Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 7 - Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena

La Marimorena, or Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena is one of the most popular Spanish  Christmas carols. Its origin is not entirely clear, but a version of it first appeared in 1702. The carol is based on the story that a religious ceremony at the convent of San Francisco (Madrid) was interrupted by zambombas (a Spanish friction drum, consisting of a ceramic pot with a skin and a pole in the middle), cheers, drums and tambourines coming from the nearby tavern Cava Baja. Among the revelers there was María Morena . . . although some say that the marimorena in the song refers to the Virgin Mary (La Virgen Morena, La María Morena, La Moreneta ...). Be that as it may, the expression "armar la marimorena" does seem to have arisen from that disruptive event!

Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena (Go, Go, Go to the Shindig/Ruckus)

Chorus
Ande, ande, ande la marimorena,
   Go, go, go, it's a shindig,
Ande, ande, ande, que es la Nochebuena,
   Go, go, go, it's Christmas Eve,
Ande, ande, ande la marimorena,
   Go, go, go, it's a shindig,
Ande, ande, ande, que es la Nochebuena.
   Go, go, go, it's Christmas Eve.

En el Portal de Belén hay estrellas sol y luna,
   In the manger of Bethlehem, there are stars, the sun and the moon,
la Virgen y San José y el Niño que está en la cuna.
   The Virgin and St. Joseph, and the Baby is in the crib.
Chorus

En el Portal de Belén hacen lumbre los pastores,
    In the manger in Bethlehem, the shepherds make a fire,
para calentar al Niño que ha nacido entre las flores.
   To warm Baby Jesus who was born among the flowers.
Chorus

Una estrella se ha perdido y en el cielo no aparece,
   A star is lost and doesn't appear in the sky,
en el portal se ha metido y en su rostro resplandece.
   It enters the manger and gleams on His face.
Chorus

En el Portal de Belén hay un hombre haciendo gachas,
   In the manger in Bethlehem, there's a man making porridge,
con la cuchara en la mano repartiendo a las muchachas.
   With a spoon in hand, he's distributing it to the girls.
Chorus

Ande la marimorena - Xenia Zawanowska/St. Pociech Foundation

Ande la marimorena - Par de Rumbas

Ande la marimorena - Canta Juego