On December 12th, at 2a.m. I was out at Placita Olvera (Olvera Street) dancing barefoot on the cold ground along with many, many others to pay homage to the Virgen de Guadalupe. Before I left, I wrote up a post about her and how much she means to me, my family and to the Mexican people. See the December 11th post for more about La Virgen Morena.

There is poetry to her as well as songs written in her honor. I thought I’d include some here along with the words to Las Mananitas – the traditional birthday song that we sing to her on her feast day.

Las Mananitas is a traditional Mexican song that is sung on birthdays and other important holidays. It is often sung as an early morning serenade to wake up a loved one. At birthday parties it is sung before the cake is cut.

Las Mananitas Lyrics:

Estas son las mananitas
que cantaba el rey David
a las muchachas bonitas
te las cantamos aqui­

Si el sereno de la esquina
me quisiera hacer favor
de apagar su linternita
mientras que pasa mi amor

Despierta mi bien despierta
mira que ya amanecio
ya los pajarillos cantan
la luna ya se metio

Ahora si­ senor sereno
le agradezco su favor
encienda su linternita
que ya ha pasado mi amor

Amapolita adorada
de los llanos de Tepic
si no estas enamorada
enamorate de mi­

Despierta mi bien despierta
mira que ya amanecio
ya los pajarillos cantan
la luna ya se metio

Here’s just about the whole of Mexico singing it to her in the Basilica

and check this out!

The round up is here at The Miss Rumphius Effect. Thanks for hosting Tricia!

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