5 Spanish Christmas Songs for Kids You Should Know
Christmas is just around the corner! It’s the most wonderful time of the year to celebrate with your loved ones—and learn about other countries’ traditions, customs, activities, and ways of celebrating.
Today, we’ll discover five easy and fun Christmas songs for kids. We’ll also see how to incorporate them into your kids’ learning process and learn about some fun Spanish holiday traditions. Let’s get to it!
Christmas Songs for Kids
1. Feliz navidad
One of the classic Christmas songs for kids in both Spanish and English, Feliz navidad wishes us all a merry Christmas, a happy new year, and lots of happiness! It’s time to enjoy this time full of love, peace, and fun!
When Christmas season is starting, you’ll hear this song at the mall, on the radio, and in the supermarket. When I listen to it I get the feeling of a new season entering my heart. It reminds me of how we can forget about our differences and care for each other. It’s the kind of song you’ll listen to when you’re decorating your home or buying gifts for your loved ones. A classic that never gets old!
2. Hoy es navidad
This is the Spanish version of Jingle Bells. Bells everywhere, echoing incessantly, announcing it’s Christmas time! Kids can’t stop singing that it’s Christmas, a day full of joy and happiness. If you listen to this song with your children, you’ll definitely feel the urge to dance along to it. It’s the kind of song that boosts your energy and reminds you how beautiful this season is. It represents unity, love, and joy. So go ahead and listen to one of the best Christmas songs for kids!
3. Mi burrito sabanero
This is one of my favorite Christmas songs for kids. I used to sing it at Las posadas. It’s about the donkey that’s taking Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The singer says that on their way, the donkey sings and jogs because he’s loving the crossing. At the same time, they sing “hurry, little donkey. We’re about to get there!” Both the lyrics and rhythm of this song are super catchy and fun. Kids love it! If you want something different for your children that still has the Christmas spirit, this song’s perfect for you!
4. Rodolfo el reno
The Spanish version of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer has swept Latin American culture. The message of this song is beautiful! Rodolfo has a scarlet red nose, but his friends make fun of him because of it, so he feels sad. However, Christmas season comes and Santa Claus chooses him because of his shiny nose, so now he’s Santa’s favorite reindeer! Later, his friends apologize and learn that making fun of others is never okay. Instead, we should celebrate diversity—and this is the perfect song to teach your kids this valuable lesson! This popular Christmas song for kids is a must listen!
5. Los peces en el río
This song is another classic at Las posadas. It’s about how the fish in a river drink water because Jesus is finally born. It represents the abundance and joy Christ brings to the world. This is also one of the most famous Christmas songs for kids because of the lyrics. They’re repetitive and catchy, so kids usually can’t stop singing it. I remember singing this song even in the shower; it’s just so good!
Incorporate These Songs into Your Homeschool Routine
How can you include these five Christmas songs for kids in their learning process at home in a fun way? Check out the following activities and games that enable your children to practice their Spanish and entertain themselves while reinforcing the Christmas songs.
Flashcards
Make flashcards with vocabulary words from the songs on one side and a drawing on the other side. Show your kids the illustration, and ask them to guess/remember the word for it. You can also include some Spanish winter words for preschoolers on the flashcards to expand their Spanish vocabulary! As a bonus, you can also ask them to color the drawings before initiating the activity. That way, they’ll be part of the process, too!
Handmade Christmas Tree Decorations
Children love to decorate the Christmas tree!. Print some small drawings related to the songs (Christmas trees, reindeer, donkeys, and fish, for example). The children can color them with crayons or watercolors. Make a small hole on top of the drawings and tie them to the tree with a small piece of yarn. You’ll love these simple handmade decorations!
Christmas Kindness Calendar
In Latin America, families have the tradition of creating a calendar for the Christmas season, which include acts of kindness for every day of the month. You can ask your children to write (or say) what kind of good deeds they’d like to do during the month, and then you all can decorate the calendar together. You can also add some words and phrases for the holidays!
Puzzles
If your kids are super active, this activity should be great for them! Print big blank sheets with phrases from the Christmas songs on one side, and black and white pictures of the songs on the other side. Ask them to color the pictures, and then you cut the sheets in puzzle pieces. Finally, mix all the pieces (from all the puzzles) and ask them to put them together. Then they can sing the Christmas songs they found.
Memory Game
Print 5 to 10 pictures (twice) that have to do with the Christmas songs (like Mary and Joseph, a river, a snowman, etc.). Mix them all and put them upside down, then ask them to turn one card over and try to find its match. This will help them reinforce their memory of the new words!
Christmas Traditions in Latin America
What is a culture without its traditions? The following are events that Latin American people participate in during the Christmas season. You can adapt them to try at home with your kids!
Las Posadas
I’ve mentioned the Posadas, but what are they? Basically, they represent Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, when they were looking for an inn where Jesus could be born safely. They knocked on many doors, but no one received them until some kind soul let them stay in a manger. Kids in the Posadas recreate this journey while singing, playing instruments, and carrying a wooden platform with the holy family on it. To learn more details about this popular Latin American tradition, check out our Latin American Tradition of Las Posadas blog post. Kids love Las Posadas!
Quema del Diablo
This tradition is one of the most fun for kids in Guatemala! On December 7, people light a huge bonfire and burn a piñata in the shape of the devil. This represents how Guatemalan people want to get rid of the devil to receive Virgin Mary the next day, December 8, which is dedicated to her. It’s super fun because people get together with their friends, drink hot fruit punch and hot chocolate, and eat lots of food like tostadas, tamales, rellenitos, and more.
Corona de Adviento
This is a Catholic tradition that families enjoy during this time of the year. It symbolizes the course of the four weeks of Advent, and consists of a wreath of branches with four candles. It begins on the first Sunday of Advent and finishes the Sunday before Christmas. People light one candle every Sunday, read the Bible, and say prayers.
Fireworks
This is a favorite tradition for kids and teens! In most Latin American countries, people are allowed to buy fireworks and light them in front of their houses. The whole family enjoys the show and feels adrenaline running through their veins when they light one and run away from it. For kids, the fire estrellitas are the best option because they’re small, fun, and not dangerous. (Of course, an adult should always be supervising.)
¡Feliz navidad!
Now that we’ve gone through some Christmas songs for kids, activities, and traditions in Latin American culture, it’s time for you to have fun with your children and enjoy the Holidays! You can always celebrate a Merry Christmas in Spanish with free PDF’s, printables, and more! ¡Feliz navidad y próspero año nuevo!
Want more amazing Spanish resources for kids? Check out these posts!
- How to Talk About Learning a Language in Spanish - January 10, 2021
- “How Much Is It?” in Spanish: A Guide to Travel and Shopping - January 3, 2021
- Top 10 Places to Visit in Guatemala City, Guatemala - January 3, 2021
