To you and yours, I wish you a warm and happy Holiday season, and the very best
and prosperous of New Years!

Thank you all,
Anthony





The Night Before Christmas (Chicano style)

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa
Not a creature was stirring; ¡Caramba! ¿Que pasa?
Los niños were all tucked away in their camas,
Some in vestidos, and some in pijamas,
While Mama worked late in her little cocina,
El Viejo was down at the corner cantina.
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would feel obligado,
To bring all the children, both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to my window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?
St. Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero!
And pulling his sleigh, instead of venados
Were eight little burros, approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
”¡Ay, Pancho! ¡Ay, Pepe! ¡Ay, Cuca! ¡Ay, Beto!
¡Ay, Chato! ¡Ay, Chopo! ¡Ay, Maruca y Nieto!“
Then standing up tall with his hand on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then, huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala,
He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos.
He turned like a flash and was gone like viento,
And I heard him exclaim - and this is verdad -
"Merry Christmas to all! ¡Feliz Navidad!"