In Puerto Rico, the Christmas season is celebrated from the beginning of December through the second week of January. During this extended holiday, family and friends armed with guitars and an assortment of percussion instruments drive on a whim, late at night, to an unsuspecting friend’s house. They wake their friends by banging vigorously on the door, goading them to join in singing, dancing, and merriment. This distinctive type of Puerto Rican Christmas caroling is known as parranda (or trulla). Traditionally, a parranda begins with a certain type of song known as an aguinaldo, which pays homage to the host.

This lesson focuses on the aguinaldo, one of the two most popular song types associated with música jíbara. It surveys the history of its development, explores instrumentation, and describes its performance contexts—especially during the Christmas season in Puerto Rico.

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

1. Aguinaldo and the Christmas Season

   • Define aguinaldo and describe its relationship to the Christmas season in Puerto Rico.
   • Explain the social significance of the parranda/trulla/as alto navideño tradition and its relationship to aguinaldos.
   • 30+ minutes

2. Experiencing Aguinaldo

   • Describe the history and development of the Puerto Rican aguinaldo.
   • Identify and demonstrate the characteristics of decimilla (a common poetic form used to structure aguinaldos).
   • Within specific guidelines, compose and perform an original decimilla.
   • 30+ minutes

3. Instruments of Aguinaldo

   • Identify the main instruments associated with aguinaldos in Puerto Rico.
   • Explain how these instruments reflect the cultural influences of aguinaldo.
   • 20+ minutes