As we approach the holiday season, please keep in mind that the annual Angel Tree will be set up in the back of the church. Pleae keep with the tradition that this tree has been our “giving tree” for many years and provides the opportunity to contribute money to benefit an orphanage in the Ukraine. Please take a “ornament” and provide a monetary gift as directed.
On December 12th each year, we also celebrate the Feast of Our Lady (Theotokos) of Guadalupe. This day commemorates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in 1531 to St. Juan Diego on the hills of Tepeyac near Mexico City between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, 1531. Mary, looking like a Mexican princess, appeared four times to the Juan Diego. She left her image on the simple peasant’s cloak that is still preserved in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Las Mañanitas, the Mexican Birthday Song, is typically sung at midnight or early morning and during Mass the day of the feast. It can be sung anytime during your celebration.
Lyrics and a translation of Las Mañantias:
| Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David, Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti, Despierta, mi bien*, despierta, mira que ya amaneció, Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió. |
This is the morning song that King David sang Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you Wake up, my dear*, wake up, look it is already dawn The birds are already singing and the moon has set |
| Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte, Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte, Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio, Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció. |
How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you We all came here with joy and pleasure to congratulate you The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn |
* Often replaced with the name of the person who is being celebrated
Additional verses:
| El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores En la pila del bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores |
The day you were born all the flowers were born On the baptismal font the nightingales sang |
| Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana y darte los buenos días acostadita en tu cama |
I would like to be the sunshine to enter through your window to wish you good morning while you’re lying in your bed |
| Quisiera ser un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro Para venirte a cantar con la música del cielo |
I would like to be a Saint John> I would like to be a Saint Peter To sing to you with the music of heaven |
| De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos una para saludarte y otra para decirte adiós |
Of the stars in the sky I have to lower two for you One with which to greet you and the other to wish you goodbye |
