In Puerto Rico, Christmas season is celebrated from the beginning of December to 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. Intent on singing songs after banging vigorously on the door, they wake and tout their friends to join them in singing, dancing, and merriment. This distinctive type of Puerto Rican Christmas caroling often begins with a song (known as aguinaldo) that pays homage to the host.

This lesson investigates the practice of aguinaldo—especially in the context of Christmas-related activities. Through the study of this type of música jíbara and its various performative contexts, Música Jíbara: Aguinaldos and Fiesta De Reyes gleans another facet of Puerto Rican identity and the cultural elements with which it is constructed.

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

1. Aguinaldo and the Fiesta de Reyes Scene

   • Define aguinaldo, and describe the contexts within which these songs are performed.
   • Explain the relationship between aguinaldos and the Navidad/Fiesta de Reyes season in Puerto Rico.
   • Explain the social significance of the parranda/trulla/asalto navideño tradition.
   • 30+ minutes

2. Experiencing Aguinaldo

   • Describe the history and development of the Puerto Rican aguinaldo.
   • Identify and explain the main poetic form used to organize aguinaldos: decimilla.
   • 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