Diciembre Mundial

Index

Introducción
iv Introducción
v Preface
vi Navidad and theNew Year Vocabulary
vii December Customs in the Schools
viii How Do You Spend the Holidays?
xi Bibliography

Diciembre Mexicano
El Ciclo de Fiestas de Navidad en México
Las Posadas Villancico
Las Posadas Historia
Jaculatoria
Las Posadas Variations
Miren Cuantas Luces
Los Peregrinos
La Letanía
La Letanía II
La Niña a Quien Dijo el Angel
Fum, Fum, Fum
Rin, Rin
Ay, Qué Precioso Lucero
Esta es Noche Buena
Esta Noche es Navidad
¡Ro, Mi Niño, Ro!
Bendito y Alabado
El Arrullo del Niño
Los Nacimientos, The Manger Scene
Pastoral
El Orden de Colocación del Nacimiento
The Order of Placement of the Manger
Las Piñatas
La Piñata
Echen Confites & tape song
Baile de Piñata & tape song
Las Pastorelas
Alegres y Placenteros
Cantando Voy
Ay, del Chiquitín
Gatatumba\
Los Pastores a Belén & tape song 15
Los Pastores, Vamos Pastores
Venid Pastorcitos
Pastorela: Una Canción
Albricias Pastores
Vamos Todos a Belén
Himno al Nacimiento del Niño Jesús
Letanía del Niño Jesús
En Belén
Tradiciones Navideñas de Oaxaca
Flor de Noche Buena
El Cuetlaxóchitl & tape song
El Nacimiento
El Rorrro al Niño
Las Comidas de la Noche Buena
Versos de la Noche Buena
Al Reparatir los Regalos
La Rama
6 de Enero
Día de la Candelaria
Misterio y Fantasía
Navidad Veracruzana
Music for this section

Diciembre Méxicoamericano
Los Días del Adviento
Fogatos en la Montaña
Navidad en Arizona
The Bogeymen, Oremos
Nochebuena, La Piñata
El Santo Niño y el Cautivo Rafael Lovato
New Mexico 12 Days of Christmas
En Diciembre
Navidad
La Navidad en Ánimas, NM
Belén, New Mexico
Los Consejos del Anciano
Las Posadas
Examples of December Service
Facts and Fancies of the Day and Season
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Winter Miseries
December, December
Deciembre en Chile
Las Velitas, Tree Prices
El Árbol de Navidad
Pancho Clos
Viene, Viene Pancho Clos
Merry Christmas, Amigos
Pancho Clos en la Noche Buena
El Cuento Corto de Pancho Clos
El Origen de Pancho Clos
Ajúa, Ajúa
El Corrido del Niño sin Celos & tape song
Music

Navidad Mundial
National Customs
Favorite Carols

Actividades Infantiles
Pesebre de Petate
Tarjetas de Navidad de Petate
Pesebre en Caja de Zapatos
Nacimiento de Hojas de Maíz
Flor de Nochebuena de Hojas de Maíz
Nochebuena de Papel Crepè
Faroles
Piñata Estrella
Casita para el Nacimiento
Coronas de Cacahuates
Juegos de Invierno en Nuevo México
Recetas

Danzas, Pastorelas
Danza Pastoras
Pastorelas
El Espíritu de la Navidad
Los Pastores
Pastorela de Saldivar

Preface

The purpose of this volume is to provide teachers with a rationale and resource for lessons that use December celebrations as a theme, and to assist teachers in the United States with comprehensive information about December traditions in Mexico. We suggest that you make the school as safe as possible for persons of all belief systems. Although much of this material may be used as a reference in preparing religious celebrations, when used in public schools, it also may be used as a point of reference for learning about people, and enjoying it. For example you may focus on peace, good will, good news, freedom, visiting and serving those in need, the spirit of giving. Gifts wear out or get lost in time. You may ask the students, what did you give from your heart. Be more interested in people than in things. Take advantage of the enthusiasm of the students as they anticipate the celebrations of the season. Focus on magic moments, kind acts, and thoughtful remembrances. Respect the traditions of all the students and their families, but don't give up trying to expand their vision of the world and teaching them more.

In a 1993 Holiday message, President Bill Clinton made some applicable comments: "Our freedoms depend on mutual respect and tolerance. Yet too often those freedoms are imperiled by people ;filled with fear and idsdain. So today we must work harder to understand our differences and celebrate our diversity. We must remember that our own freedom depends on the respect of others. Whether we are Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or atheists, we all are part of a larger national family that respects individual dignity and feedom of conscience in matters of faith. One way to show respect for each other is by passing on to our children a deep commitment to lead ethical lives. By striving to meake our children productive, moral citizens who live up to their God-given potential, we all can make society better. No government can love a child, no policy can substitute for a family's care. The undeniable fact is that our children's future is shaped both by the values of their parents and the policies of our nation. Love and tolerance are not rooted in one's pocketbook, skin color or family tree. Rather, they are virtues that spring from the heart; and they depend on respect for individual dignity. Across our country, young people are rediscovering the rewards of serving others, the joy of giving. Through national service, church work, charities and volunteer groups, they are finding that love, generosity and tolerance are mightier than greed and hatred."

The selections. Folk music begins as the expression of a moment in time. Some songs are adaptable to other times and places and people. Such songs of the past gain a life of their own when they become relevant to the present. The songs that become favorites are those that express current experience as well as that of the past. This volume presents a large number of songs in this category, the carols that are sung every year. The versions in various languages are provided as demanded by the people who sing them. The new songs are expressions of current experience. Time will tell if they are relevant to others.

December Customs in the Schools

During December I participate in the activities of various churches, schools, and communities. I am hardly ever home. We seem to celebrate more cultural activities in December than any other month. Even the TV, radio, magazines and newspapers constantly cover the customs of every culture. However, there are many who do not want to know what others believe or practice. The is, if a school has students with alternative belief systems, does that mean that we should not talk about the customs of December?
The WNMU Mariachi sang in an elementary school one December day. There were various parents who did not allow their children to go to school that afternoon for fear of what we might have said. We spoke of trees that stay green even when all the other plants seem dead. This reminds us of life. We spoke of the tradition of placing lights on the trees when the sky is cloudy, to remind us that the day will not always be cloudy and sad. Finally, they asked us about Pancho Clos. I began to speak of Santa Claus, his sons, and cousin Pancho Clos. Several children had to leave, because they were not allowed to hear about that sort of thing.
Now I want to come to the point of these examples. It is important that all the children feel safe and feel welcome in the schools. If a child does not agree with the rest of the class, the other children should accept him. If a child needs an alternative activity, the teachers should provide it. It does not mean that the teachers should never celebrate Christmas, rather, it means that if they want to maintain the right to do so, they need to respect those who don't want to do it.
During the month of December, do everything possible to promote and maintain those customs that are important to you, learn about those of others, and respect everyone.

How Do You Spend the Holidays?

By Roy E. Howard, December, 1993

In Las Cruces the fight over a little play in the schools about a star resulted in court action. In Somalia an extremist group threatened the Christians by writing: "Anybody caught distributing material about Christmas will be shot". In the United States 35 million people suffered severe seasonal depression. Thousands of children were threatened with visions of a Santa Claus who punishes children who misbehave. Millions of others learned that there is no Santa Claus, and worse, many waited for him and he did not come. Millions of Americans used alcohol and other drugs during the season, giving an example to the children that says mood altering substances are OK.
Central Elementary presented a Christmas program in English and Spanish with the participation of all the classes and the attendance of most of the families. In Somalia, relief agencies distributed thousands of tons of food and clothing. In San Francisco, a group of children sang for the residents of a rest home. The people cryed, thinking of the homes they would not see. The children stayed longer, talking and playing with the residents. In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, all the shopping malls opened especially for hospital patients and the handicapped. One group gave a package full of gifts to a family of a hospital patient. No one knew who gave the gift. The family imagined it had been members of their church, and this thought filled them with gratitude toward all the members. In Kumasi, Ghana, a family read the Christmas story from the Gospels, while community members acted out the scene. They sang carols and enjoyed each other immensly. In Albuquerque, the Ballet Theatre of New Mexico presented three ballets: The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Le Patineurs, and The Nutcracker. The purpose was to promote and maintain Christmas traditions for the young. In Silver City, the local dance company also presented many scenes from The Nutcracker.
Many people spend the holiday season complaining and suffering. Many more enjoy themselves with their families and in thinking of others, and in the preservation of joyful traditions. Think about what you want. Think about what you do each year. Resolve to have a good attitude about traditions in the new year.

Schools Safe for Differences

Under a cultural exchange program, my family was host to a rabbi from Russia at Christmastime. We decided to introduce him to a culinary treat that was probably not available in his country: we took him to our favorite Chinese restaurant.
Throughout the meal, the rabbi spoke excitedly about the wonders of our country in comparison to the bleak conditions in his homeland. When we'd finished eating, the waiter brought the check and presented each of us with a small brass Christmas-tree ornament as a seasonal gift.
We all laughed when my father pointed out that the ornaments were stamped "Made in India." But the laughter subsided when we saw that the rabbi was quietly crying. Concerned, my father asked him if he was offended because he'd been given a gift for a Christian holiday.
He smiled, shook his head and said, "Nyet, I was shedding tears of joy to be in a wonderful country in which a Buddhist gives a Jew a Christmas gift made by a Hindu!"
Allan Abramsky, Roanoke, Texas. Readers Digest, January 1996, p. 60.

Schools can celebrate in December, without offense, if they do it right. "Happy Holidays" is more than "politically correct", it is making schools safe for all kids. Celebrating is just another way of getting the community into the school, a recognized necessity if you are going to improve the chances of the students. Good luck!

return to Vol. IX