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
I am looking for another version of The Posadas, that my family sang/used. My Great Grandfather was the one who wrote it down from memory, so I can understand how some lyrics could be different, but not as different as they seem. It starts off…” Posada os piden unos peregrinos que vivien cansados de andar los caminos.”
There are many versions of the words. For example, here is another version (though it does not match that of your great grandfather either) – https://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1103-mexico-s-christmas-posadas-pastorelas-and-nacimientos/ Seasonal greetings, TB