In Christmas time in Venezuela, the aguinaldo is always heard. It is a musical style brought by the Spaniards and that we arrange in our own way, the word aguinaldo means the gift that is given to another or that another expects from one in the Christmas season or the feast of the Magi.
On the etymology of the word aguinaldo (word that is not used in Spain) some think that it would come from the French aguiland or gift. Bona, for his part, explains that it is a "gift, gift or overpayment that is usually done for Christmas or New Year. In those days those who used to sing in the streets their serenades-students mostly-repeated as a refrain "hoc in anno" = is this year; vulgarizing then the cantata and then said aguinaldo.
Lisandro Alvarado incorporates the term to his lexicographical work and defines aguinaldera, aguinaldera, as «Concerning Christmas bonuses» and as «pedidor de aguinaldos». It is supported by texts by Urbaneja AchelpohI, who writes: "Bullanguera y expansiva, the comparsa de aguinalderos" and "They huddled at the foot of the manger waiting for a comparsa of aguinalderos who from door to door greeted the altarpieces with their carols, simple and old. "Jesús Alí Villalobos, for example, describes a Christmas in the Venezuela of 1934 saying that" in December groups of bonuses walked the streets of both Caracas and cities and towns in the interior, and during their days invaded the residences to interpret in front of the nativity scenes typical Christmas songs. The families generously offered them carato de acupe, dulce de lechoza and donkey milk. The manger was not missing in any home. "
The word aguinaldo is incorporated in Venezuela to the denomination of Masses of Aguinaldos, or Novena de Navidad, which precedes the Mass of Gallo, with which the Catholic Church commemorates the Birth of the Child. This custom of the Christmas masses was, our way of seeing, survivals of evangelizing ways in colonial times, the fact is that the Christmas bonus stayed in Venezuela and is part of our Christmas, it is a beautiful and beloved musical style that fills our hearts and homes on Christmas holidays .