Pancho Claus: The Night before Navidad
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa Not a creature was stirring, Caramba! Que pasa?...
My cousins were Costa Rican so learning Spanish was always important to my family. While looking for activities to teach my children Spanish I discovered a bilingual version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. It wasn't Costa Rican but it was Spanglish and very funny.
Since then I have used this poem to teach Spanish and as a jumping off point to teach Christmas customs in Spanish Speaking countries.
Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!
'Twas the Night Before Christmas Table of Contents
- Pancho Claus
- Christmas Shopping List
- Preparing Christmas Dinner
- Feliz Navidad
- Pancho Claus the Santa Claus of Mexico
- What to do on the Night Before Christmas?
- Our Family's Favoites Christmas Songs
- On the Bilingual Night Before Christmas
- Learning Spanish at Christmas Time
- Pura Vida - Costa Rican Spanish
- Teach Me Spanish at Christmas Time
- Winter and Christmas
- Hands-On Learning is not just for Chirstmas Time
- Do you have cultural conflicts surrounding holidays?
- Meet the Author of this Lens
Pancho Claus
On the Night Before Christmas
Pancho Claus can be turned into a rebus story by having the children look up words they don't yet know, illustrating them, and pasting them above those words.
Pancho Claus (The Night before Christmas)
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa Not a creature was stirring, Caramba! Que pasa?...
![Navidad Y Pancho Claus - Vol. 7 [CD on Demand]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vaw3f4kwL._SL75_.jpg)
Navidad Y Pancho Claus - Vol. 7 [CD on Demand]
Amazon Price: $15.98 (as of 12/04/2009) 
La Nochebuena South of the Border
All the trappings of a Mexican celebration are described in this bilingual account of Papa Noel's visit on Christmas Eve. Fruta and dulces for the pi±ata and the fiestas are all prepared. But no red fur and reindeer, cookies and milk for this jolly old elf; it's serape, sombrero and cafe con leche. Lots of cultural information evident to observant readers in the well-sketched scenes.
Amazon Price: $11.96 (as of 12/04/2009)
Pancho Claus - A Bilingual Christmas
Night Before Christmas in Spanglish
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa
Not a creature was stirring, Caramba! Que pasa?
Los ninos were all tucked away in their camas, Some in vestidos and some in pajamas.
While Mama worked late in her little cocina, El viejo was down at the corner cantina.
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado, In hopes that St. Nicholas would feel obligado
To bring all the children, both buenos y malos,
A Nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arouse such a grito, That I jumped to my feet like a frightened
cabrito.
I went to the window and looked out afuera, And who in the world, do you think que 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 little hombre was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre.
Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Maruca and Nieto!
Then standing erect with his hand 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 chimenea.
Then huffing and puffing, at last in our sala, With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala.
He filled the stockings with lovely regalos,
For none of the children had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud and seeming contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.
And I heard him exclaim and this is VERDAD,
Merry Christmas to all, And to All Feliz Navidad!
- Pancho Claus - A Bilingual Christmas
- In his more than sixty years as a singer and songwriter, Eduardo Lalo" Guerrero has given voice to the barrios, weaving their energy, their sorrow, and especially their humor into songs that made Mexican-Americans across the Southwest realize their common identity.
Christmas Shopping List
Masa for the Tamales
Apples for the Pie
Regalos from El Nino
Presents from Santa
Preparing Christmas Dinner
My husband's family eats tamales at midnight on the night before Christmas.
My family eats turkey at lunch time on Christmas day.
What do you eat for Christmas Dinner?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byTamales
Turkey
WhitePineLane says:
I must say I've never had tamales for Xmas! Might be worth a try, though-- I do sometimes get sick of teh bird every year....
Posted March 14, 2009
dannystaple says:
We actually more often eat chicken - generally I have diners who are not fans of turkey meat.
Posted January 11, 2009
'Twas the Night Before Christmas Variations
Tales of the Night Before Christmas
The following link has hundreds of variations. You will find many humorous ones but beware that there are also some for mature audiences. Some of these are wonderful for illustrating customs of other countries.
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Variations
- Contains 849 versions of the classic poem.
- Twas the Night before the Bird Count
- Twas the night before the Bird Count
and all through the house,
the birders were sleeping,
just dreaming of grouse.
They had mapped out their day
to find a Blue Jay,
or perhaps watching owls cathing their prey.
Their scopes were all ready,
their binos were too
don't forget your tripod, your camera, your guide,
or your coffee, a sandwhich or your favorite hot stew.
You can count from your window, our car or on foot,
and if you get lost remember stay put.
What this weekend will bring,
may remind us of spring,
Just remember have fun,
as you are watching a Hun,
and when the weekend has passed,
we will tally our birds,
in the hopes that we have massed,
more species this year than years in the past.
Feliz Navidad
Singing in Spanish on the Night Before Christmas
Feliz Navidad: Christmas Songs Sung in Spanish
Amazon Price: $6.98 (as of 12/04/2009)
Feliz Navidad
Amazon Price: $1.29 (as of 12/04/2009)
Spanish Language Activities
Preparing for the Night Before Christmas
- Spanish Language Activities at EnchantedLearning.com
- Spanish Language Activities at EnchantedLearning.com.
- Christmas Quiz - Spanish Language
- Do you know the vocabulary of Christmas in Spanish? Find out by taking this quiz.
Pancho Claus the Santa Claus of Mexico
Mexican Night Before Christmas
Since my first visit to Costa Rica at Christmas Time I have always wondered about why Santa Claus needs such a warm fuzzy coat in such a warm climate. Now I see that in Mexico too he seems to be over dressed. I wonder if it is only on the Night Before Chirstmas that he wears such attire.
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The Night Before Christmas in Costa Rica
Navidad means Portales or Scenes of the Manger and Child
The Portal is a major element in Costa Rican Christmas decoration. The Portal symbolizes Jesus' birth, along with Mary, Joseph, and the Three Kings: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar figures.
Traditional Christmas meals in Costa Rica are pork leg and tamales. Entire families help to make tamales in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. Each ingredient is cooked separately, usually by the elderly women while the men pick, clean and sear the banana leaves.
The masa, or cornmeal dough is cooked and stirred. Some add mashed potato to make the dough softer. Juice from cooking the pork is mixed in with the masa to give it flavor.
Once all these ingredients are cooked the ingredients are laid out on a long table, the family is gathered and each person is given a job to do in assembly line fashion.
The matron of the family directs the process while the patron wraps and ties the tamales. Traditionally the tamales were tied with strips from banana leaves. Many people now use cotton string. Two tamales are placed facing eachother and tied together.
During the days surrounding Christmas families exchange tamales with their friends and neighbors.
- Christmas in Costa Rica
- Celebrating the Christmas season in Costa Rica can be a world of fun. Christmas in Costa Rica is a time for celebration and parties, sharing and reflecting.
The portal is a nativity scene constructed of mosses and grass, colored sawdust, cypress twigs, black paper, silver glitter and figurines representing the birth of Jesus in the manger. Along with the traditional figures Costa Ricans commonly add extra embellishments like dolls, little farm animals, tiny toys, fruits and berries, and lights. - Christmas in Costa Rica
- Portal is another major factor of Christmas decoration. Portal symbolizes Jesus birth, along with Mary, Joseph, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar figures.
Traditional Christmas meals in Costa Rica are pork leg and tamales. A Tamal is usually made up of corn flour with vegetables, potatoes, pork. Entire families participate during the preparation of tamales. - Costa Rican Tamale Recipe
- How to make Costa Rican Tamales
Bilingual Storytime on the Night Before Christmas
Tamales for the Night Before Christmas
Resuenen con alegria
los canticos de mi tierra
que viva el Nino Jesus
que ha nacido en Nochebuena.
It's time to sing out with joy
the songs that are sung in my land
in praise of the precious Child
born this holy Christmas evening.
Come share the joy of a Hispanic Christmas!
Merry Navidad!: Christmas Carols in Spanish and English/Villancicos en espanol e ingles
Amazon Price: $12.74 (as of 12/04/2009)
What to do on the Night Before Christmas?
I grew up in Vermont where children need to go to bed early so that Santa can come and fill the stockings. My husband grew up in Costa Rica where there is a big feast at midnight and the Christ Child leaves presents which are opened also at midnight. As a bi-cultural family most of the year our lives mesh very well but our Christmas Traditions always conflict.
What should be done with the kids on Christmas Eve?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byPut them to bed early.
dannystaple says:
This way there is a bit of a respite for the adults, and the kids do not get overtired and grumpy. Christmas is a great time for kids - and this keeps up some of the surprise. Of course - kids may be too excited to sleep, so a good story is probably in order.
Posted January 11, 2009
groovyoldlady says:
Mom and Dad turn into pumpkins by 10pm. So we always go to bed early.
Posted December 18, 2008
Jimmie says:
Children should always go to bed early so the adults can play! :-)
Posted December 02, 2008
ArtByLinda says:
As a child I always loved the excitement of going to bed early and waking up all through the night looking at the window for the first light, for that was when we were allowed to get up on Christmas morning!
Posted December 02, 2008
Keep them up all night.
Jewelsofawe says:
Well,
My family tradition was to go to my Grandma's on Christmas Eve and the family opens the presents they got each other after we eat and had spent the day together. I live too far away to go for the past two years, but I went every year since I was born until then.
Posted December 02, 2008
Our Family's Favoites Christmas Songs
...for the Night Before Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Amazon Price: $1.29 (as of 12/04/2009)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2009)
On the Bilingual Night Before Christmas
More Bilingual Christmas Stories
- A Mexican Christmas Folktale Unit Study
- Have you read any folktales in your homeschool lately? I Have a great one for you to read this Advent and some activities to go along with the book.
From homeschoolingcoach.com
Learning Spanish at Christmas Time
Apriendiendo espanol o ingles para Navidad
We needed to teach our children Spanish so that they could communicate with their grandparents and cousins. Here are some helpful links for you to learn Spanish too.
- Teachers.Net Gazette December 2002 - PRINTABLES
- Kindergarten Predictable Text Christmas Vocabulary Enrichment Book
from Mary Miehl - Christmas words English Spanish
- Christmas vocabulary in English and Spanish
- Think Spanish Magazine: Christmas Vocabulary Quiz
- Free online interactive quiz for practicing Christmas Vocabulary in Spanish.
- Christmas Spanish Vocab Word Scramble Worksheet
- Unscramble the Spanish Christmas Words
Pura Vida - Costa Rican Spanish
Speak Spanish in time for Navidad
Costa Rican Spanish: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Lounging around in a resort you will do fine with just English.
You could, however, grab this phrasebook and trade tiquismos with the Ticos.
Chase the best waves on the best beaches.
Track down a toucan.
Go home knowing you've had an all-round pura vida time.
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/05/2009)
Costa Rica - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/05/2009)
Teach Me Spanish at Christmas Time
Aprendemos Espanol
Feliz Navidad: Music CD (Teach Me) (Spanish Edition)
21 Christmas Songs in Spanish and English. Experience the language and music of Christmas in Mexico with this dual language CD. Includes traditional songs, as well as holiday favorites: Feliz Navidad, La Marimorena, Cancion de Posadas, A la Nanita Nana, Los Peces enel Rio, Cascabel and many more.
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/05/2009)
Look who's Twittering about Navidad:
-
- maggikkka
- just nominated "LLega Navidad Spanish-English <a>Edit Presentation</a>" for SlideShare Zeitgeist 2009 http://slidesha.re/7VX2S6
-
- gerik
- RT @TJParmele: I know I should embrace my Mexican/Spanish speaking heritage, but seriously, Feliz Navidad has to be the most annoying Ch ...
-
- L0veBuzz
- is making a christmas card in Spanish. feliz navidad, felices fiestas, la navidad esta en puertas. (:
-
- DancingKookie
- "You wanna hear a Spanish song!?" -S.Lo "Felitz Navidad!" - Tiffany
-
- musicchart
- iTunes #music_latino #16 album: Feliz Navidad! A Latin & Spanish Christmas - Various Artists © 2007... http://dealnay.com/181251 #ad
Winter and Christmas
Activities and ideas for learning about snow, polar regions and Christmas customs.
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Favorite Christmas Tales
-
Christmas is the time to cuddle up next to the fire and read all your favorite Christmas stories. Some are of Santa and Trees and Ballet, others are of snow and playing outside while others are of a manger and child. Christmas is also a time to lear...
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Wintertime Activities for Kids
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Winter is the time to snuggle up and with a good book, make a winter table and watch the snowflakes falling down. It's a time when the days are short, the nights are cold and the smell of woodsmoke is in the air. Get ready for the cold with The...
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Pigloo: Penguins Sing in French
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These happy French-singing penguins will get your kids singing along and they won't even realize that they are learning French. We all know that learning a second language is very important but who knew it could be so much fun. Pop a Pigloo CD into...
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Big Annie: Mississippi Flatboat Captain
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Activities related to the story of Big Annie, a flatboat captain who, despite all odds, brings Christmas toys from New Orleans up the river to the children of Natchez. Learn about the cultures, historical times and wildlife along the Mississippi Riv...
Hands-On Learning is not just for Chirstmas Time
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Do you have cultural conflicts surrounding holidays?
It's nearly the Night Before Christmas again. El Nino, the Christ Child, will be ready with presents at midnight and Santa has presents for sleeping children.
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- JoyfulPamela JoyfulPamela Oct 25, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
- Lovely! I love the bilingual aspect of the lens! I'll add this to one of the Christmas lenses I'm working on. thank you!
Pamela :)
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- poutine poutine Sep 9, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
- Fantastic lens.
Love the bilingual effect.
I am french so for me, it would be french and english.
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- marsha32 marsha32 Apr 14, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
- Driving by from twitter to give you 5* and some traffic.
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- IsisAriadne IsisAriadne Feb 19, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
- Wow what an awesome Christmas story! I love Spanish and I'd love to pass that down to my own children. (:
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- daria369 daria369 Feb 19, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
- Great lens, bi-lingual talks are great fun!! :)
http://www.squidoo.com/Night-before-Christmas
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- dannystaple dannystaple Jan 11, 2009 @ 2:38 am
- I haven't really read Spanish since high school. This is a great lens - and now I know what Tamales are.
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- groovyoldlady groovyoldlady Dec 18, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
- Taco!
That's Groovy's Spanish for "Great Lens!"
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- MobyD MobyD Dec 5, 2008 @ 8:25 am
- 5 Stars! ¡Cinco estrellas! I've lensrolled this lens to my Hay Visage form Sane Ticklish lens.
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- AndyPo AndyPo Dec 3, 2008 @ 8:45 am
- reat fun
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- nightbear nightbear Dec 2, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
- Very beautifully done, very enjoyable.
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Dec 2, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
- This is a wonderful Christmas lens, very nicely done! Linda
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- Pantherart Pantherart Dec 2, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
- Great lens I really enjoyed it.
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- JustBon-Crochet-Designs JustBon-Crochet-Designs Dec 2, 2008 @ 11:43 am
- Fun lens and my limited knowledge of Spanish made it even more enjoyable. 5*s
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- fotolady49 fotolady49 Dec 2, 2008 @ 10:09 am
- I love this Spanglish version of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, I studied Spanish in high school and college, can not speak it fluently, but remember and understand some of it. Great idea for a lens 5*****
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- sellingnicestuff sellingnicestuff Nov 21, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
- Evelyn, can't get enough of your lenses. This one (like all of yours)..... is a delight and emailing it to friends! Thank you for another great lens!
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- OhMe OhMe Nov 21, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
- Great lens. Some of my Spanish came back from 50 yrs ago in high school. Lensrolling to A Christmas Tree In The White House. Why don't you add your favorite Childrens Book to my list?
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- Mortira Mortira Nov 13, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
- Great lens! Thanks for joining the Family Time group!
Meet the Author of this Lens
Evelyn's Hands-On Learning Blog.
Find out what I'm up to when I'm not singing about Christmas in Spanish:-
Evelyn Saenz: Lensography of a Teacher
-
My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning should be integrated and no skills should be taught in isolation. I believe that each topic s...
by Evelyn_Saenz
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