Aguinaldo (music)

Folk genre of Christmas music This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Aguinaldo is a genre of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan traditional and cultural music, popular in several Latin American countries, based on Spanish Christmas carols or villancicos which is traditionally sung on Christmas itself or during the holiday season. Aguinaldo music is often performed by parrandas - a casual group of people, often family or friends, who merrily go from house to house singing along. The instruments used are the cuatro, maracas and drums. Some popular aguinaldos are Burrito Sabanero (Venezuela), El Asalto (Puerto Rico), Feliz Navidad (Puerto Rico), and De la Montaña Venimos (Puerto Rico).

[edit] In Venezuela, aguinaldo is a genre of Christmas music and generally have six verses. It is played by "parranderos" or "aguinalderos" that announce their arrival in song and seek to gain entry to the community houses to relate the story of the birth of Christ, and to share in the joy of the message of Peace on Earth and to all People of Good Will. Aguinaldos are played with typical instruments such as the cuatro (a small, four-string guitar), furruco, and maracas. Other instruments often used are violin, guitar, tambourine, mandolin, bandol, caja (a percussive box instrument), and marímbula (an Afro-Venezuelan instrument). In exchange for the entertainment, "parranderos" are traditionally given food and drink: hallacas, panettone, rum and "Ponche Crema" (a form of alcoholic eggnog). Aguinaldos are also played at Christmas church celebrations. The composer Vicente Emilio Sojo compiled and harmonized more than 100 anonimous agunaldos and other folk songs, achieving a significant preservation of the country's musical traditions.

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English Wikisource has original text related to this article: PORTO-RICAN FOLK-LORE. DÉCIMAS, CHRISTMAS CAROLS, ...

Puerto Rican Güiro In Puerto Rico, the aguinaldo is a musical gift offered during the Christmas season and is a tradition inherited from the island's Spanish colonizers. As a musical gift, aguinaldos are mostly played by "parranderos" or "trullas" during the Christmas holidays. While parrandas, showing up at a residence late at night, with a group of Christmas carolers, is a practice that is slowly being lost in Puerto Rico, a Puerto Rican aguinaldos album debuted in the top 10 Billboard Tropical Albums in December 2019. Originally, aguinaldos were "villancicos" with strong religious connotations, but soon evolved to "coplas" (quartets) and "decimas" (ten-verses compositions) about all kinds of everyday topics. Aguinaldos were played with typical instruments such as the bordonúa, a tiple, a cuatro, a carracho or güiro, a cowbell, barriles de bomba, an accordion, and maracas. With bordonua players becoming more difficult to find, the guitar became a staple accompanying the cuatro. Today, panderos (also known as "pleneras"), brass instruments and whatever makes noise, are used. As a genre, the aguinaldo is played mostly on the radio on key Christmas holidays in Puerto Rico; the day before Christmas, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, the day before Three Kings Day, and on Three King's Day (January 6). Aguinaldos are also played at Christmas church celebrations. In 1918, Puerto Rican Aguinaldo's and Décimas and other notes, as compiled by American linguist, John Alden Mason, and Aurelio M. Espinosa were published in the Journal of American Folklore.

[edit] Aguinaldo or Serenal is a music genre used in Parang (Parranda) a type of Christmas music that came to Trinidad and Tobago from Venezuela. Singers and instrumentalists (collectively known as "parranderos") travel from house to house in the community, often joined by friends and neighbours family, using whatever instruments are to hand. Popular parang instruments include the cuatro and maracas (locally known as chac-chacs).

[edit] In the Philippines, the word aguinaldo has come to refer instead to the gift—usually cash or coins—collected by small groups of children that go carolling, in a parallel to the financial practice of paying Christmas bonuses. A traditional instrument used is a makeshift tambourine made of several tansan (aluminium bottle caps) strung on some wire. Carollers solicit homeowners with the chant "Namamasko po!" (approx. "wassailing!"), and after singing wait to be rewarded with aguinaldo.

Aguinaldo songs bring a lively, rhythmic contrast to the mostly choral and orchestral fare heard in the UK. Their upbeat tempo, driven by the cuatro, maracas and drums, instantly lifts the mood of any festive gathering, and the call‑and‑response style fits perfectly with the British love of sing‑alongs around the Christmas tree. Because they’re traditionally performed by small groups moving door‑to‑door, they echo the neighbourly spirit of carol‑sings, yet add a Latin flair that feels fresh without abandoning the season’s warmth. Adding an aguinaldo to your playlist invites guests to clap, tap their feet and perhaps even pick up a simple percussion instrument, turning a cosy evening into a spontaneous, inclusive celebration.

When scouting for aguinaldo tracks, look for recordings that balance authenticity with clarity. Traditional ensembles that feature a cuatro and hand‑crafted maracas capture the genre’s roots, while modern productions may layer harmonies that suit contemporary listening habits. Check the liner notes for information on the recording location – sessions captured in Puerto Rico or Venezuela often retain the ambient energy of a real parrandas session. For a family-friendly selection, favour compilations that include well‑known titles like “Burrito Sabanero” and “Feliz Navidad” alongside lesser‑known gems; this offers variety and introduces listeners to the full spectrum of the tradition. Streaming platforms usually host curated Christmas playlists, but a physical CD or vinyl can provide richer, uncompressed sound for audiophiles.

Turn the aguinaldo tradition into a neighbourhood event by inviting friends to form a small parrandas troupe. Assign each person a simple instrument – a maraca, a tambourine or a small drum – and supply a basic chord progression on a guitar or cuatro. Start at a designated house around dusk and move door‑to‑door, greeting neighbours with a cheerful “¡Feliz Navidad!” and a short song. Keep the setlist short: three verses of a familiar tune, a quick instrumental break, then a heartfelt farewell. In Britain, it’s courteous to give the host a small token, such as a mince pie or a bottle of mulled wine, as thanks for opening their door. The experience injects fresh energy into the classic door‑knocking carol tradition while respecting both cultures.