Christmas is approaching and as usual, the atmosphere is filled with joy, lights, and Christmas music. In this article, you can immersed yourself in the charm of Spanish Christmas through a very special musical tradition: Christmas carols.

These songs are an essential part of the Christmas celebration in Spanish-speaking countries and knowing them will allow you to immerse yourself even more in the cultural richness of the country. Let the Christmas spirit invade you with these popular Spanish Christmas carols.

If you prefer to read this article in Spanish, click here.

1. Noche de Paz

The first carol you are going to learn is "Noche de Paz", the Spanish Christmas translation for Silent Night. This Christmas song is a universal carol that has crossed borders and has been translated into several languages.

Its original Spanish lyrics are emotional and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Here are some verses:

“Noche de paz, noche de amor,

Todo duerme en derredor.

Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz.

Brilla anunciando al niñito Jesús.

Brilla la estrella de paz.

Brilla la estrella de amor.”

2. Campana sobre campana

This carol is one of the best known in Spain. “Campana sobre campana” is a carol in Spanish that will transport you to the most famous holiday celebration in the world. The meaning of the title is “Bell upon bell” and its verses are contagious and easy to remember:

“Campana sobre campana,

y sobre campana una,

asómate a esa ventana,

verás al Niño en la cuna.

Belén, campanas de Belén

Que los ángeles tocan

¿Qué nuevas me traéis?”

3. El burrito sabanero

Originally from Venezuela, but which has reached everywhere, the popular song called “El burrito sabanero”. This carol full of rhythm and colour makes everyone equally happy and has a very catchy rhythm. Here is an excerpt:

“Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén.

Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén.

Si me ven, si me ven

Voy camino de Belén.

Si me ven, si me ven

Voy camino de Belén.”

4. Ay del chiquirritín

Adding another Christmas carol to our list, “Ay del Chiquirritín” is a gem of Spanish Christmas music. This song, full of tenderness and devotion, immerses us in the magic of Christmas. Here is a part of the carol:

“Ay del chiquirritín, chiquirriquitín,

Metidito entre pajas.

Ay del chiquirritín, chiquirriquitín,

Queridín, queridito del alma.”

5. Los peces en el río

Another classic that can't be missing in your Christmas list of Spanish carols is "Los peces en el río". The title means the fishes in the river and the lyrics narrate the atmosphere around the virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Here is one verse:

“Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río,

Pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido.

Beben y beben y vuelven a beber

Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.”

6. Feliz Navidad

This song transcends borders and invites us to celebrate Christmas with joy and good wishes. This Christmas carols is called "Feliz Navidad", which means Merry Christmas.

 Here is a part of this song in Spanish:

“Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad,

Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad.

A todos quiero desearles siempre

Felicidad, es un gran presente

Es el momento de que gocemos

Mucha paz, vengan a cantar.”

7. A Belén, pastores

Finally, a song that encourages everyone who sings it and whose verses are a festive call that you cannot overlook. This carol "A Belén, pastores", which title means “To Bethlehem, shepherds”, has its origin in the 18th century.

This is one of its verses:

“A Belén pastores, a Belén chiquitos,

que ha nacido el Rey de los angelitos.

Los pastores de Belén, todos juntos van por leña,

para calentar al Niño que nació en la Nochebuena.”

These are just a few of the many Spanish Christmas carols that exist. With these songs and rhythms, you can fill your home with the Christmas spirit and learn a little more about Spain and its culture.

Although if you want to improve your level, the key is learning Spanish in Spain. Get into the culture and experience a different Christmas in Spain or in Latin American, in countries like Mexico with don Quijote. Our schools have intensive Spanish courses for all ages and levels. Enjoy the music, the parties and the lights while improving your Spanish.

Do you know what a false friend is? In this article you will learn everything about these words and some useful examples when studying Spanish. All the false friends you will see below are English words, but there are also some in French or Italian.

If you want to read this article in English, just click here.

What does false friends mean?

False friends are words from two different languages that are similar in form or spelling but have completely different meanings. In general, these words can lead to confusion when learning a language, as you may think you understand the meaning of a word in another language because of their similarity, when in fact the meanings are different.

This phenomenon is common between related languages or languages that share linguistic roots, such as Spanish and English or French and Spanish. In addition, false friends can cause misunderstandings if not carefully addressed during the learning of a language such as Spanish.

To assist vs Asistir

“Asistir” in Spanish means “to attend”, not “to assist”. In fact, the Spanish word for “to assist” is “ayudar”. In English, “to assist” translates to help, which is why this confusion is so common.

The word “asistir” has nothing to do with “to assist” in English. Instead, it means to go or to be present, for example, to go to a meeting or to go to a class. If you want to say “to assist” in Spanish, you can use the word “ayuda”.

For example:

• Asistir: Ayer asistí a una conferencia en Londres que me gustó mucho (Yesterday I attended a conference in London that I really enjoyed).
• To assist: After the storm, neighbors came together to assist each other in cleaning up the debris and restoring their community. (Tras la tormenta, los vecinos se unieron para ayudarse mutuamente a limpiar los escombros y restaurar su comunidad).

The word Pie

A word that is spelled the same in two languages but has nothing to do with each other is “pie”. In Spanish, “pie” is a part of the body, it means “foot”; while in English “pie” is a cake and is pronounced ˈpaɪ. Therefore, if you want to say “pie” in Spanish, you can use the word “pastel” or “tarta”.

Dessert vs Desierto

Another word similar to the previous one is “dessert” and “desierto”. In English, “dessert” refers to a sweet dish, the food consumed at the end of a meal, such as a cake or yogurt. Whereas, in Spanish, 'desierto' means a dry, arid area with little or no vegetation. For example, the Sahara Desert.

Constipation vs Constipado

Another word that can generate enormous confusion if you use it in the wrong context is “constipation” and “constipado”. Although, they may sound the same and their spelling is very similar, their meanings are far apart.

In English, the word “constipation” refers to the difficulty of evacuating the intestine. Whereas “constipado” in Spanish means to have a cold or to have symptoms of being sick.

Therefore, you must know the meaning of this word when you want to say you are sick in English or want to use this word in Spanish.

Arena vs Arena

The word 'arena' is spelled the same in both languages and is the only thing they are similar in, as their meanings are completely different. In English, “arena” can refer to a venue for sporting events or shows. Whereas, in Spanish, “arena” refers to beach sand or the small particles that make up the ground.

Lecture vs Lectura

This word can generate confusion very easily because they only differ in one letter. “Lecture” in English refers to an informative speech, even a class or lesson in college.

While “lectura” in Spanish refers to the act of reading or the material that is read. Therefore, although their spelling is very similar, they do not mean the same thing and you must be careful with them depending on the context.

Soap vs Sopa

The last word can also lead to confusion since in English there are “soap” and “soup” and in Spanish “sopa”. The false friend here is between “sopa” and “soap”, since they are the same letters, but in different order.

“Sopa” in Spanish is a dish that is consumed hot, the English translation of which would be “soup”. On the contrary, “soap” means substance for washing in English and has nothing to do with food. So, when you want to talk about a bowl of soup in Spanish, remember that it is “soup”, don't confuse it with “soap”.

Learning a new language is an exciting journey, but it can also have its challenges. False friends are only a small part of the experience but understanding them can make the difference between a successful conversation or a funny misunderstanding.

The key to avoiding these linguistic tricks is constant practice and exposure to the language. The more you listen, speak, and read in Spanish, the more familiar you will become with it, which is why don Quijote helps you with its intensive Spanish courses. Also, learn Spanish in Spain may be one of the keys you need to improve your vocabulary, live a unique experience and immerse yourself in the Spanish language.