Cri-Cri is known as the "grillito cantor" or "the singing cricket". He is a character created by Francisco Gabilondo Soler in his childhood and may even be considered "his inner personality"
The character became so famous and gave its author such renown, that it became a second name for Gabilondo. In the mid part of the 20th century he became the most recognizable singer of children's songs in Spanish. Gabilondo's dedication to this segment of the population has been greatly admired, comparable to Walt Disney in his honest approach to making life fun for those who are getting started in life.
Pastorela Mexicana
Cri-Cri Lyrics
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en el jacal de carboneros
cuando era media noche
y temblaban los luceros
a la vida vino un niño
junto a una flor de fuego.
Veinticinco de diciembre
ni día más ni día menos.
Es su madre muy morena
de mirar alegre y tierno;
es su padre un indio fuerte
leñador de puro nervio.
El pelón tiene por cuna
un huacal lleno de heno,
y al llorar, su llanto rasga
la neblina de los cerros.
Ha nacido un nuevo niño
entre ocotes piñoneros
sin saber que nace pobre
porque más, no puede serlo.
Sólo hay mamá risueña
un papá tallado en fierro
y una cruz que lo proteja
en los años venideros.
Navidad de los humildes
en jacal de carboneros:
veinticinco de diciembre
ni día más, ni día menos.
The lyrics describe a humble and beautiful scene high up in the mountains of Mexico. In the middle of the night, a baby boy is born to a loving yet impoverished family. The baby's mother is described as a content and warm-hearted woman, while his father is a strong and determined Indigenous woodcutter. The baby, with no possessions but a container of hay, is seen crying amidst the foggy mountain terrain.
Despite their lack of wealth, the family appears to be grateful for the new addition to their household. The baby's birth on the 25th of December is symbolic of the Christmas holiday, but it is celebrated in a nontraditional way in the carboneros' adobe hut. The simple yet joyous celebration serves as an ode to the beauty of life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of poverty.
Line by Line Meaning
En lo alto de la sierra
In the highlands of the mountain range
en el jacal de carboneros
In the hut of charcoal makers
cuando era media noche
When it was midnight
y temblaban los luceros
and the stars were trembling
a la vida vino un niño
a child came into the world
junto a una flor de fuego.
next to a fiery flower.
Veinticinco de diciembre
Twenty-Fifth of December
ni día más ni día menos.
not one day more nor one day less.
Es su madre muy morena
His mother is very dark-skinned
de mirar alegre y tierno;
with a cheerful and gentle look;
es su padre un indio fuerte
His father is a strong Indian man
leñador de puro nervio.
a lumberjack of pure nerve.
El pelón tiene por cuna
The bald baby has for a cradle
un huacal lleno de heno,
a box filled with hay,
y al llorar, su llanto rasga
and when he cries, his cry tears
la neblina de los cerros.
the fog of the hills.
Ha nacido un nuevo niño
A new child has been born
entre ocotes piñoneros
among pinecone-bearing pine trees
sin saber que nace pobre,
without knowing that he is born poor,
porque más, no puede serlo.
because he couldn't be any more so.
Sólo hay mamá risueña
There is only a cheerful mother
un papá tallado en fierro
a father chiseled from iron
y una cruz que lo proteja
and a cross that protects him
en los años venideros.
in the years to come.
Navidad de los humildes
Christmas of the humble
en jacal de carboneros:
in the hut of charcoal makers:
veinticinco de diciembre
Twenty-Fifth of December
ni día más, ni día menos.
not one day more nor one day less.
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.