Parrandas and Posadas:Christmas Traditions in Latino Communities

Parrandas and Posadas:Christmas Traditions in Latino Communities

“Para Pedir Posada” (To Ask for Lodging)*
Fuera
En nombre del cielo
Os pido posada
Pues no puede andar
Ya mi esposa amada
Outside
In the name of heaven
We ask you for shelter
My dear wife
Can no longer walk
Dentro
Aquí no es mesón
Sigan a delante
Pues no puedo abrir
No sea algún tunante
Inside
This is not an inn
Move on
I cannot open up
I don’t know if you are some crook
Fuera
Venimos rendidos
Desde Nazaret
Yo soy carpintero
De nombre José
Outside
We come exhausted
From Nazareth
I am a carpenter
Named Joseph
Dentro
No me importa el nombre
Déjenme dormir,
Pues que yo les digo
Que no hemos de abrir
Inside
Your name does not matter to me
Let me sleep
I have already told you
We are not opening
Fuera
Posada te pido,
Amado casero,
Por sólo una noche
La Reina del cielo
Outside
We ask you for shelter
Dear landlord
Only a night
For the Queen of Heaven
Dentro
Pues si es una Reina
Quien la solicita
¿Cómo es que de noche
Anda tan solita?
Inside
If it is a Queen
Who requests
How is it you are
Traveling alone at night?
Fuera
Mi esposa es María
Es la Reina del Cielo,
Y madre va a ser
Del Divino Verbo
Outside
My wife is Mary
She is the Queen of Heaven
She will be mother
Of the Divine Word
Dentro
¿Eres tú José?
¿Tu esposa es María?
Entren peregrinos
No los conocía
Inside
You are Joseph?
Your wife is Mary?
Enter pilgrims
We don’t know you
Entren, Santos, Peregrinos
Entren, Santos Peregrinos, Peregrinos,
Reciban este rincón,
No de esta pobre morada
Sino de mi corazón
Enter, Saints, Pilgrims
Enter, Saints, Pilgrims
Receive this comfortable place
Not just this modest dwelling
But also from my heart
*This song was one of several traditional Latin songs performed during El Gran Posada in Philadelphia in 2002.
Latino Philadelphia
The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania