Unique Holiday Traditions in Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans are American citizens with a rich history, culture, and traditions, especially during the holiday season. From unique dishes and beverages to the extended festive period, Puerto Ricans celebrate the holidays in their way. With family on the island and frequent visits, I can confidently say that Puerto Rico's holiday celebrations are truly unique. Here are some popular customs observed during the holiday season in Puerto Rico:
Coquito: A Traditional Holiday Beverage
Coquito is a beverage resembling eggnog in appearance but made with unique spices and ingredients. Enjoying a cold cup of coquito is a holiday tradition in Puerto Rico. This beverage includes ingredients such as raw eggs, three types of milk, cinnamon, cloves, and rum. Though recipes vary by family, coquito is typically served chilled. It has a beige color similar to eggnog but is much thicker and sweeter due to sugar and condensed milk. Coquito can be refrigerated for up to eight weeks, allowing Puerto Ricans to savor a single batch throughout the holiday season.
Lechon Asado: A Holiday Feast Essential
A traditional Puerto Rican Christmas dinner is incomplete without "lechon asado," a whole roasted pork. When roasted traditionally on a spit, the meat becomes succulent and flavorful with perfectly crisp skin. Typically served with rice, beans, and pasteles, lechon asado is a Christmas staple in Puerto Rico.
New Year's Eve Grape-Eating Tradition
Eating 12 grapes during the last 12 seconds of the year is a tradition some Puerto Ricans follow to celebrate New Year's Eve. This custom, originating in Spain, is also observed in a few other Latin American countries. Various theories exist about its origins, one suggesting that farmers in Alicante, Spain, created this idea in the early 1900s to eliminate their surplus grapes, while others believe it started in Madrid decades earlier.
New Year's Cleaning for Success
In Puerto Rico, thoroughly cleaning the house on New Year's Day is a tradition believed to bring success for the coming year. This custom is recommended to start the year positively and set a favorable tone for the next 12 months.
Parranda
Parranda is a Puerto Rican holiday tradition similar to Christmas caroling but more upbeat and non-religious. Accompanied by live music from instruments like guitars, tambourines, and maracas, parrandas are spontaneous events. A group visits a friend or family member's house unannounced at night, waking them with live music and encouraging them to join. This continues with visits to other homes until the early morning hours.
Three Kings Day: A Children's Gifting Tradition
January 6 marks Three Kings Day, commemorating the visit of the three wise men to Jesus after his birth. In Puerto Rico, this holiday is especially significant for children who believe the wise men visit them the night before. Children place a box of fresh grass under their beds as food for the camels, receiving gifts in return.
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián: The Grand Finale
Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, or SanSe, is a multi-day celebration in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, every year at the end of January, marking the end of the extended holiday season. Locals, visitors, and Puerto Ricans living elsewhere return to Old San Juan's colorful, cobblestone-lined streets, wearing traditional attire, singing, dancing, listening to live music, and enjoying the festivities.
