The article deals with the origins and background of the villancico, explaining its role in the transfer and assimilation of cultures between continents. It deals with the resultant metamorphosis and "otherness" of the genre, leading towards fusion and cross fertilization between often unrelated cultures. Attention is also paid to the relationship between text and music in the villancico, as well as disseminations between the two forms. The colonial character of the cultures of reference manages to enhance the imaginary cultural continuum created by this musical and literary art form in Latin America. The bridging of the gap between human and divine through a false dichotomy of "sacred" and "secular" is an inherent feature of the genre.Die artikel gaan oor die oorsprong en agtergrond van die villancico en verduidelik sy rol tydens die oordrag en assimilasie van kulture tussen kontinente. Dit handel oor die gevolglike metamorfose en "andersheid" van die genre, wat lei na samesmelting en kruisbestuiwing tussen dikwels nie-verwante kulture. Aandag word ook bestee aan die verhouding tussen teks en musiek in die villancico, asook vorme van disseminasie tussen die twee vormsoorte. Die koloniale kenmerke van die kulture waarna verwys word beklemtoon die denkbeeldige kulturele kontinuum wat deur hierdie musikale en literêre kunsvorm in Latyns Amerika geskep is. Die oorbrugging van die gaping tussen die menslike en geestelike deur middel van 'n valse tweespalt tussen "heilig" en "sekuler" vorm 'n inherente kenmerk van die genre
