What is a tradition from Puerto Rico?

Answer 1

A traditional Año Viejo, New Year's Eve, celebration is spent with lots of family and friends. But before the party begins Puerto Ricans spend the entire day cleaning the house, yard, cars, and even sweeping the street. Why? It is believed that whatever the condition in which the New Year finds our property, that is how our property will stay for the rest of the year. Out with the old and in with the new. Make your New Year's Puerto Rican style gathering an event to remember. Our family decorated with white lites everywhere and silver and gold accents. Streamers and balloons hung from the ceiling. Silver and white curly ribbon made it look special. Buy "estrellitas" a kind of fireworks that is safe to use and legal in most cities. Estrellitas or Sparklers are long thin dark sticks that are lit at one end and sparkle like stars. Buy the 20 inch-long sparklers because they last long enough for everyone to light up at the same time. Just hold them at least a foot away from anything and the sparks will be safe. Use a wind-proof lighter to light. These can be purchased on the internet or purchased at party stores. Light them when the countdown begins. And also pass out baggies with 12 grapes that people need to start eating when there are 12 seconds to the New Year. Those who can eat them by Midnight will have good luck that year. After all the hugs and kisses are over have someone recite the poem "El Brindis del Bohemio" listed on our site - or listen to a recording. This is the Puerto Rican tradition. Serve bacalaitos because it's an inexpensive and real Puerto Rican party food. Toast the year with Cidra. We at El Boricua wish you all a very Prospero Año Nuevo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Día de Reyes If you are Puerto Rican then you have to celebrate Los Reyes. After Christmas put a Reyes statue as a centerpiece on your dinning room table so the kids know - it's no over yet "faltan los Reyes." Celebrate it Puerto Rican style, that is.... have the kids cut grass or greenery on January 5th and put it in a box under their bed. Put a small gift from Los Reyes in the box once they fall asleep - and don't forget to throw out the grass. Have a special and festive Día de Reyes meal that day. Take pictures of your children with their boxes. After dinner make it a tradition to sing a Reyes song Los Reyes arrive before dawn on January 6th. For centuries Puerto Rican children have celebrated Los Reyes in the same manner as their grandparents did when they were children. January 6 is called Epiphany and is traditionally the day in which the Magi arrived bearing gifts for the Christ child. Even to this day in Hispanic countries throughout the world, January 6 is the day that children receive their Christmas gifts, in commemoration of the Magi's visit. Kids write a letter to Los Reyes Víspera de Reyes On La Víspera de Reyes (the Eve of Three Kings Day) Puerto Rican children cut grass to put in a shoe box under their bed for the camels to eat. Their "wish list" is placed on top of the grass. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends ask children to put a box under their bed too - just in case. Traditions:The holiday season begins with Christmas Music festivals (Parrandas). Groups of musicians and dancers go from house to house for a period of six weeks. Their music is unique and the songs they sing are known as gifts (Aguilnaldos) for the way gifts were given in the past in the form of oral tributes presented to family and friends. La noche de san juan Puerto Rico is full of traditions and celebrations. One of my favorites is "La Noche de San Juan" or St. John's Night, widely celebrated throughout the world on the night of June 23, with each country and region having its own traditions and rituals. In Puerto Rico, tradition holds that walking backwards towards the beach and then jumping backwards into the water at exactly midnight brings good luck and keeps evil away throughout the year. It has also become a joyful celebration where family and friends meet and celebrate. The rituals associated with the water date back to the ancient civilizations. Games of dominoes - Playing Domino games is a very popular pastime in Puerto Rico. Dominoes are played in all circles in our society and played by people of all ages. Indepth research into the traditions of Loiza Aldea culminated in a live music and dance production entitled Celebrando 2005 - Viva Loiza, a joint performance between William Cepeda, AfroBoricua and PRFDance on June 25-26, 2005. Our research included learning about the traditions of the Baquine. Enjoy these photos from our recreation of a Baquine, as well as the historical notes behind one of Loiza's unique traditions.

Answer 2

It's a male dominated society.

It is the only place in America and it's territories where there is technically no separation of church and state.

At Christmas time in San Juan, the legislative buildings have nativity scenes in their lobbies.