De Colores History
Official description from the Upper Room:
The song "De colores" has a
long-standing tradition in Emmaus and
similar three-day programs. This songs
speaks of God's beauty in the world.
According to tradition, people who had
experienced the three-day short course
in Christianity gave musical expression
to their joy of God's love through the
words of "De Colores." The words are
sung to an old folk tune from Majorca,
Spain.
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Origin of the song:
There was a group of cursillistas
(those who've just attended a Cursillo
weekend) in Spain riding home on a bus,
singing and rejoicing, when the weather
turned...a frightening storm with
lightning and thunder had them huddling
together in the bus on the side of the
road, and even halted their singing.
But when the storm was over, the clouds
parted and the sun peeked through. As
the tension lessened, one cursillista
looked out the window at the farm they
had parked in front of; and there, saw
a rooster, resplendent in color in the
sparkling aftermath of the storm.
Singing and shouting De Colores!,
the cursillistas began to rejoice again,
writing a 70 verse song praising God and
rejoicing in the shining colors
of a little rooster!
Hence, the greeting, De Colores, wishes
you that joy.