2. 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.
3. Traditional Celebrations Parrandas A 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.
5. Religious Traditions 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.
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7. Inocents Day Celebrated 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.
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10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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”.
13. 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.
