Looking for songs to add to your Christmas playlist? Check out these popular Spanish tracks and learn a few details about their multilingual history!
Feliz Navidad – Gwen Stefani and Mon Laferte
Legend has it that the singer/songwriter Jose Feliciano wrote this song when he was homesick at Christmas time, living away from his family in New York City. It became a multilingual classic, with lyrics both in Spanish and English. It’s still much loved and reinterpreted today, including by Gwen Stefani and Mon Laferte, who recently released this upbeat cover.
Santa Claus Llego A La Ciudad – Luis Miguel
Americans Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie wrote this Christmas tune during the 1930s. It soared in popularity after Eddie Cantor sang it on the radio in 1934. Recorded during the Great Depression, his original version includes extra verses that encourage people to be charitable to those less fortunate at Christmas time. Later, it was interpreted into Spanish.
El Burrito De Belen – Juanes
Venezuelan Hugo Blanco penned this Christmas song in 1972, and it has since become a staple during the holidays in Latin America. Check out this recent version by the Colombian musician, Juanes.
El Nino Del Tambor – Raphael
Here’s a popular Christmas song with a multilingual heritage. An American music teacher, Katherine Davis, originally wrote it in 1941, but historians speculate that she reinterpreted the lyrics from an older Czech carol. It recounts the story of a boy who has no gift to give baby Jesus, so he plays his drum to the child instead. The famous Spanish singer, Raphael, recorded his classic version in 1967.
Los Peces En El Rio – Ronaldo Villazón
This is a traditional Spanish song about Mary and the newborn Jesus. Ronaldo Villazon is only one of many to interpret this beautiful Christmas carol.
Llego Navidad – Manuel Carrasco
This is a moving cover of John Lennon’s 1971, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” The song was originally a protest tune against the Vietnam War. Interestingly enough, the war had not actually ended yet, and would carry on until 1973. The song was more like a prayer that Lennon hoped would help initiate peace. Today, it can be enjoyed as a celebration of the end of a difficult year, as well as a call to come together to overcome our challenges.
Contigo Todo El Año Es Navidad – Raphael
Imagine if you fell in love at Christmas time. In this euphoric love song, Raphael belts out the blissful feeling of what that would be like.
Blanca Navidad – Luis Miguel
This is another classic Christmas tune from the 1940s and 50s, originally sung in English by Bing Crosby. Luis Miguel’s rendition is the perfect song to enjoy with a cup of wine near the fireplace.
Santa, Te Espero A La 10 – Paty Cantu
Are you getting ready for a few Christmas parties? Here’s a good track to add to your party playlist or enjoy while dancing around the Christmas tree.
Navidad, Navidad – Raphael
You can never have too much Raphael at Christmas time. This multilingual tune borrows the melody from “Jingle Bells,” which was composed by American James Lord Pierpont in 1857. Originally, Pierpont called the song “One Horse Open Sleigh,” and it didn’t have any association with Christmas. But it soon became a part of the Christmas culture and later migrated into other countries and languages.
One beautiful aspect of Christmas songs is their rich, and often multilingual heritage. Each new interpretation brings a fresh layer to the song, while retaining the spirit of the original. Listen to our recommended playlist here!
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