Arrullar a Niño Jesus/Lullaby to the Christ child

Published December 22, 2023

by Efrain Gonzalez

Another one of our traditions to look forward to during these holidays is” Arrullar a Niño Jesus.”

Lullaby to the Christ child on Christmas Eve: when did it emerge and how is it done?

You have doubts about how the baby Jesus is lulled to sleep on Christmas Eve, here is when this tradition was born and how the ceremony is performed.

The Christmas season is here and with it come several traditions such as putting up the Christmas tree, putting up the nativity scene, the posadas and lulling the baby Jesus, the latter is mainly done as a family to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

How did the tradition of lulling the baby Jesus come about?

Some archaeologists claim that the tradition of lulling the baby Jesus to sleep was born in the 13th century in Europe, to praise the birth of Jesus and the Holy Family.

The Spanish brought the image to Mexico, and through syncretism and tradition it was formed into what we know today, since in pre-Hispanic times the Mexica used to make a figure of amaranth kneaded with maguey honey of the god Huitzilopochtli, which represented his birth. , the same day as Jesus.

It was during the evangelization of the people that the tradition was transformed into what is now known as the birth of the baby Jesus.
What does lullaby to the Christ child consist of?

Before performing the lullaby for the Christ child, the nativity scene must be placed in the home days before Christmas Eve (December 24), for this the figurines of Joseph, Mary, the Three Wise Men must be placed, except for Jesus because he has not yet been born.

Before the Christmas Eve dinner, the figure of the baby Jesus must be placed on a cloth, and accompanied by songs and litanies, it must be rocked like a baby and placed at the nativity scene, to represent that Jesus was already born. This moment can be accompanied with candles or sparklers.
In some parts of the country it is customary to place sweets on the cloth where the baby Jesus is lulled and before being placed at the birth, the figure is kissed by each of the family members, at the same time that they take one of the sweets.

Once the figure of the baby Jesus is placed at the nativity scene, it must remain there until January 6 or February 2, Candlemas Day ( Dia de La Candelaria ) when the tradition of raising the baby Jesus takes place.