Arbolito de Navidad (Dear Christmas Tree) is a Christmas carol or villancico of Cuban origins composed in the 1940s, with lyrics by Juan Oller Pons and music by Genaro Monreal Campanera. It is known throughout Latin-America, having first been popularized by
Jose Antonio Salaman.
The song is sung from the point of view of a young man, who asks his brother to come with him up the mountain to help him cut a Christmas tree, to offer it to the newborn Christ Child. He tells how the Three Kings and the shepherds follow the Star while coming to the Christ Child born of the beautiful Virgin, they sing to Him. He affirms that he would like to put little bells on the Christmas tree, to make a beautiful offering to the newborn Christ Child.
Arbol de Navidad is here interpreted by Mariachi Sol de Mexico, arranged by Jose Hernandez from the same group. Another interesting rendition by them is performed live,
here; Mariachi Imperial Azteca also sings the song in a Christmas concert
here.
Listen to Arbolito de Navidad
Lyrics:
Spanish text
Esta noche es noche buena
Vamos al monte, hermanito
A cortar un arbolito
Porque la noche es serena.
Los reyes y los pastores
Cantan, siguiendo una estrella
Le cantan a Jesús Niño
Hijo de la Vírgen bella.
Arbolito, arbolito
Campanitas te pondre
Quiero que seas muy bonito
Que al Recien Nacido te voy a ofrecer.
Arbolito, arbolito
Campanitas te pondre
Quiero que seas muy bonito
Que al Recien Nacido te voy a ofrecer.
Iremos por el camino
Caminito de Belén
Iremos porque esta noche
Ha nacido el Niño Rey.
English translation:
Tonight is Christmas Eve
Let us go to the mountain, little brother
To cut down a little tree
Because the night is serene
The kings and the shepherds
Are singing, following a star
They sing to the Child Jesus
Son of the beautiful Virgin
Little tree, little tree
I will put little bells on you
I want you to be very beautiful
Because I am going to offer you to the Newborn
Little tree, little tree
I will put little bells on you
I want you to be very beautiful
Because I am going to offer you to the Newborn
We will go along the road
The little road to Bethlehem
We will go because tonight
The Child King has been born.
