Explore the Joyful Vibes: Top 10 Fun Facts About Feliz Navidad You Never Knew!

1. 10-Minute Miracle

In a jingle-jolly jiffy that would put Santa's elves to shame: José Feliciano crafted the iconic Christmas tune "Feliz Navidad" within a miraculous 10 minutes and nailed it in a single take.
Source => spanishmama.com

2. Chart-Topping Tortoise

Who says slow and steady doesn't win the race? "Feliz Navidad" is the tortoise of Christmas tunes: Despite being released in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano, this bilingual banger only managed to cha-cha its way to No. 70 on the Billboard charts more than 20 years later. But fear not, fiesta fans – in 2017, the sleigh ride wasn't over as the song salsa'd back into our hearts, climbing to No. 44.
Source => today.com

Did you know that in Mexico, a seven-pointed star piñata helps conquer the seven deadly sins during Christmas? Discover how this festive tradition signifies the triumph over vices and showers everyone with candy and toys!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-In-Mexico

3. Six-Word Salsa

Who needs a twelve days of Christmas when you can go for the world record in holiday song efficiency? José Feliciano's got you covered: The legendary singer-songwriter crafted the eternally catchy "Feliz Navidad" in a single take, scribbling down its simple yet potent lyrics in a mere 10 minutes, using just six words in Spanish and 13 in English, ultimately building a timeless bridge between two cultures that remains a cherished classic to this day.
Source => spanishmama.com

4. Holiday Greeting Mashup

In a world where holiday greetings moonlight as catchy tunes, "Feliz Navidad" reigns supreme as the ultimate two-for-one Christmas cheer package: Not only is it a festive song that gets everyone bopping, but it's also the go-to phrase for wishing Merry Christmas in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, proving that holiday spirit truly knows no linguistic bounds.
Source => citylifemadrid.com

5. Impaired Vision, Unwavering Success

Jose Feliciano's vision may have been impaired, but he clearly saw his Christmas classic "Feliz Navidad" becoming a hit faster than Rudolph could guide Santa's sleigh: This Puerto Rican musician, not letting visual impairment put a damper on his career, bagged two Grammy Awards and charted fourteen songs on the Billboard Hot 100, all while dealing with a former manager who's now facing a lawsuit for allegedly taking advantage of the singer's disability.
Source => hollywoodreporter.com

6. Christmas Diplomat

Call off the search party for the catchiest Christmas tune: "Feliz Navidad" has had us all singing along since 1970. Jose Feliciano, the Puerto Rican singer and songwriter behind this festive earworm, has blessed our holiday playlists with a multilingual favorite - making "Feliz Navidad" something of a Christmas diplomat, bridging cultures with jingle and cheer. Colon: This holiday classic, covered by artists from Bing Crosby to Celine Dion, brings together the simple but powerful sentiments of "Merry Christmas" and wishes for a prosperous New Year, transcending languages and borders to unite us all in seasonal celebration.
Source => lyrics.cat

7. Timeless Yuletide Anthemic Record

As José Feliciano's declaration of holiday bliss traveled through the airwaves on a one-horse open sleigh, it was greeted by choruses of "más, por favor" from music lovers around the globe: "Feliz Navidad" has become one of the top 25 most played and recorded Christmas songs worldwide, according to ASCAP. Originally released in 1970 on various old-school formats like vinyl records, 8-track tapes, and cassette tapes, this yuletide anthem has since been reissued with three bonus tracks to jingle all our headspaces, spreading festive cheer for generations to come.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Global Sleigh-ride

Who needs Santa's sleigh when you have a hit song that spans the globe? José Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" has been sleighing the charts and spreading holiday cheer for more than a few figgy puddings: Released in 1970, "Feliz Navidad" was the first Spanish language Christmas tune to gain popularity in the United States and has become one of the most played and downloaded worldwide, reaching around 3.8 billion delighted eardrums. Despite being blind from birth, Feliciano has achieved legendary status, including two Grammys, a total of seven more nominations, and the prestigious 2000 Grammy Legend award.
Source => puertoricoreport.com

9. Homesick Holiday Hitmaker

When José Feliciano was feeling like a "bah humbug" in the recording studio, he decided he needed some Yuletide cheer to jingle his bells and decided to use his musical prowess to put the "fa la la" in Feliz Navidad: The now-classic Christmas song was born out of his homesickness for family and friends during the festive season, featuring traditional Spanish holiday greetings topped off with heartwarming English lines. The endearing mix of languages has led to Feliz Navidad being one of the most downloaded and aired Christmas tunes in the United States and Canada, securing top spots on Billboard charts even years after its initial release.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Blind Christmas Cheer

Who said you need 20/20 vision for a holly jolly Christmas? Apparently, not Jose Feliciano: The talented musician responsible for the catchy Christmas hit "Feliz Navidad" lost his sight as a child due to untreated glaucoma, but that didn't stop him from picking up a guitar at the age of nine and creating a sonic fiesta that still has everyone shaking their maracas during the holidays.
Source => lighthousecfl.org