‘Twas
the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
Not
a creature was stirring – ¡Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los
niños were tucked away, safe in their camas,
Some
in vestidos, some in pijamas.
The
stockings were hung with mucho cuidado,
In
hopes that San Nicolás would feel obligado.
To
bring all children, both buenos and malos,
A
nice bunch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside
in the yard there arose such a grito,
That
I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I
ran to the window and looked out afuera,
Who in the world do you think that it era?
Saint
Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero,
Came
dashing along like a loco bombero.
And
pulling his sleigh, instead of venados,
Were
eight little burros bien decorados.
I
watched as they came and this quaint little hombre,
Was
shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
“Ay
Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Beto,
ay
Chato, ay Chopo, ay Maruco, y Nieto!”
Then
standing erect with his hands 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 chiminea.
Then
huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With
soot smeared all over his red suit de gala;
He
filled all the stockings with lovely regalos,
For
none of the niños had been muy malos.
Then
chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
He
turned like a flash and was gone como el viento.
And
I heard him exclaim, y ¡esto es verdad!
Merry
Christmas to all, y ¡Feliz Navidad!
(adapted from various versions found on the internet)
(adapted from various versions found on the internet)
