Mexican tradition: Pidiendo Posada, the words to the song
When reenacting Mary and Joseph's quest for shelter in Bethlehem, participants in the traditional Posada processions stop to sing a litany at several designated homes. The verses alternate one by one between those seeking lodging outside and those responding from behind the door.
The lyrics are as follows:
| Español | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside Singers | Inside Response | Outside Singers | Inside Response |
| En el nombre del cielo os pido posada pues no puede andar mi esposa amada. |
Aquí no es mesón, sigan adelante Yo no debo abrir, no sea algún tunante. |
In the name of Heaven I beg you for lodging, for she cannot walk my beloved wife. |
This is not an inn so keep going I cannot open you may be a rogue. |
| No seas inhumano, tennos caridad, que el Dios de los cielos te lo premiará. |
Ya se pueden ir y no molestar porque si me enfado os voy a apalear. |
Don't be inhuman; Have mercy on us. The God of the heavens will reward you for it. |
You can go on now and don't bother us, because if I become annoyed I'll give you a trashing. |
| Venimos rendidos desde Nazaret, yo soy carpintero de nombre José. |
No me importa el nombre, déjenme dormir, pues que yo les digo que nos hemos de abrir. |
We are worn out coming from Nazareth. I am a carpenter, Joseph by name. |
I don't care about your name: Let me sleep, because I already told you we shall not open up. |
| Posada te pide, amado casero, por sólo una noche la Reina del Cielo. |
Pues si es una reina quien lo solicita, ¿cómo es que de noche anda tan solita? |
I'm asking you for lodging dear man of the house Just for one night for the Queen of Heaven. |
Well, if it's a queen who solicits it, why is it at night that she travels so alone? |
| Mi esposa es María, es Reina del Cielo y madre va a ser del Divino Verbo. |
¿Eres ú José? ¿Tu esposa es María? Entren, peregrinos, no los conocía. |
My wife is Mary She's the Queen of Heaven and she's going to be the mother of the Divine Word. |
Are you Joseph? Your wife is Mary? Enter, pilgrims; I did not recognize you. |
| Dios pague, señores, vuestra caridad, y que os colme el cielo de felicidad. |
¡Dichosa la casa que alberga este día a la Viren pura. la hermosa María! |
May God pay, gentle folks, your charity, and thus heaven heap happiness upon you. |
Blessed is the house that shelters this day the pure Virgin, the beautiful Mary. |
| Upon opening the doors at the final stop, the tune changes, the pilgrims enter, and all sing these final verses in unison: | |||
| Entren, Santos Peregrinos, reciban este rincón, que aunque es pobre la morada, os la doy de corazón. |
Enter, holy pilgrims, receive this corner, for though this dwelling is poor, I offer it with all my heart. |
||
| Oh, peregrina agraciada, oh, bellísima María. Yo te ofrezco el alma mía para que tengáis posada. | Oh, graced pilgrim, oh, most beautiful Mary. I offer you my soul so you may have lodging. |
||
| Humildes peregrinos Jesús, María y José, el alma doy por ellos, mi corazón también. |
Humble pilgrims, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give my soul for them And my heart as well. |
||
| Cantemos con alegría todos al considerar que Jesús, José y María nos vinieron a honrar. |
Let us sing with joy, all bearing in mind that Jesus, Joseph and Mary honor us by having come. |
||
Published or Updated on:
December 1, 1998
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