Christmas in Puerto Rico by Julia Loewen

This year, my family and I will be vacationing in Puerto Rico during the winter break. Since we will be celebrating the holiday season on an island off of the land we live on, I thought it would be necessary to look into the traditions of the holiday season in 

Puerto Rico.

The Holiday Season

To prepare for the Christmas festivities, special Catholic masses called 'Misa de Aguinaldos' are held in Puerto Rico from December 15th to December 24th. The services are typically all sung with traditional musical instruments. People also go caroling some nights around Christmas time, from nighttime to dawn wearing straw hats as seen in the photo. The tradition is for others to be woken by their singing, but they usually are expecting the singers. In December, Puerto Ricans decorate their homes with different types of greenery. They decorate with leaves of palm trees as well as typical USA Christmas trees. 

Nochebuena

In Puerto Rico, Christmas Eve is known as 'Nochebuena'. Unlike America, this is when most of the main celebrations and the Christmas meal take place. On this day, there is a special Misa de Aguinaldos called Misa de Gallo. At this mass, many candles light the church, many carols are sung, and a nativity play is put on my local children. Nochebuena is also the day that Puerto Ricans eat Christmas dinner. Their plates are filled with roast pork, rice, peas, plantains, and pasteles. After their feast, they must refill themselves with dessert. Desserts that are served consist of rice pudding, custard, and eggnog with rum.

Navidad

After the festivities on December 24th, Christmas day, known as Navidad, is the day to recover from Nochebuena.

Holy Innocent's Day

On December 28th, the Puerto Ricans celebrate a traditional holiday that is very different from American holidays called Holy Innocent's Day. On this day, Puerto Ricans go to the town of Hatillo where a carnival is held. At this carnival, men dressed soldiers 'kidnap' children and people must pay the soldiers with treats to give the children back. 

Despedida de Año

The New Year's Eve holiday in Puerto Rico is called 'Despedida de Año'. On this day at midnight, the people celebrate by eating a grape for good luck, light fireworks, and honk their car horns. Shortly after, a poem known as 'A Bohemian Toast' is played on the radio and everyone listens.

Dia de Reyes

The holiday that is closest to the traditional American Catholic Christmas is Epiphany, or 'Dia de Reyes' on December 6th. The night before, called "Víspera de Reyes", Catholic Puerto Rican families go to Church to honor the Three Wiseman/Kings, and the children put grass in shoes for the camels, hoping that the Wise Men will leave them gifts when they are sleeping. The next morning, kids open the gifts the Wiseman left, similar to how American children open the gifts Santa left them.









References: JPC-DESIGN, whychristmas?com. "Christmas Around The World On Whychristmas?Com". Whychristmas.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.