
En: "I managed to find you!"

Hr: ", viknuo je Goran s osmijehom.
En: shouted Goran with a smile.

Hr: "Nadam se da si se zabavljala.
En: "I hope you enjoyed it."

Hr: "Ivana ju je zagrlila, a Maja je uzdahnula s olakšanjem.
En: Ivana hugged her, and Maja sighed with relief.

Hr: Ponovno sa svojim prijateljima, osjetila je toplinu koja joj je ispunila srce.
En: Back with her friends, she felt a warmth filling her heart.

Hr: Obećala je sebi da će biti otvorenija prema radostima i ljubavi u životu.
En: She promised herself she would be more open to the joys and love in life.

Hr: Te noći, Maja je legla u krevet osjećajući promjenu.
En: That night, Maja lay in bed feeling a change.

Hr: Sjetila se pogleda na zbor i odlučnost da više nikad ne dozvoli ciničnim mislima da je spriječe doživjeti čaroliju.
En: She recalled the sight of the choir and resolved never again to let cynical thoughts prevent her from experiencing magic.

Hr: Božić je ponovno postao vrijeme radosti i povezanosti.
En: Christmas once again became a time of joy and connection.

Hr: Napokon, ona je pronašla svoj put natrag do pravog duha Božića.
En: Finally, she found her way back to the true spirit of Christmas.


Vocabulary Words:

• approached: dolazila
• magical: magičnu
• decorated: ukrašene
• stall: kućica
• scent: miris
• mulled wine: kuhano vino
• rooftops: krovovi
• neglected: zanemarivala
• genuine: iskrene
• hesitated: oklijevala
• obligations: obaveza
• whispered: šaptao
• atmosphere: atmosfera
• lively: živa
• cinnamon: cimeta
• cloves: klinčića
• roasted: pečene
• chestnuts: kestene
• separated: izdvojila
• panic: panika
• choir: zbor
• pure: čisti
• sincere: iskreni
• tear: suza
• relief: olakšanje
• waving: mašu
• resolved: odlučnost
• cynical: ciničnim
• joy: radost
• connection: povezanosti