Top 10 of the Most-Listened-to Christmas Songs in Colombia

Christmas in Colombia cannot be understood without music. Every December, as candles are lit, novenas are held, and families gather around the table, a very particular soundscape comes back to life. In 2025, digital platforms such as Spotify confirmed what collective memory already knew: Tropical classics continue to dominate the holiday season, even outperforming the urban genres that lead the charts for the rest of the year. Songs by Rodolfo Aicardi, Pastor Lopez, and other icons of tropical music top the list of the most listened-to tracks, reaffirming the power of musical tradition in Colombia.

Tropical songs that define Christmas in Colombia

1. Cariñito – Rodolfo Aicardi

At the top of the ranking is “Cariñito,” performed by Rodolfo Aicardi with Los Hispanos. With more than 1 million weekly streams in Colombia, this tropical cumbia — composed by Peruvian musician Angel Anibal Rosado and released under the Discos Fuentes label — remains relevant decades after its initial peak in the 1970s. Its romantic lyrics and danceable rhythm turned it into a December anthem that transcends borders and generations. In Colombia, it plays alongside other classics by the artist, cementing Aicardi as a central figure in the country’s Christmas sound.

2 and 3. Traicionera / El ausente – Pastro Lopez

Second and third place are held by Pastor Lopez with “Traicionera” and “El Ausente,” two songs that exceed 36 million and 30 million total streams, respectively. Although their lyrics speak of heartbreak, betrayal, and absence, the upbeat cumbia rhythm transformed them into staples of holiday celebrations.

“Traicionera,” in particular, reflects how tropical music manages to turn pain into celebration, while “El Ausente” adds a nostalgic tone that resonates with the emotional atmosphere of family gatherings. Both tracks are part of the historic 14 Cañonazos Bailables, a cultural hallmark of Christmas in Colombia.

4. Adonay – Rodolfo Aicardi

Another essential song is “Adonay,” performed by Rodolfo Aicardi and Los Hispanos. Released in 1970 and composed by Julio Erazo, this track blends romantic disappointment with a contagious rhythm that keeps it alive on December playlists. Its success shows how melancholy also has a place in celebration, a defining trait of Colombian tropical music.

Carols, parrandas, and year-end rituals

5. Faltan cinco pa’ las 12 – Nestor Zavarce

The list also includes songs that mark specific moments of the season. “Faltan cinco pa’ las doce,” performed by Venezuelan singer Nestor Zavarce, is the unmistakable soundtrack of New Year’s Eve. Although of Venezuelan origin, it was embraced in Colombia as part of the collective ritual of saying goodbye to the year, thanks to its message of family unity and nostalgia.

6. Las cuatro fiestas — Adolfo Echeverria

In Colombia’s Caribbean region, “Las cuatro fiestas,” composed by Adolfo Echeverria, announces the emotional start of Christmas as early as Dec. 7. The song travels through the Night of the Little Candles, Christmas, New Year’s, and the Barranquilla Carnival, becoming a musical summary of the region’s most important celebrations.

8. Campanas sobre campanas

Religious tradition also has its place with “Campana sobre campana,” one of the most widely sung carols during the novenas de aguinaldos. Its constant presence in homes, schools, and churches reinforces the spiritual character of Colombian Christmas, blending seamlessly into the tropical repertoire.

9 – 10. Cantares de Navidad / La Vispera de Año Nuevo – Adolfo Echeverria

Meanwhile, “Cantares de Navidad” and “La Víspera de Año Nuevo,” both performed by Rodolfo Aicardi with Los Hispanos, further consolidate the artist’s legacy as a symbol of December. These songs, together with the contemporary phenomenon of Los 50 de Joselito, show how Christmas music in Colombia continues to reinvent itself without losing its essence, connecting adults and young people alike through nostalgia and dance.