Christmas in Puerto Rico

From: Ricardo ZayasTo: All of you

A Puerto Rican Christmas

Christmas is the best time in Puerto Rican culture. Nowhere else is Christmas celebrated like in the island.

In Puerto Rico, Christmas begins in November, the same day as Thanksgiving Day, and the holiday season ends late January with “Las fiestas de la calle San Sebastián” in Old San Juan. Christmas is the time of tradition, aguinaldos, parrandas, typical food and celebrate.

Traditional CelebrationsParrandasA parranda is when a small group of people gathers together to surprise family or friends in their house, singing and playing traditional instruments and songs. It's the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling. Most “parranderos” play some sort of instrument, either guitarras, güiro, maracas, panderos, palitos or cuatro puertorriqueño. And they all sing popular christmas carols. Parrandas begin in November and continue through the Christmas season.

Traditional Instruments

Cuatro

Misa de Aguinaldo is a Catholic Mass that is mostly sung. It is celebrated every morning during the nine days before Christmas (december 15 trought december 23), between five and six in the morning. Aguinaldos are sung and the musical instruments used are the traditional cuatro (Puerto Rican guitar), guitars, güiros, and maracas.

Misa de Gallo is a Misa de Aguinaldo held at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is a very solemn but festive mass often including carolers, children dressed as angels and nativity characters, and lots of candles. Many families attend this festive and beautiful mass as a tradition.

Religious Traditions

Traditions

Christmas Eve (Noche Buena)

December 24th • In Puerto Rico, as well as other

Latin American countries, the big holiday celebration is held on Nochebuena. Family and friends get together for a feast and traditional foods as lechón asado and pasteles. The parties often last until morning. Misa de Gallo is celebrated at midnight.

Christmas Day (Navidad)

December 25th • In the morning gifts appear

under the Christmas tree for children and adults, gifts supposedly "Santa Claus" has left them. The children hope that "Santa Claus" left them everything they asked for in their gifts list. Then children visit relatives and friends, looking for more gifts. Everyone dines together and continue with the Christmas celebration.

Inocents DayCelebrated on December 28th. This feast used to be celebrated much like a carnival, where men dressed as the "evil soldiers of Herod" went house to house, "kidnapping" the first-born boy from every family. To recover their children, the families offered the soldiers gifts and candy. This tradition continues today in a small town called Hatillo. A parade and a public party is held across town. This carnival was originated in the Canary Islands and brought to Puerto Rico by our ancestors. The celebration in the rest of the island is more like April Fool's Day in the USA, where people trick each other.

New Year Traditions

New Year’s Eve (Noche Vieja)

December 31th • It is celebrated in Borinquen with

firecrackers and parties that last until morning. When the clock begins to chime for midnight some people eat one grape at every chime - for good luck. Then at midnight everyone hugs, and people go outside and honk the car horns and there are fireworks everywhere. A few minutes later most Boricuas listen to "El Brindis del Bohemio", a traditional poem for that occasion, usually heard on the radio.

New Year (Año nuevo) January 1st

• People usually call family and friends and wish them happiness in the New Year. Others visit their family and some rest and then continue with the traditional Christmas parties, food and “parrandas”. For Puertoricans every day of Christmas is a celebration day!

Three Kings

Three Kings Day’s Eve (Víspera de reyes)

January 5th • Traditional Catholics meet to pray the rosary and to honor the Three

Kings. Children pick grass and put it in a shoe box under their beds for the camels. Others also put water for the camels, and milk and cookies for the Three Kings. This night Three Kings arrive, the camels eat the grass in the box, and the Kings leave gifts to children.

Three Kings Day

In the island, kids and adults celebrate Three Kings Day. Children wake up very early to check out what Baltazar, Melchor, and Gaspar left them. Family and friends gather to celebrate. On January 6, Puerto Rico celebrates the worship of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar for Baby Jesus. In Puerto Rico there are some municipalities that commemorate the date with special events.

Three Kings Day

Juana Diaz has become the host of the National Celebration of Los Santos Reyes Magos. It begins with a parade of the Kings and shepherds. Then the Kings go to church to attend Mass, make an offering and worship Baby Jesus.

In San Juan (Capital City) it is a tradition that on this day the Governor of Puerto Rico gives presents to children in a very big celebration with music, artistic presentations and other fun activities.

Octavitas

The octavitas begin on January 7th and last for eight days. Originally these feasts were more religious in nature and were used to glorify the Three Kings and Baby Jesus. People that were not at home when receiving a “parranda” during christmas had to return a “parranda” on the “octavitas”.

San Sebastian Feast

The end of the Christmas season in Puerto Rico is celebrated with the San Sebastian Feast at Old San Juan. This gigantic street party has been a tradition since 1954 in Old San Juan, when a Father Madrazo launched a fair to help raise funds to restore parts of San Sebastián Street.

Now the festival has grown and atracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals to the old city. The celebration lasts four days and it includes a parade of “Cabezudos”, large-headed popular Puerto Rican characters. People bring out the traditional musical instruments used during Christmas to liven up the party. It also attracts artisans, musicians, performers, food kiosks and other vendors. The San Sebastian street is a religious, cultural, and social event unlike any other.

Coquito Recipe

Coquito is a traditional punch served at Christmas in Puerto Rico. It's a very simple and delicious mixed drink.

Ingredients:• 1 Can of Cream of coconut• 1 Can of Milk of coconut• 1 can of condensed milk • 1 can of evaporated milk • A pinch of cinnamon powder

Directions:• Mix all ingredients well. Refrigerate for about an hour

before serving. Serve cold and enjoy!