This is the LAST Spanish song which a good number of people on Guam still sing. Despite not knowing much of what it says, older Chamorros absolutely love this carol because of its liveliness. They can make out some of the words, which are the same in Chamorro : Belén, quesos, mantecas, noche. You can tell from the video clip how much these singers enjoy the song. I got carried away, too.
Lyrics
¡Pastores a Belén!
(Shepherds to Bethlehem!)
¡Corramos en tropel!
(Let us run together!)
¡Quesos, mantecas, turrones y miel
(Cheese, butter, nougat and honey)
llevad pastores a nuestro Emmanuel!
(bring, shepherds, to our Emmanuel!)
Que es hoy la noche hermosa de Israel.
(For now is the beautiful night of Israel.)
Vamos pastorcillos,
(Let's go little shepherds)
vamos a Belén.
(let's go to Bethlehem)
Que ha nacido el Niño
(for the Child has been born)
para nuestro bién.
(for our benefit)
Vamos pastorcillos,
(Let's go little shepherds)
vamos a Belén.
(let's go to Bethelehem.)
Quesos y mantecas
(Cheese and butter)
turrones y miel,
(nougat and honey)
llevaremos todos
(we will bring all of them)
para nuestro bién.
(for our benefit.)
quesos...
¡Marchemos todos a Belén, a Belén!
(Let us all go to Bethlehem!)
tra la la...
TURRONES
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| buscorecetas.com |
Spanish Christmas Turrones
Made of sugar, honey, eggs and toasted almonds
A SECOND RENDITION
A SECOND RENDITION
Bonito villancico en el idioma español. Es curioso porque jamás lo había oído más que en Guam y Filipinas. Estas canciones tradicionales en castellano demuestran la evidente influencia española en la cultura chamorra.
ReplyDeleteI SEND MY CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO THE CHAMORRO PEOPLE OF GUAM. WE ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLAND HAVE PRESERVED TRADITIONAL SONGS, RELIGIOUS HYMNS OR CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. GREETINGS FROM SPAIN!
ReplyDeleteEstas canciones registradas en Guam son un exponente de hispanización que se llevó a cabo en la isla. Lingüísticamente hemos de entenderlo enmarcado dentro de lo que podemos considerar una huella vestigial del español en Guam. Se puede concluir que la existencia de estas canciones y otros textos conservados en este último rincón del Pacífico refleja una posición indiscutiblemente adscrita al mundo hispánico.
ReplyDeleteWe also sing this in my hometown in the Philippines...reminds us of Christmas past.
ReplyDeleteWe also have another Christmas Song but I can't find the notes to it...This must have originated from the friars as well..It goes this way: En lecho de pajas, naces me jesus, you quisirro marte, como me amas tu. en lecho de pajas naces mi Jesus, you quisierro marte como me amas tu. Mas que los pastores, mas que in seraphin como tu y quierre, quierro amar te ati...etc....
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DeleteEn lecho de pajas, nació mi Jesús. Yo quisiera amarte, como me amas tú. Más que los pastores, más que un serafín, como tú me quieres quiero amarte a tí. (On a bed of straw, my Jesus was born. I would like to love you, the way you love me. More than the shepherds, more than a seraph, the way you love me, I want to love you.)
DeleteI know that "Pastores a Belen" is a well-known carol among Chamorros, but this "En Lecho de Pajas"??? One of the Delgado Brothers told me that they included both Christmas carols in their repertoire of traditional songs. But I have a question: Is "En Lecho de Pajas" known among Chamorros or rather among Filipino residents in Guam? Thanks.
DeleteIt is not known among the Chamorros on Guam, except those who have heard it on the Delgado Bros album. According to one of the Delgado Bros, they learned it from an American Capuchin priest stationed in Agana Hts.
DeleteInteresting. Thank you for clarifying my doubt.
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