Puerto Rico Christmas

A Unique Holiday Experience

We lived 28 years in Puerto Rico and can attest to the fact that during more than two weeks everything is a party, celebrating until January 6th, the Three Kings Day and many even more as they celebrate the “Octavitas”.

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The whole Island is full of Christmas Decorations like this one

We also have to take into consideration that this is the High Season for Puerto Rico Travel.

It may be below zero in North America and in Puerto Rico it might be close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or almost 27 degrees Celsius.

So, in other words do not expect a White Christmas in Puerto Rico, all the opposite, Christmas in Puerto Rico is white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, lots of partying and a lot of Puerto Rico Food.

Typical Musical Instruments to cheer up the Christmas Celebrations

Puerto Rico Christmas starts one day after Thanksgiving

As soon as everybody ate Turkey for Thanksgiving Day as good American Citizens, the real party begins. Let me mention a few concepts in Spanish with their explanations.

• Parrandas

Parrandas, Asaltos and Trullas mean almost the same thing. It means going from house to house in the neighborhood late in the evenings, waking up people and making them offer you food and drinks for a while as you continue to the next family of friends.

At this point the owners of the house join the crowd for the next “Asalto”. This custom is acceptable during the whole month of December, but mainly after the 15th.

• Aguinaldos

These are Christmas songs that everybody knows coming from their ancestors generation after generation. They are heard on the radio non-stop during these days.

If they are more religious oriented they are called Villancicos or if they are more popular they are called Decimas Navideñas.

• Nacimientos

These are replicas of the site where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. They represent a manger with all the animals and the images of the Three Wise Kings that brought presents to the Newborn.

In many homes it is part of the Christmas decoration next to the Christmas Bush or Arbolito de Navidad.

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A group of singers preparing to accompany on of the Parrandas

Puerto Rico Christmas is Non Stop Partying

• Nochebuena

This is the dinner on Christmas Eve. The family gets together for a big meal mainly of Lechon Asado (pork) and pasteles, which are something similar to the tamales of Mexico and Cuba, but made of totally different ingredients. This dinner-party may continue until early morning.

• Misa del Gallo

Many religious people will leave the dinner and go to church to celebrate Midnight Mass. The Misa de Gallo is held at midnight on Christmas Eve.

It is a very solemn but festive mass often including carols, children dressed as angels and nativity characters, and lots of candles. Many families attend this festive and beautiful mass as a tradition.

• Navidad

This is Christmas Day on the 25th. Many modern of more Americanized Puerto Ricans celebrate with Santa Claus as opposed to the other Latin America countries. Children gather around the Christmas tree and find out what Santa brought for them during the night.

The Three Kings brought many presents to Puerto Rico Children

New Year’s Celebrations is part of Puerto Rico Christmas

• Día de los Inocentes

It falls on December 28th. In the town of Hatillo there is a parade and a party on the town square. In the rest of the Island it is celebrated like April 1st in America, when people trick each other.

• Despedida de Año

Also called Año Viejo it is the New Year’s Celebration on December 31st. It is celebrated with parties at homes and public places that last until morning. You may hear lots of firecrackers.

When the counting begins for the New Year people eat one grape at a time for good luck. After the hugging and kissing, it is also a well established custom to turn the radio on to hear “El Brinids del Bohemio”, a poem to be heard a few minutes into the New year as a tradition.

• Dia de Reyes

Dia de Reyes is on January 6th which is similar to Christmas on the mainland. The day before called Vispera de Reyes, kids write their letter to the Tree Kings asking for their favorite toy and collect some grass to put on a shoebox for the King’s camels to eat and go to sleep.

When they wake up early on January 6th they’ll find the presents that the Kings Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar brought during the night. The day is an official holiday in Puerto Rico.

The Typical Puerto Rico food for Christmas
Lechon Asado, Arroz con Gandules and Pasteles

Traditional Puerto Rico Christmas Foods

• Arroz con Gandules – Rice cooked with a bean like grain called gandules

• Lechon Asado – Roasted Pork on a stick

• Pasteles de Platano – Pasteles made of green plantains and many more ingredients.

• Arroz con Dulce – Rice cooked with milk, spices, sugar and coconut milk

• Tembleque – A custard like flan made with coconut milk, cornstarch and sugar

• Coquito – Is the traditional drink of the holidays made with coconut milk and rum

I wish that my readers will come at least once during Puerto Rico Christmas. The experience is unique.

Image Credits:

All courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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