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"Cinco Pa' Las Doce" drops listeners right into the electric countdown of New Year’s Eve in Venezuela. Church bells ring, laughter fills the streets, and everyone is ready to trade the “año viejo” (old year) for the bright promise of the new one. The catchy line “faltan cinco pa' las doce” literally means “five minutes to twelve,” so the whole song feels like a ticking clock: excitement, fireworks, hugs, and all the joy that explodes at midnight.
Yet beneath the festive beat lies a tender message about priorities. The singer dashes away from the party to hug his mom, reminding us that—no matter how fun the celebration—family love is the real reason to rejoice. Wrapped in nostalgia and warmth, the song is a yearly anthem across Latin America, inviting everyone to pause, run home, and begin the new year with the people who matter most.
Néstor Zavarce was a Venezuelan singer and actor from Jadacaquiva, Falcón, born on April 9, 1936. He began as a celebrated child actor before moving into music and television in Caracas.
He’s best known for “Faltan cinco pa’ las doce,” a New Year’s staple across the Spanish-speaking world, and remains a seasonal favorite decades later. He also recorded hits like “El Pájaro Chogüí,” appeared in film productions, and hosted variety programs on Venezuelan TV. Zavarce died in Caracas on August 27, 2010.