The chigualos are original verses from a region of Ecuador, called Manabí, creation of the Montubia population. They are a traditional Christmas event, recited between Christmas Day and February 2, Candlemas Day. It has Hispanic origins and its content varies between the veneration of the child God and humorous stories.
On the other hand, in Colombia the verses recited during children's wakes are known as chigualo. It is also known as gualí, lullaby or little angel song.
The Montubia tradition began a hundred years ago, and contains elements of theater, dance, music and gastronomy. 60 years ago it acquired the name of chigualo. The verses are six syllables and some contain elements of mischief but without malicious intent.
Featured examples of chigualos
I
The yerbita of this patio
how green it is.
The one who stepped on it has
already left, it no longer withers.
Get up from this ground,
flowering lemon branch;
lie down in these arms
that were born for you.
With ve is written victory,
the heart is with zeta,
love is written with a,
and friendship is respected.
II
Carmela is coming (Fraction)
Carmela has been arriving
as if she came from
Rome with her
shiny dress, the waves
have wet her, the waves
have wet her.
When my mother died
Coro: the waves have wet him (bis)
told me not to cry.
Chorus: the waves have wet it (bis)
that will make the world sad.
Chorus: the waves have wet it (bis)
but they will not forget it.
Chorus: The waves
have gotten it wet 'the waves
have gotten it wet.
III
Mrs. Santana
Mrs. Santana
Mrs. Isabel
because the child cries
for a bell.
Tell him quiet
that here he took two,
one for the child
and one for you.
I don't want one,
I don't want two,
this child does not want
me
to lull him to his mother
who gave birth to him.
IV
The Florón
The rosette is in my hand,
In my hand is the rosette,
What do we do with it now,
pledge of my heart?
Mamayé, mamayé.
The mulatto girl left for Iscuandé.
Mamayé, mamayé,
Iscuandé's mulatto perished.
V
The cane flower
It is of a tender color
Let's sing to the Toddler Boy in
winter.
SAW
Go to sleep, little boy,
just sleep,
that here your guards
will take care of you.
VII
Get up from this ground,
flowering lemon branch;
lie down in these arms
that were born for you.
VIII
With ve is written victory,
the heart is with zeta,
love is written with a,
and friendship is respected.
IX
Cute child, beautiful child,
Child where are you going
Child if you go to heaven you will not delay
X
Permission little boy
What am I going to play
With all due respect
In front of your altar
XI
That seizes and leaves
Good travel to glory leaves
Your godfather and your mother
Canalete have to give
you Good trip!
XII
Estrellita where are you,
I wonder where you are going
A diamond can you be
And if you want to see me
Estrellita where are you
Say you won't forget me
XIII
Sleep my child now, it's
already night and the stars are shining
And when you wake up
we'll start to play
XIV
Sweet orange, watermelon
wedge, bring all your joy to the child.
XV
Little tree of the green field shade it,
shade it my love falls asleep
XVI
Sleep, sleep, sleep because
if the father doesn't hurt, the father gets angry.
And if the black man is good and he hurts,
his father Montero goes to work
so that one day the black man will go to work.
Not breaking rock, he didn't mean it
My black man goes to the capital to
learn
all the things he doesn't know here in books.
So that he learns to speak like the gentlemen.
Just sleep. Just sleep…
Sleep, sleep, sleep because
if it doesn't hurt, I'll regret it now.
And there if my little black to earn his bread
selling fish, chontaduro and salt.
Go to sleep, boy, go to bed,
I already opened those big eyes, you heard
or thank me.
Oh blessed black because you do not hurt very
well appeased next to your dad.
XVII
Let's sing, let's sing, let's sing
the child is gone and he is in heaven,
do not cry, bold for your son and
the angels in heaven will take care of him.
Let's dance with the child, the child is leaving,
the angels from heaven will bring you wings,
the child is dead, we are going to chigualiá,
throw that child over here.
Let's make a wheel where the child is
with palm and crown like an angel plus
mommy mommy, mommy mommy
because there are happy people if it is not for crying.
We are celebrating and they are in heaven
because a black angel can already paint it.
Christmas chigualos
XVIII
What joy I feel
in my heart
to know that
the Little Boy God is coming.
This Little Boy knows,
knows my opinion,
He has the key
to my heart.
The Child in his crib
cast a blessing
and the whole world
was blessed.
At twelve o'clock
a rooster crowed,
announcing to the world
that the Child was born.
XIX
Up there on that hill
a child has been born
We have come to see him
And to praise him with affection
Little boy, little boy
They say that you are very small
The most important thing
is your infinite love
XX
How beautiful the ninth
Here we adore the child
The important thing is not to eat
But treat us with affection
XXI
What was the shepherdess
who fixed his crib?
Put the stars
the sun and the moon."
«The Virgin Mary
Recommended me
That this Niñolindo
I will take care of him.
XXII
Good christians we are
The Manabi Montubios
Good christians we are
And the very pretty girls
XXIII
I am staying in Portoviejo !!!
That's what my burrito said
But the donkey is not sent !!!
Let's see the little boy.
References
- Of the chigualos in my land Manabi. Recovered from: www.lilianalarcon.blogspot.com
- Language and literature sixths A, B, C. Recovered from: lenguayliteraturastresextos.blogspot.com
- Ramos, P. (2014). El Comercio: The chigualo is the Christmas carol of the manabitas. Recovered from: elcomercio.co
- Regalado, L. (2013). El Diario: Los Chigualos. Recovered from: eldiario.ec.