Gracias Rincon Criollo!

Parrandas

There are two flavors of Puerto Rican traditional Christmas music, the beautiful religious themes brought to life in the Villancico and the Aguinaldo. Villancicos can be traced to 14th Century Spain. Although Villancicos can still be found in its truest form in the rural mountains of Puerto Rico, it is the lively aguinaldo that holds a special place in Puerto Rican holiday festivities on and off the island. A form of jíbaro (country) music, aguinaldos are traditionally sung during parrandas, lively holiday celebrations where carollers stroll from house to house singing joyful aguinaldos and begging for pasteles (Puerto Rican tamales) and coquito (Puerto Rican egg nog). Parrandas typically get larger as the night goes on with the homeowners joining the festivities as the party moves on to the next house. The fun continues on until the sun comes up.

References and Suggested Reading

• Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, "Puerto Rico Sings", March 1984. (Sheet music of traditional songs arranged by Jose Enrique Pedreira. La Boriquen~a, aguinaldos, Seis Chorreao, more. Historical notes on the origins of Puerto Rican music.) [Music Book]
• See References and Resources for additional suggested reading.