• Mexican Version of The Night Before Christmas

    ‘Twas the night before Christmas y por toda la casa,
    Not a creature was stirring-Caramba! Que pasa?
    Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
    Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
    While hanging the medias with mucho ciudado
    In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
    To bring all children, both buenos y malos,
    A nice batch of dulces y otros regalos.
    Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
    That I jumped to my pies like a frightened cabrito.
    I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
    And who in the world do you think that it era?
    Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
    Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.
    And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
    Were eight little burros approaching volados.
    I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
    Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
    "Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,
    Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"
    Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
    He flew to the top of our very own techo.
    With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
    He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,
    Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
    With soot smeared all over his real suit de gala,
    He filled all the medias with lovely regalos-
    For none of the niños had been very malos.
    Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,
    He turned like a flash and was gone como viento.
    And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
    Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!