Spanish fairy tales
Spanish fairy tales. Discover the most popular folk tales in Spanish to practice and continue improving in the language.
Christmas is already knocking at the door. You've probably already heard the Christmas song “All I want for Christmas is you” by Mariah Carey, seen the Spanish Christmas desserts in the supermarket and the Christmas decorations in the shopping malls. If you're in Spain or will be spending Christmas celebrations in the country, learning Spanish Christmas carols can help you mimic the season and the locals.
Expand your knowledge of Spanish and get to know the most popular Spanish Christmas songs that are sung in every house in Spain. Do you know any of them already? Let's get started!
Campana sobre campana (Bell upon bell)
This Spanish Christmas carol has its origin in Andalusia and is one of the most popular. It is a Spanish Christmas song with a repetitive and simple structure, which makes it easy to learn and spread among children and adults.
The Christmas song in Spanish narrates the scene of the birth of Jesus and the call to the inhabitants of Bethlehem to come to the portal, guided by the bells that announce the miracle of the birth.
This is one of the most famous verses:
“Campana sobre campana,
y sobre campana una,
asómate a esa ventana,
verás al Niño en la cuna”
“Bell upon bell,
and bell upon bell one,
lean out of that window,
you will see the Child in the cradle”
Noche de paz (Silent Night)
This Spanish carol conveys a message of calm, peace and spirituality on the night of Jesus' birth. It is one of the most universal Christmas carols. It was composed in 1818 in Austria by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr, was translated into Spanish and quickly became popular around the world.
Best known stanza:
“Noche de paz, noche de amor
Todo duerme en derredor
Entre los astros que esparcen su luz
Brilla anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz”
“Silent night, holy night
All is calm and all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace”
Los peces en el río (The fish in the river)
“Los peces en el río” focuses on nature's enthusiasm for the birth of Jesus, represented by the fish that “drink and drink” in the river. It is a traditional Spanish carol, possibly influenced by folk music, and its lyrics combine religious and popular references.
One of its stanzas goes like this:
“Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río,
pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido.
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber,
los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer”
“But look how the fish drink in the river,
but look how they drink to see God born.
They drink and drink and drink again,
the fish in the river for seeing God born”
Ande, ande, ande or La marimorena
This Spanish Christmas song can be found under two different names, but it is the same carol. You can see it as “Ande, ande, ande” or as “La marimorena”. It is a lively song that invites celebration and joy for Christmas with a very festive tone; it is cheerful and full of popular references.
Its title alludes to the overflowing celebration of Christmas in Spain, so its popular roots are Spanish, although its origin is uncertain. It is not known if it comes from Castilla-La Mancha or Andalusia, but it is known that its lyrics have been modified and adapted in different regions over time.
A verse of this traditional Spanish carol is:
"Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena,
ande, ande, ande, que es la Nochebuena"
Dime niño, de quién eres (Tell me child, whose are you)
This Spanish Christmas carol has an introspective and sweet tone. The lyrics imagine a conversation with Baby Jesus about his divine identity. It is a very popular Spanish Christmas song, especially sung in rural areas of Spain, associated with Christmas devotion.
Most famous stanza:
“Dime Niño, ¿de quién eres,
todo vestidito de blanco?
Soy de la Virgen María,
y del Espíritu Santo”
“Tell me Child, whose are you,
all dressed in white?
I am of the Virgin Mary,
and of the Holy Spirit”
Ya viene la vieja (The old woman is coming)
This Spanish Christmas carol is humorous and talks about the arrival of an imaginary figure that symbolizes the giving of gifts, a tradition associated with the Christmas holidays. It is a Christmas song in Spanish, whose origin is linked to the customs of asking for aguinaldo during these festivities.
Most popular verse:
“Ya viene la vieja con el aguinaldo,
le parece mucho, le viene quitando.”
“The old woman is coming with ‘aguinaldo’,
she thinks it's too much, she's taking it away”
Arre borriquito
It tells the story of a donkey that takes its owner to the portal of Bethlehem, encouraging everyone to join the journey. It is a Spanish children's carol, very popular for its lively rhythm and simplicity, which makes it ideal for the little ones and, if you are just starting to learn Spanish, it is also perfect for you.
Stanza of this carol:
“Arre borriquito, vamos a Belén,
que mañana es fiesta y al otro también”
“Giddy up, let's go to Bethlehem,
tomorrow is a holiday and the other one too”
Pastores venid (Shepherds come)
This carol calls the shepherds to come to the portal of Bethlehem to adore the Baby Jesus and bring him gifts. It is a traditional Spanish Christmas carol, associated with the representations of the living Bethlehem and the pastoradas, which are celebrated mostly in rural villages.
Stanza of “Pastores venid”:
“Pastores venid, pastores llegad,
a adorar al Niño, a adorar al Niño
que ha nacido ya”
“Shepherds come, shepherds come,
to adore the Child, to adore the Child
who is already born”
Campanas de Belén (Bells of Bethlehem)
“Campanas de Belén” is a joyful carol that celebrates the birth of the Christ Child, with the bells of Bethlehem ringing as a symbol of jubilation. It is very popular at Christmas time, especially in Spain and Latin America.
It is a traditional Spanish carol, whose simple lyrics and catchy melody have made it one of the most loved Christmas carols. Its exact authorship is unknown, but it has been transmitted orally throughout generations, consolidating itself as a classic.
Best known stanza:
“Belén, campanas de Belén,
que los ángeles tocan,
¿qué nueva me traéis?”
“Bethlehem, bells of Bethlehem,
that the angels ring,
what news do you bring me?”
Burrito Sabanero
Although it originates from Venezuela, the “Burrito Sabanero” is a carol that has been gaining great popularity in Spain, especially among children. It speaks of a donkey that carries the protagonist to the portal of Bethlehem.
It was composed in 1972 by Venezuelan Hugo Blanco and has been adopted by many Spanish-speaking countries, Spain included.
Stanza:
“Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén”
“With my burrito sabanero I'm on my way to Bethlehem
If they see me, if they see me, I'm on my way to Bethlehem”
Did you already know any of these Christmas carols in Spanish? Get into the language and live the Christmas spirit with Enforex while you learn Christmas songs in Spanish and study an intensive Spanish course. Get into the Christmas spirit.
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