An aguinaldo is not a gift, it is a bet. Two people agree on a game on December 16th, play it until the 24th, and whoever loses pays. What they pay is also called an aguinaldo. Here are the rules of the ones Colombians always play, and the part almost nobody plans: what to give when you lose.
What an aguinaldo is
The word is used for two things at once, which is why it confuses people. The aguinaldo is the game, and the aguinaldo is also what the loser pays.
It works like this: on December 16th, when the novena begins, two people challenge each other. They agree the game and they agree the prize. It runs until the 24th. On Christmas Eve, it gets paid.
The rules that apply to all of them
- Agree the prize before you start. An aguinaldo with no agreed prize ends in an argument on the 24th.
- It is played between two. You can run the same game with several people, but each pair keeps its own score.
- It runs all nine days. Winning on the 17th does not end it.
- The prize is symbolic. The fun is catching the other person, not what it costs.
The six that always get played
Pajita en boca
Each player carries a straw, a small stick or a twig in their mouth all day. When the other says pajita en boca, you have to show it instantly. Whoever does not have it loses that day.
Hablar sin la letra
You pick a letter, almost always a, and you cannot say any word containing it. You lose the moment it slips out. It is the hardest to sustain for nine days and the one that produces the most laughing.
Tres pies
You put both of your feet around one of the other person's, trapping it in the middle, and say tres pies. Whoever gets trapped loses. Played standing and by surprise.
Dar y no recibir
You cannot accept anything from the other person. If they pass you a glass, a napkin or a phone and you take it, you have lost. The sneakiest one, because it turns politeness against you.
Beso robado
You win by landing a kiss on the other person's cheek when they are not expecting it. Mostly played within families and between couples.
Estatua
When one player says estatua, the other has to freeze until released. Whoever moves, loses.
What to give as a prize
This is where most people improvise on December 23rd. An aguinaldo does not call for an expensive gift, it calls for something that hands over well, because it gets paid in front of everybody.
What works:
- Small and presentable. A box of chocolate-dipped strawberries or donuts is handed over and seen.
- Several identical ones. If you played four people and lost to three, three identical boxes beat inventing three different gifts.
- With the name on it. A handwritten card turns a sweet into a detail.
If you lost several at once, a bulk gift box or a small hamper settles the 24th without a last-minute search.
When to order
Aguinaldos are paid on the 24th, the busiest week of the year. If you know you will need three or four identical tokens, order them in the first week of December and have them ready before the rush starts.
Delivery in Medellín and the Área Metropolitana
We deliver in Medellín, Envigado, Itagüí, Sabaneta, Bello and La Estrella. For the 24th we schedule delivery a day or two ahead, because the city moves slowly on that date.
Frequently asked questions
What is an aguinaldo in Colombia?
It is a game two people agree on during the novena, December 16th to 24th, and play for all nine days. Whoever loses pays a prize, and that prize is also called an aguinaldo.
Which aguinaldo games are the best known?
Pajita en boca, hablar sin la letra, tres pies, dar y no recibir, beso robado and estatua. Almost all of them consist of keeping one rule for nine days without being caught.
What do you give as an aguinaldo prize?
It is agreed before you start. The norm is a small token rather than an expensive present, because the game is the point. Boxes of sweets, chocolate-dipped strawberries or bakery items work well because you can order several identical ones.