Watch this and be transported to Jerez at Christmas time.
It’ll make you feel like you’re a part of the fiesta with Luis de Perikin and Así Canta Jerez en Navidad:
Here Flamencomania explains that this popular villancico, Tiene María, which many think is a traditional verse, in fact is not.
The music and lyrics were written by Jose Gallardo & Luis de la Chica.
(Of course, for those of us who aren't from Spain, this version by Así Canta Jerez and Luis de Perikin, may be the first we’ve heard.)
Here’s the chorus:
Tiene que tiene, tiene,
Tiene María una rosa en el pelo de Alejandría
San José que es buen mozo la pretendía
pero era vergonzoso y no se atrevía.
Y nunca le dijo “na'a”
queriéndola de verdad
que el brillo que había en sus ojos se le ponían a cavilar
Mary wears a Damask rose in her hair
The handsome young St. Joseph wanted to woo her,
but he was shy and didn’t dare
So he never said a thing to her
being so in love with her
that the light in her eyes made him reflect.
Cover photo by Cristina Glebova on Unsplash