Christmas in Puerto RicoChristmas in Puerto Rico

By Baylee BowmanBy Baylee Bowman

Time FrameTime Frame

Puerto Rican Puerto Rican Christmas Christmas celebrations begins celebrations begins in the early days of in the early days of December and ends December and ends December 25December 25thth

Most of the Most of the celebrations can celebrations can continue into the continue into the middle of January.middle of January.

CelebrationsCelebrations

The biggest celebrations The biggest celebrations are:are:December 24December 24thth NochebuenaNochebuenaDecember 25December 25thth– Navidad– NavidadDecember 28December 28thth- Día de los - Día de los InocentesInocentes December 31December 31stst- Despedida - Despedida de Añode AñoBut the most favoriteBut the most favorite (especially to children)(especially to children)January 6January 6th-th-88thth - el Día de - el Día de ReyesReyesJanuary 9January 9thth- Octavas and - Octavas and Octavitas Octavitas

NochebuenaNochebuenaIt is on December 24It is on December 24thth It is basically Christmas eveIt is basically Christmas eveNochebuenaNochebuena or the Good Night is a time or the Good Night is a time for family members to gather together for family members to gather together and feast around the Nativity scene. and feast around the Nativity scene. Which is in every home.Which is in every home.The Christmas Eve celebrations are The Christmas Eve celebrations are interrupted by the ringing of bells called interrupted by the ringing of bells called La Misa Del Gallo or Rooster’s Mass.La Misa Del Gallo or Rooster’s Mass.Misa de Gallo is held at midnight on Misa de Gallo is held at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is a very solemn but Christmas Eve. It is a very solemn but festive mass often including carols, festive mass often including carols, children dressed as angels and nativity children dressed as angels and nativity characters, and lots of candles. characters, and lots of candles. But before midnight, the families attend But before midnight, the families attend massmassChristmas dinner is usually late at night, Christmas dinner is usually late at night, sometimes after midnight.sometimes after midnight.The dinner is often specialized with The dinner is often specialized with Pavo Trufado de Navidad or Christmas Pavo Trufado de Navidad or Christmas turkey with truffles.turkey with truffles.After dinner the family gathers around After dinner the family gathers around the tree and sing Aguinaldos orthe tree and sing Aguinaldos or Christmas carols.Christmas carols.

NavidadNavidad

Many families celebrate Many families celebrate this day with Santa.this day with Santa.

Many homes are decorated Many homes are decorated a lot like how our homes a lot like how our homes are decorated here in the are decorated here in the U.SU.S

They go to an early They go to an early morning and late night morning and late night mass to celebrate the birth mass to celebrate the birth of their king.of their king.

But no gifts are givenBut no gifts are given

Dia de los InocentesDia de los InocentesThis feast is held on December 28This feast is held on December 28thth

This celebration is based on when This celebration is based on when King Harold sent his solders through King Harold sent his solders through Bethlehem. The solders kidnapped Bethlehem. The solders kidnapped every first born son and killed them every first born son and killed them because they thought one might be because they thought one might be the so called Savior.the so called Savior.

This festival is celebrated much like This festival is celebrated much like a carnival. The men dress up as the a carnival. The men dress up as the evil solders of King Harold and evil solders of King Harold and “kidnap” the first born boy of every “kidnap” the first born boy of every household.household.To recover their children. The To recover their children. The families offer the solders gifts and families offer the solders gifts and candy.candy.Later the town gathers in the town Later the town gathers in the town square for the parade.square for the parade.

This celebration is more like April This celebration is more like April Fool's Day, like in the US. Where Fool's Day, like in the US. Where people trick each other.people trick each other.

Despedida de AñoDespedida de AñoDespedida de Ano or New Year’s Despedida de Ano or New Year’s Eve a time of partying with family Eve a time of partying with family and friendsand friendsBut before the festivities begin But before the festivities begin Puerto Ricans spend the whole Puerto Ricans spend the whole day cleaning the house, yard, day cleaning the house, yard, cars, and even they sweep the cars, and even they sweep the streets.streets.They do this because it is believed They do this because it is believed that whatever condition your that whatever condition your property is on New Years. That is property is on New Years. That is how your property will stay for the how your property will stay for the next year.next year. People pass out baggies with 12 People pass out baggies with 12 grapes in them which people start grapes in them which people start eating when there is 12 second eating when there is 12 second left till the New Year. left till the New Year. It is said that whoever eats all of It is said that whoever eats all of them before midnight will have them before midnight will have good luck the next year.good luck the next year.After all the celebrating. Someone After all the celebrating. Someone will recite the poem: El Brindis del will recite the poem: El Brindis del Bohemio. This is a Puerto Rican Bohemio. This is a Puerto Rican tradition.tradition.

El Dia de ReyesEl Dia de ReyesEl Dia de Reyes is Three Kings DayEl Dia de Reyes is Three Kings Day

This is a three day celebration: This is a three day celebration:

January 6th - Saint Gaspar's Day of January 6th - Saint Gaspar's Day of Feast Feast

January 7th - Saint Melchor's Day of January 7th - Saint Melchor's Day of Feast Feast

January 8th - Saint Baltazar's Day of January 8th - Saint Baltazar's Day of Feast Feast

These day are named after the These day are named after the three kings who visited baby three kings who visited baby Jesus.Jesus.

The children use shoeboxes then The children use shoeboxes then decorate them. Then place grass decorate them. Then place grass and hay for the King’s camels.and hay for the King’s camels.

Its kind of like a Christmas Its kind of like a Christmas morning to children. They wake up morning to children. They wake up early to find what gifts Gaspar, early to find what gifts Gaspar, Melchor, and Baltazar left them.Melchor, and Baltazar left them.

Many family and friends gather to Many family and friends gather to celebrate.celebrate.

Octavas and OctavitasOctavas and Octavitas

This celebration last eight This celebration last eight days.days.

Normally this holiday was Normally this holiday was meant to glorify the Reyes meant to glorify the Reyes and Jesus.and Jesus.

More recently…. if you More recently…. if you received a visit from a received a visit from a friend or relative on Three friend or relative on Three Kings' day, you are Kings' day, you are supposed to return the supposed to return the visit eight days later.visit eight days later.

Today most families Today most families choose this day to take off choose this day to take off the Christmas decorations the Christmas decorations and "officially" end and "officially" end Christmas. Christmas.

SourcesSources

http://www.elboricua.com/pr_christmas.hthttp://www.elboricua.com/pr_christmas.htmlml

GoogleGoogle