Aguinaldo (music) facts for kids
Aguinaldo is a type of traditional music from Venezuela. It is also popular in other Latin American countries. This music is based on Spanish Christmas carols, also known as villancicos. People usually sing aguinaldos during the Christmas season.
Aguinaldo music is often played by groups called parrandas. These are usually casual groups of friends or family. They go from house to house, singing and spreading cheer. They often use instruments like the cuatro, maracas, and drums. A very popular aguinaldo song is "El Burrito Sabanero".
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Venezuelan Aguinaldo
In Venezuela, aguinaldo is a special kind of Christmas music. These songs usually have six verses. Groups of singers and musicians, called "parranderos" or "aguinalderos", perform them. They sing to announce their arrival at homes. They share the story of the birth of Christ. They also share a message of peace and goodwill.
Aguinaldos are played with traditional instruments. These include the cuatro (a small, four-string guitar), the furruco, and maracas. Other instruments often used are the violin, guitar, tambourine, and mandolin. Sometimes, you might hear a bandol, a caja (a type of drum), or a marímbula (an Afro-Venezuelan instrument).
After singing, the "parranderos" are often given food and drinks. These can include hallacas, panettone, and "Ponche Crema" (a creamy drink like eggnog). Aguinaldos are also sung during Christmas church services.
Puerto Rican Aguinaldo
In Puerto Rico, the aguinaldo is a musical gift. It is given during the Christmas season. This tradition came from the Spanish people who settled on the island.
Like in Venezuela, "parranderos" or "trullas" perform aguinaldos. They visit homes during the Christmas holidays. While this tradition of late-night visits is slowly fading, a Puerto Rican aguinaldos album became very popular in 2019. It reached the top 10 on Billboard Tropical Albums.
Originally, aguinaldos were "villancicos" with strong religious meanings. But over time, they changed. They became "coplas" (songs with four lines) and "decimas" (songs with ten lines). These new songs were about everyday topics.
Old aguinaldos were played with instruments like the bordonúa, a tiple, a cuatro, and a güiro (a scraped instrument). Other instruments included a cowbell, barriles de bomba (drums), an accordion, and maracas. Since bordonúa players are harder to find now, the guitar often plays alongside the cuatro. Today, people use panderos (also called "pleneras"), brass instruments, and anything that makes noise.
Aguinaldo music is often played on the radio during key Christmas holidays in Puerto Rico. This includes Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It's also played on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. And it's popular on the day before and on Three Kings Day (January 6). Aguinaldos are also part of Christmas church celebrations.
Philippine Aguinaldo
In the Philippines, the word aguinaldo has a different meaning. It refers to a gift, usually money, given to children. These children go caroling during Christmas.
A traditional instrument used by carolers is a homemade tambourine. It's made from several tansan (aluminum bottle caps) strung on wire. Carolers sing to homeowners and say "Namamasko po!" (which means "wassailing!"). After singing, they wait to receive their aguinaldo.
Trinidadian Aguinaldo
Aguinaldo, also known as Serenal, is a type of music used in Parang (Parranda). Parang is a kind of Christmas music that came to Trinidad and Tobago from Venezuela. Singers and musicians, called "parranderos", travel from house to house. Friends and family often join them. They use whatever instruments they have. Popular parang instruments include the cuatro and maracas (which are called chac-chacs there).
See Also
In Spanish: Aguinaldo (Venezuela) para niños
- Music of Puerto Rico
- Venezuelan music
- Trinidadian music
