Yesterday I spent my afternoon listening to (and singing along to) some "villancicos", which are the traditional Spanish Christmas songs. I found a Youtube compilation that was very similar to what I used to listen to when I was little, a cassette tape with carols sung by children, and it brought me many happy memories.
Some Spanish "villancicos" are versions of Christmas carols originally written in other languages, like Silent night or The little drummer boy, with soft and harmonious melodies. Then there are the ones originally written in Spanish, like "Los peces en el río" (Fish in the river) or La marimorena .(I really don´t know how to translate this one), with lively tempos, cheerful melodies, and instruments like tambourines and "zambombas" (which Google says can be translated as "friction drum" - it´s a typical Spanish thing). Anyway, as you know, Spanish people love celebrating things by being loud 🙂
La verdad es los villancicos son uno de los recuerdos más entrañables que tengo de las Navidades, Y ahora pensándolo, creo que tiene que ver con que son canciones que se van pasando de generación en generación, y que podemos cantar todos juntos, toda la familia. A mí me encantaba cantarlos de pequeña, y cuando años después les tocó el turno a mis hijas, me hizo mucha ilusión enseñárselos; es como si, por un ratito, yo también volviera a ser niña…
For me, Christmas carols combine the power of music, which lifts our spirit and brings us together, with the excitement of Christmas. And if you look at it this way, they´re the perfect excuse for us to allow ourselves to become children again, set aside our worries for a little while, and truly enjoy the present moment.
What about you? Do you like Christmas carols? Which one is your favourite? And what other things make you feel as excited as a child?