A Puerto Rican Christmas

Navidad is the best of Puerto Rican culture. Nowhere else is Christmas celebrated like in Borinquen. Navidad is the time of tradition, aguinaldos, décimas, y de ser jíbaro Puertorriqueño.

Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico begin very early in December and do not stop on December 25th. The celebrations can continue into the middle of January if you consider the ''octavas and octavitas''. The big Christmas celebrations are; December 24 - Nochebuena; December 25 - Navidad; December 31 - Despedida de Año; and the biggest and most important of all for the children, of course, el Día de Reyes on January 6th.

What makes our Christmas different? First, most "Ricans" pretend to be jíbaros (or claim to be from el campo) during the holidays. We have a "pava" (traditional straw-hat) in storage just for Christmas.

Puerto Ricans are known for their unforgettable "parrandas or trullas navideñas". A parranda is when a small group of friends gathers together to "asaltar" or surprise another friend. It's the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling. Most parranderos play some sort of instrument, either guitarras, tamboriles, güiro maracas, or palitos. And they all sing. A parranda tends to be more secular than religious however many of the traditional aguinaldos (Puerto Rican Christmas songs) retain the holiday spirit.

The parranderos arrive at the destination and then very quietly gather by the front door. At a signal all start playing their instruments and singing. The parrandas usually begin after 10pm in order to surprise and wake the sleeping friend. The parranderos are invited in and refreshments, music and dance follow. Of course we don't surprise unsuspecting victims. The parranderos are given plenty of "hints" before hand by the homeowner that he is ready to receive a parranda.

The party goes on for an hour or two then everyone, including the owners of the house, leave to parrandear some more. The group grows as they offer their parranda at several houses during that night. At the last house probably around 3 or 4 in the morning the homeowner offers the traditional chicken soup or asopao de pollo. The party is over at dawn.

Part of the holiday festivities includes cooking a pig on a spit. Most Puerto Ricans will feel their Christmas was a little incomplete if they did not get to participate or enjoy an old fashioned lechón asao. Cooking the pig is a big event. The pig is purchased and prepared a couple of days ahead. On the "big day" the pig is mounted on a stick and put to cook as early at 4 in the morning. At least two people must be on "watch" with the pig to turn it and make sure all goes well. Friends and relatives begin arriving later in the morning (this is an all day party.) While the pig roasts there is lots of holiday music. Older women will be in the kitchen cooking side dishes that will accompany the lechón. Children will be playing tag and getting in trouble. Guests bring traditional holiday desserts.

Traditional Puerto Rican Christmas foods such as pasteles, lechón asado, arroz con dulce, tembleque, and coquito give Puerto Ricans a separate identity from the rest of the world. Before Puerto Rican traditions became influenced by American culture Christmas Day was a joyful day and some gifts were received at some houses, but it was not from San Nicolás. Santa couldn't make it to the tropics in his hot wool suit with cap and raindeer. Our holiday gifts used to be from Los Reyes Magos.

Our Reyes celebration begins on the eve of Three Kings Day. On the evening of January 5th Puerto Rican children go outside with scissors and shoe boxes to cut grass for the camels to eat. The grass goes into shoe boxes and the boxes are placed under the beds of parents, grandparents, godparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Some time during the night Los Reyes come and while their camels eat the grass Los Reyes fill the shoe boxes to overflowing with gifts, and sweets, and many wonderful things.

It is hard for Boricuas to keep our Navidad traditions especially living in places where it gets very cold. But we excel at improvisation. Make sure your children experience an old fashioned parranda. And don't forget to always celebrate Los Reyes. It makes unforgetable memories. Just like there is nothing that compares to a Puerto Rican Navidad, nothing compares with what Puerto Ricans go through their first Christmas away from the Island. It is indeed a triste Navidad like the song says.

Puerto Ricans traditionally continued to celebrate Las Navidades until after Los Reyes. Celebrations began early in December and continued until almost February - with the Octavas, right after Los Reyes, and then the Octavitas. The island is loosing many of their Puerto Rican traditions by trading them with American traditions that is natural and is happening all over the world. Today islanders celebrate Santa and quit right after Los Reyes.

At our own home we try to follow traditional Puerto Rican traditions. Santa is treated like a sweet lovable fictional character. It is a cute story and nothing more. Santa certainly does not bring our children gifts on December 25th, we, the parents do. We have Santa statues throughout the house as decorations, we have our kids and dogs photographed with Santa, but we do not celebrate Santa. Christmas Day is for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God and we celebrate it the way "old" Puerto Rico celebrated. We want to stay true to our roots and culture. And YES, we definitely celebrate Los Reyes! My children grew up knowing that Puerto Rican traditions were different and certainly much more fun than others.

Traditions
Año Nuevo
El Brindis
Los Reyes
Aguinaldos

"Potpourri de Aguinaldos" courtesy of Rene Ramos

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