Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry Spanish Verse The Vilancico, (Vilancente in Portugese) is a genre of verse that originated in the late 15th century on the Iberian Peninsula which today includes Portugal and Spain. It appears to have been inspired by the Glosa. There is more than one variation of the form.
It began as a medieval secular genre written with rustic themes but in Spain, by the mid 16th century it became a standard frame for liturgical verse sung at Matins. Eventually the form became associated with the Spanish Christmas Carol. The Portugese themes were often pastoral or lam