Flor Morales Ramos a.k.a. “Ramito” (1915-1989) was one of the main performers of “Aguinaldo”.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\nIn Puerto Rico the form of the “aguinaldo” has evolved into forms of “d\u00e9cimas” or “villancicos”. The instruments typically used are the “bordon\u00faa” (a Puerto Rican type of bass guitar), “tiple” (a small Puerto Rican guitar), “cuatro” (the folk Puerto Rican guitar), “guiro” (or “guicharo”), and “maracas”. Since the “bordon\u00faa” has been hard to find, the Spaniard acoustic guitar has taken its place.<\/p>\n
True to it’s rural origins described above, the “aguinaldo” in Puerto Rico is closely associated to the “campesino” folk music. “Ramito”, “Davilita”, and “Chuito el de Bayamon” are some of the most popular performers of this music.<\/p>\n
In Venezuela, the “aguinaldos” are also mostly performed in “parrandas” during the Christmas season. There “aguinaldos”are played with typical instruments such as the “cuatro” (Venezuelan guitar similar to the one from Puerto Rico), “furruco” (a friction drum), and “maracas”. They may also use violins, guitars, mandolins, “caja” (a percusive box), and “marimbula” (an Afro-Venezuelan instrument).<\/p>\n
The Enjoyment of “Aguinaldos”<\/h3>\n
There are many recordings of “aguinaldos” and I find them very enjoyable. Not only they have the religious messages, but the poetic format of the lyrics, along with the skilled execution of native instruments, makes them a refreshing break from regular commercial music.<\/p>\n
For me, “aguinaldos”are associated with Christmas, and Christmas is associated with happiness and spirituality. That is if you can take aside the excessive gift commercialization that starts with Black Friday. Therefore, I find “aguinaldos” an enjoyable musical manifestation of our Latin Christmas tradition and culture. I also associate Christmas with the Puerto Rican folk genres of “Bomba” and “Plena”. For more on this, check out my blog on “plena” HERE<\/a>).<\/p>\nVideo of “Aguinaldo” with Chuito el de Bayamon<\/h3>\n
In this video you see the late Puerto Rican great folk singer Jesus Sanchez Erazo aka Chuito el de Bayamon, performing an “aguinaldo”. He is accompanied in the cuatro by Millito Cruz.<\/p>\n