Fieldwork Archive
Oh diciembre alegre
Performed by León residents.
Recorded December 7, 2025 in León, Nicaragua (acquisition date: December 12, 2025).
Performed during the gritería celebration. Performed with guitar.
Recorded by Claudio Alexander Urbina on behalf of Derek Piotr.
La gritería ("the shout") is a Nicaraguan festival which originated in the early 18th century, held in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, also nicknamed the Purísima.
It is celebrated on the night of December 7th, the eve of the Catholic feast day for the Immaculate Conception.
These celebrations are some of the largest in the country and are celebrated in its various towns and cities.
They hold special significance in the city of León, where they originated.
Devotees walk the streets and visit different altars erected in honor of the Virgin Mary in churches and private homes, offering prayers, singing, and setting off fireworks while shouting pregónes.
The inhabitants of the houses welcome the devotees with a toast, popularly called la gorra (the cap), of candy and other small gifts.
Here, Fieldwork Archivist Claudio Alexander Urbina records a group of León residents caroling "Oh diciembre alegre" at the entrance of a private home in the San Felipe neighborhood, finishing off with the pregones "¿Quién causa tanta alegría?" ("Who causes so much joy?") and "Que viva la Concepción de María!" ("Long live the Conception of Mary!").
grato, encantador,
por sólo el misterio
de la Concepción.
Toda la alegría,
toda la emocion
viene de María
y su Concepción.
Los días, las noches,
cambian su estación,
anuncian se acerca
vuestra Concepción.
pleasant, enchanting,
for the very mystery
of the Conception.
All joy,
all emotion,
comes from Mary
and her Conception.
The days, the nights,
change their seasons,
announcing that
your Conception is near.
