Finally! A Bilingual Christmas

Since 1992 when it first came out, I have been a huge fan of The Muppet Christmas Carol movie. I have pretty much watched it every year since.

My parents would watch it with me and my younger brother, sometimes laughing at the on-screen shenanigans like Rizzo the Rat being chased by a tabby cat Muppet while Scrooge is on a visit to his past, or the penguins having their ice skating party. Given that my parents don’t speak English very well, and even less well when we were kids, they were laughing at anything slapstick or visually obvious. Mostly they would laugh at my brother and I laughing as loving parents do.

This year though, while visiting my parents in Las Vegas, we got to experience my favorite Christmas movie in a brand new way. On DisneyPlus*, you can watch The Muppet Christmas Carol dubbed into Spanish with Spanish subtitles (or English subtitles if you need the option). This year, I got to laugh out of love for my parents by watching them finally fully understand all the jokes being made, and every lyric of every song. It was like a new world opened up for them, like they finally got to fully enjoy the nuances of this particular version of the classic Dickens story.

This is the importance of language accessibility. Many of us Latinos know—it’s not that our parents didn’t want to learn English better. It’s because learning a new language is hard, especially as you get older. Also, learning English itself is very hard for Spanish speakers. The rules of grammar and spelling can get very confusing. Believe me, I taught English in Spain—my students could attest to this and often did.

Also, many Latinx/Latina/Latino immigrants are pigeon-holed into industries where the majority of their co-workers are also primarily Spanish-speaking, so they don’t often get the opportunity to practice their English as frequently as anyone should to develop a command of the language.

My parents’ difficulty with English is partly what has led me to prioritize creating and performing bilingual ceremonies for weddings and other life milestones. It’s such an important day in a couple’s life and it just feels wonderful for everyone when your family suddenly hears my voice welcome them in Spanish and they realize that they are about to understand everything that is happening in their child’s life-changing ceremony.

So this year, along with other things, I have been giving the gift of Spanish dubbing and translation to my parents and it has been joyful. You should do the same with your favorite movies and TV shows that your parents watched you enjoy when you were growing up. It may not seem like a lot, but it actually is a simple, yet magical moment together. Perfect for the holidays.

And if you’re planning a ceremony for your life-changing celebration, definitely consider if your family will feel especially loved and considered with you taking the time in your ceremony to translate some or all of what is being said. I’ve seen the look in enough parents’ and grandparents’ eyes to know that it is very much worth it.

If you and your family celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a beautiful Noche Buena tonight and a Merry Christmas tomorrow. If you’re Jewish, happy Hanukkah! Also, happy Kwanzaa, blessed Yuletide, and Felices Fiestas for any holiday you may be celebrating this season!

*Not sponsored by DisneyPlus.

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What are you doing for your holiday celebration? Did you have a favorite holiday movie that you can now dub into Spanish? Feel free to share in the comments below!