Christmas Songs and Vocabulary for Kids in Spanish

‘Tis the season for family joy, celebration, bonding. These Christmas songs for children in Spanish are the perfect way to get your kids or classroom into the holiday spirit at the same time that they learn a new language!

Learning through music is one of the most effective and entertaining methods for kids to experience the sound and usage of new words in a foreign language. The attention-catching beat and patterned repetition make it easier for them to remember important vocabulary and pronunciation.

Make your kids’ learning unforgettable with 10 Christmas songs for kids that have become family favorites all over the world!

Scroll to the end of the post to see a list of fun Christmas activity ideas you can do with your children to enjoy the spirit.

10 Christmas Songs for Children

1. Feliz navidad 

Author: José Feliciano

Interpreter(s): 

• José Feliciano
• Mon Laferte 

Growing up in Guatemala, I’ve listened to this Holiday classic since I was a kid! It was released in 1970 and it includes phrases in both Spanish and English. It wishes us all a merry Christmas and a happy (and prosperous) New Year!

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
Happiness	la felicidad
Merry Christmas	feliz navidad
Prosperous	próspero
Year	año

2. Hoy es navidad

Although the lyrics are different, the tune of this song will quickly remind you of the classic Christmas song “Jingle Bells.” It’s a cheerful song that shares in the joy of Christmas Day.

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
bells	las campanas
Bethlehem	Belén
good will	buena voluntad
joy	júbilo
kids	los niños
love	amor
ring	resonar
salvation	salvación
to rejoice	regocijarse
to sing	cantar

3. Mi burrito sabanero

Author: Hugo César Blanco

Interpreter(s): 

• Juanes
• Lisseth Macedo

From a Venezuelan author, this joyous tune tells us about the donkey that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to give birth to baby Jesus. 

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
bright star	lucero
little donkey	el burrito
on the way	de camino
to hurry up	apurarse
to light up	iluminar
trail	sendero

4. Campanas sobre campana

This song comes from Andalucía, Spain. And while we don’t know who the talented author of this Christmas carol is, we know it dates back to the 20th century. It talks about bells ringing in Bethlehem to announce and rejoice on the birth of baby Jesus.

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
angels	los ángeles
crib	la cuna
flock of sheep	el rebaño
news	las nuevas, las noticias
little shepherd	el pastorcito
to peek	asomarse
window	la ventana

5. Rodolfo el reno

This Spanish version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the most beloved Christmas songs for children. The tune about Santa’s special reindeer is a must this season!

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
cochineal	la grana
friend	el amigo
mates	los compañeros
nose	la nariz
red	rojo
reindeer	el reno
shine	el brillo
sleigh	el trineo
to laugh	reír
unique	singular

6. Los peces en el río

A Christmas carol unique to Latin America and Spain, this is one of the songs for kids that will get them dancing.

Many claim that the melody resembles Arab music, which is why they believe that’s where it came from. 

This is the one you or your kids may not have heard before, but give it a chance today and you’ll see how they love it!

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
fish	los peces
little birds	los pajarillos
river	el río
to be born	nacer
to bloom	florecer
to drink	beber

7. El niño del tambor

This endearing Christmas carol tells the story of a child who makes his living by playing a little drum. This kid visits Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve before Jesus is born. Because the kid has no money to get them a gift, he plays a song for them. 

This classic dates back to 1941 and it’s had tons of versions by multiple artists. The original name for it was “Carol of the Drum” (Villancico del tambor).

Because it is such an old composition, others claim that the lyrics are based on a short story by Anatole France, which talks about a french legend called “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame” (Our Lady’s Juggler).

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
drum	el tambor
king	el rey
presents	los regalos
satchel	el zurrón
snow	la nieve
to play	tocar
valley	el valle

8. Noche de paz 

Author: Joseph Mohr

Did you know that this Christmas carol is 200 years old? This song is of Austrian origin, and it has evolved over the years. 

In fact, it’s become such an essential song of the holiday season that UNESCO declared it World Heritage.

Joseph Mohr, the writer, performed it for the first time on December 24th, 1818 in a little church in Oberndorf. 

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
Christmas Eve	la Nochebuena
nativity scene	el pesebre
peace	la paz
saviour	redentor
stars	los astros

9. Santa Claus llegó a la ciudad

That’s right! There is a Spanish version of this jolly carol signaling the return of Santa Claus coming to town. Many have performed this song, but what matters is the warmth the Christmas spirit gives you right away.

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
naughty	travieso, a
nice	bueno, a
to see	observa, ver
to sleep	dormir
town, city	la ciudad

10. Blanca navidad

A must-have among your Christmas songs for kids in Spanish, Blanca Navidad (White Christmas) dates back to the 1920s. Irving Berlin wrote it, it’s been translated into more than 300 languages.

Prestigious performers like Il Divo and Lady Gaga have made more current versions of it. 

Useful Words in Spanish

English	Spanish
Dream	el sueño
Childhood	la infancia
Song	el cantar

Check out: 10 Sensational Mexican Music Artists You Don’t Want To Miss

Christmas Activities for Kids

Aside from the beautiful Christmas songs for kids in Spanish, let me share these amazing activities that will bring up the holiday spirit at home and in the classroom!

Baking

There’s nothing that kids enjoy more than to be a part of grown-up activities! Make these holidays unforgettable by sharing special moments with your kids.

Choose fun, quick recipes: How to Make the Best Sugar Cookies

Make learning fun: A Kid’s Guide to Spanish Cooking Vocabulary

Handmade Decorations

Get crafty and decorate your Christmas tree with heartful, fun, decorations! 

See it here: 6 DIY Christmas Ornaments Decoration Ideas

Making Homemade Stockings

Keep the Christmas classic traditions by adding a special touch at home! 

Check out easy tutorials here: Easy Christmas stocking craft

Don’t Stop Learning

While the winter break is right around the corner, you still have some time to sign up for a free class and make your kids’ learning a lot more fun!

With our one-on-one classes, your kids will be confident to become bilingual in no time! HSA has kid-friendly lessons that will spark your kids’ interest in studying and mastering a new language without even noticing it. 

Needing help in the classroom? Yes, we can help with that, too! Our school solutions guarantee that your classroom is not too crowded and that your students learn just as much. Trust us to help!

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

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• Your Child’s First Spanish Conversation: How to Prep, Practice, and Cheer Them On
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