¡Cantemos! The Songs of Christmas in Spanish

It's difficult to imagine celebrating Christmas without the music of the season. Around my home, at least, the Christmas music comes out even before the decorations do. Whether we're listening to the traditional strains of Silent Night or contemporary tunes such as Mary, Did You Know?, we find that few things speak so much of the joy and wonderment of the season as does music.

Fortunately, the songs of Christmas transcend cultures, borders and languages. The most popular Christmas songs have been translated into dozens of languages. In fact, several of the traditional Christmas hymns we sing were translated into English from German and other European languages.

Below is an index of links to popular Christmas carols in Spanish, where they are known as villancicos, alphabetized by their titles in both English and Spanish. Note that in some cases the translations listed here aren't the only ones available, so don't be surprised if the Spanish lyrics aren't the same as you've seen somewhere else or even sung before. For example, Silent Night, Holy Night has been translated as both Noche de paz, noche de amor and Noche de luz, noche de paz. Note also that in a few cases the translations are far from literal. Anyone who has tried translating songs — which requires ideally that not only a song's meaning but also its rhythm and rhyme be conveyed — will understand why. Some of the carols include a grammar and vocabulary guide for classroom use or personal study.

Listed by English title

Angels We Have Heard on High
Away in a Manger
Deck the Halls
The First Noel
The Fishes in the River
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Jingle Bells #1
Jingle Bells #2
Joy to the World
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste fideles)
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Oh, Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
Silent Night
The Twelve Days of Christmas
We Three Kings
What Child Is This?

Listed by Spanish title

A medianoche se oyó
Cascabel
Campanas de Navidad
Los doce días de Navidad
Escuchad el son triunfal
Hoy en la tierra
Jesús en pesebre
Navidad, Navidad
Noche sagrada
Noche de paz
Los peces en el río
La primera Navidad
Oh pueblecito de Belén
¿Qué niño es éste?
Los tres reyes
Qué verdes son
¡Regocijad! Jesús nació
Venid, venid fieles
Ya llegó la Navidad