Let's talk Latin America
Let's talk Latin America
BristoLatino music editor Rebecca Wilson talks us through the soundtrack to her first Christmas in Colombia
The name given to Christmas songs sung in Spain and Latin America, Villancicos, comes from the nature of those who traditionally sing them: villagers from rural regions. Villancicos are only heard in December and are songs that used to tell stories about the pueblo: about love, death, everyday situations. The structure includes verses and a chorus, or refrain. You might hear them sung by children at one of the novenas, the 9 days of family reunion for prayer and Christmas treats: perhaps accompanied by some natilla (a panela/cane sugar-flavoured flan) and buñuelos (cheesy fried maize dough balls).
Buñuelos
Natilla
In Colombia, Christmas is a time for (over)drinking and spending time with friends and family. The streets are filled with wives and girlfriends holding up their inebriated other halves, with families walking around highly-lit markets buying lechona (a cooked pig re-stuffed with its own meat and rice) and canelazo (a warm Christmassy drink of agua de panela boiled with cinnamon, and of course, a touch of aguardiente).
Lechona
Other than the Villancicos often sung by Colombian children, there are traditional songs saved exclusively for the Christmas period up until New Year. Upon hearing the percussive scratch of the guiro and the mention of las navidades, Colombians are often reminded of drunken festivities. Here are a couple of our favourites translated into English:
Parranda de navidad
Con mi botellita de ron
salgo a parrandear
agarro mi cuartico compay
y me voy a gozar nada más…
Son para gozarlas
éstas navidades
porque el año que viene
se acaban los pesales…
El lucero esta radiante
ya viene el amanecer
agarro mi cuatrico y mi Ron
y Pasteles me voy a Comer…
Cuando sean las 12 de la noche
y el año barbudo se va
agarro mi cuatrico y mi ron
y me voy a abrazar a Mamá…
Ya yo me despido Compay
de esta Navidad
el año que viene Caramba
volveré a cantar y a gozar
Christmas Party Anthem
With my bottle of rumI’m going out on the town
I’m bringing my small guitar
And I’m gonna enjoy myself like never before
The Christmas season
Is for having fun
Because this coming year
There’ll be no more regrets
The bright star is shining
The morning’s already creeping in
I’ve got my guitar and my rum
And I’m going to eat Christmas cakes
When the clock strikes midnight
and this rusty year ends
With my guitar and rum and in hand
I’m gonna embrace my mumma
Now I’m saying my goodbyes
To this Christmas
This coming year, well
I’m gonna sing and enjoy myself all over again
Navidad que vuelve
Navidad que vuelve
Tradición del año
Unos van alegres
Otros van llorando
…
Hay quien tiene todo
Todo lo que tiene
y sus Navidades
siempre son alegres
Hay otros muy pobres
que no tiene nada
son los que prefieren
que nunca llegaran
…
Navidad que vuelve
vuelve la parranda
en fiesta de Reyes
Todo el mundo canta
…
Traigo un ramillete
de un lindo rosal
un año que viene
otro que se va
Dime si me quieres
dime si me quieres
Que me adoras más
Un año que viene y otro que se va
Christmas is Here Again
Christmas is Here Again
The annual tradition
Some go merrily
And others, in tears
There are some who have it all
All that they have
And their Christmas time
Is always a happy time
There are others who have nothing
Those who are poor
Those who would prefer
Christmas never came
Christmas is coming
We’ll be partying soon
At the Three Kings Celebration
Everyone will sing
I’ll bring a pretty bunch of roses
As one year ends
And another begins
If you love me, tell me
If you love me,
Tell me you adore me
As one year ends and another begins
Images (top to bottom): Instagram, Personal Archive. Featured image: Christmas lights in Baranquilla, Colombia -Zona Cero.