Overview
- Villancicos began as nonreligious popular songs in medieval Spain and Portugal, a lineage reflected in the term’s origin from villa and the Latin villanus.
- Between the 16th and 18th centuries the Catholic Church repurposed the form for evangelization, moving it from village squares into cathedrals and convents.
- In New Spain, composers including Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Antonio de Salazar created liturgical villancicos for local celebrations, forming a distinct Mexican baroque repertoire.
- Mexico’s catalog continued into the 20th century and today, with works by Silvino Jaramillo and contemporary projects such as Villancicos Mexicanos and Navidad mexicana expanding a national Christmas songbook.
- Coverage also clarifies that several widely sung holiday pieces in Mexico, like El burrito sabanero or Los peces en el río, originated outside the country and are not Mexican creations.