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De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

About the History of Halloween and The Day of the Dead (”Los Dias de los Muertos”)

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De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

I was inspired to post De colores now because of a drawing my daughter created the other day – it made me think of All the Colors! The song is a celebration of the colors of Spring!

This song is originally from Spain. The first translation below was done to fit the tune, so you could sing along in English, as well as Spanish. However, I’m including a YouTube video that shows Pete Seeger actually teaching this song to his audience. So you can learn it from him!

De colores

De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera
De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos lucir
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

Canta el gallo, canta el gallo con el quiri quiri quiri quiri quiri
La gallina, la gallina con el cara cara cara cara cara
Los polluelos, los polluelos con el pío pío pío pío pío pí
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

De colores, de colores brillantes y finos se viste la aurora
De colores, de colores son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora
De colores, de colores se viste el diamante que vemos lucir
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

All the Colors
(English Translation)

All the colors, all the colors, oh how they dress up the countryside in springtime,
All the colors, all the colors of birdies, oh how they come back to us outside,
All the colors, all the colors in rainbows we see shining bright in the sky,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

The rooster sings, he sings cock-a-doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle-doo,
The chicken clucks, she clucks, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck,
The little chicks they cheep, they cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

All the colors, all the great, glowing colors that we see in the sky at sunrise,
All the colors, all the colors are seen in the thousand reflections in sunlight,
All the colors, all the colors are seen glittering in a diamond ring,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

I tried to keep the translation as close as possible to the original, while making it fit the melody. The biggest liberty I took was in the line “Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí”, which I translated as “And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.” A more literal translation would be, “And therefore, the great love of many colors pleases me.” or “And that’s why I like so many colors so much.” -Mama Lisa

Come visit the De colores Song Page for the French Translation, Sheet music and midi.

Here’s a street performer in Tijuana, Mexico singing De colores…

Happy Spring to all of you in the Northern Hemisphere and I hope you enjoy the autumn hues if you’re in the Southern hemisphere!

Mama Lisa

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About the History of Halloween and The Day of the Dead (”Los Dias de los Muertos”)

Friday, October 28th, 2005

The Celts celebrated the Day of the Dead in the United Kingdom on October 31st – what’s now Halloween. They believed the spirits rose from the dead on that day every year. They would leave food offerings at their doors – just like giving candy to little trick-or-treaters. They wore masks to scare off or fool the evil spirits into thinking that they were ghosts and ghouls – hence Halloween costumes. Halloween obviously has its roots in this tradition.

The Day of the Dead, Los Dias de los Muertos, takes place between November 1st and 2nd. It’s mainly celebrated in Mexico, the Philippines and some parts of South America. It’s origins in Mexico go back to the Aztecs and Mayans. They believed there was one day in the year when the souls of the dead would visit their loved ones. (The Aztecs actually celebrated the dead for two full months.) They would put out offerings for these spirits. After the Spanish conquest the celebration was mixed with celebrations for the Christian All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). On All Souls Day Catholics honor the souls of their dead and pray for them, to help them pass from purgatory to heaven.

Today The Day of the Dead still symbolizes a time when the deceased can come back to earth (in spirit) and partake in the pleasures of the world. This is a time of festivities. Families welcome back the dead and offer them treats on a homemade alter. The treats can include special meals, sweets, cigars, drinks, etc. Some may even leave a place at the dinner table for the departed loved one.

All decorations are supposed to be handmade. Skeletons and skulls are important symbols. Paper chains, banners and flowers are also constructed. Sugar candy skulls and bread, called pan de muertos, in the shape of skulls or decorated with bones, are also made.

One part of The Day of the Dead is building the alter (ofrenda). Photos of the departed are placed on the alter, as well as mementos and flowers. Special candles and incense are lit. The treats are often placed on the alter for the departed to “drink in” its essence. After that, the family and friends share it all.

The families may visit the graves of their loved ones and plant or place flowers on the grave. Marigolds are especially important since they symbolize death. They also place fruit or bread on the grave and light candles. Often families will spend the whole night at the grave eating and playing music.

I asked Angela from Reign Trading (which sells supplies for the holiday) about the music played for The Day of the Dead. She said, “…the most traditional song is a Mixtec Indian song called Dios Nunca Muere, which means ‘God never dies’… It’s kinda cute and is heard for days being played by rickety old, out of tune, ‘bandas’ in the village cemeteries. I’ve never found the music on a c.d. or tape. I can hear it in my head however!…It’s cool, it’s kinda a durge waltz.”

I was able to find sound clips of this song…

A midi of Dios Nunca Muere thanks to Oaxaca +.

For an mp3 sound clip of Dios Nunca Muere scroll down to Valses Mexicanos and click on Dios Nunca Muere.

In some towns people dress up as mummies, ghouls, ghosts and skeletons and parade around town with an open coffin.

At the end of the holiday, in Oaxaca, masked dancers go from house to house, singing, chanting and dancing to help the dead go back to where they belong. Because some don’t want to go back!
_____

Here are some Dios de los Muertos links…

How to Make Sugar Skulls

Recipe for Pan de Muertos, Bread in the Shape of Skulls

A Photo of a Day of the Dead Alter

Photo of a Celebration at the Grave

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