There are plenty of places where you can enjoy a beautiful tropical or subtropical Yuletide, and Puerto Rico (also dubbed Borínquen) is of course one of them. But what makes it stand out especially is how this island manage to keep the holiday spirit alive longer than any other destination in the world. The fun begins pretty much right after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday the third Thursday in November, and then stretches for a whopping 45 days until mid-January, ending with the famous fiestas of Calle San Sebastián in Old San Juan.
Puerto Rico´s Christmas Traditions
Caroling in the Neighbourhoods
Imagine going about your business at home (or even being asleep) and suddenly at your front door a group of friends and family (or sometimes even strangers) appear with guitars, maracas, and tambourines. This is the popular parranda, a Christmas serenade that turns into an improvised party. The idea is to go from house to house singing, eating and sharing until the sun comes up. In Puerto Rico, Christmas nights are like this, full of spontaneity and rhythm.
A Groaning Board of Edible Treats
Christmas in Puerto Rico is synonymous with eating well. Roast suckling pig is the undisputed king of the tables – both juicy and crunchy, and always accompanied by rice with pigeon peas. There are also pastries made with plantain dough, filled with meat and wrapped in banana leaves. As for libations, locals favour coquito, made with rum, coconut and spices.
We Three Kings of Borinquén Are
As part of the United States, Puerto Rico has adopted Santa Claus but unlike the rest of the country it shares a tradition with the rest of the Hispanic world that on January 7, the Three Magi (aka the Three Wise Men) from the Orient – Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior – bring gifts to the islands´ kids, who the night before leave out grass in their homes for the trios´ camels. San Juan and a number of other cities and towns also stage cabalgata parades centred around the Magi.
Carrying on in January
Even when the 12 days of Christmas are up, the festivities continue in the next eight days, known as the octavitas, stemming from a religious holiday in which the Magi as well as Jesus Christ were glorified. This period ends with the most vibrant and colorful festival on the island: Old San Juan´s Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, a festival including street parties, parades, concerts, and plenty of cabezudos, folks wearing large, cartoonish papier-mâché heads.
Sound like fun? Then next Christmas, get in the holiday spirit, book at trip on Iberia and partake of the joyous holiday spirit in Puerto Rico!