Spanish Christmas songs
exists alongside translations


This is the time of villancicos, Christmas carols. The First World media dominates even in Latin America, but there are some traditional Christmas songs that appear to have come from Spain.

In fact, some Costa Ricans argue that true Spanish Christmas songs all come from Spain one way or another.

The translation of Christmas songs has a long tradition. After all "Silent Night," the carol in English originally was in German. It can be found in many variations in Latin America as "Noche de paz:"

Noche de paz, noche de amor,

Todo duerme en derredor.

Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz

Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús

Brilla la estrella de paz

Brilla la estrella de paz

The rest of the song and a recording can be found HERE.

"Adeste Fideles," called "Venid fieles" in Spanish, goes much further back. The original lyrics is in Latin, although it is best known in English as "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful." Here is a sample in Spanish:

Venid, venid fieles

ha nacido el Niño

Jesús, nuestro Salvador,

venid a Belén.

The rest of the Spanish lyrics can be found HERE or at many other sites on the Web.

The strong North American influence can be seen in the translation of modern Christmas songs like "Rodolfo el reno." He is the reindeer with the red nose. The song begins:

Era Rodolfo un reno

que tenía la nariz

roja como la grana

con un brillo singular.

Todos sus compañeros

se reían sin parar,

y nuestro buen amigo

triste y solo se quedó.

Look for the rest HERE.

There is no surprise that the pure Spanish songs are closer to the earth where the majority of those doing the singing worked. There is "Hacia Belén" about the burro who is carrying Mary who is heavy with the Christ child. Another song in this category is "Los peces en el río" in which the very fish in the river are excited about the arrival of Christ.

Another song that is well-known to nearly every Spanish speaker is “Campanas de Belén,” meaning the bells of Bethlehem.

For Costa Ricans the emphasis on the birth of Christ is far stronger than in the north. Although Santa Claus, called Santa Clós or Colacho, may dominate the store advertising, for many it is the Christ Child who brings the presents on Christmas Day.  Colacho is an abbreviated form of Nicolas.

And children in Spanish countries expect a present or special consideration every Jan. 6, which is the Día de los Reyes Magos celebrating the three kings or wise men who brought gifts to Jesus. This tradition is far older than Santa Claus, and this day, too, has its traditional songs. In some parts of Spain children visit the department store to sit on the lap of one of the three kings instead of Santa.

There also is a custom here of the Noche de Harras, which is Christmas Eve into Christmas morning. Some children seek small amounts of money that they stash away. The money reappears on their wedding days when in the Catholic tradition here, the bride and groom exchange what could be considered symbolic dowries.

Learning the Christmas songs in Spanish is another way of fitting into the culture. Plus singing is recognized as a way to improve foreign language acquisition. And some of the phrases can get easily integrated into everyday conversation, such as:

Santa Claus esta por llegar