December is the month that all the Puerto Ricans anxiously wait for. There is no reason to say why however, for those who do not know the reason, to hear the word December is similar to Christmas. Even on one of the most famous holidays, Halloween, you can find Puerto Ricans already buying Christmas decorations: the garlands to decorate the house, the lights that goes on the roof, the Christmas tree, the decorations for the tree, the decorations for inside the house, the costumes for the dogs, the hats and amongst many more things that we do not really need. And of course, we can’t forget about the food! Between, “chicharrones”, the pork, the turkey, the rice with pigeon beans… In short, a feast to entertain our guests.
Even though every country celebrates Christmas in different ways, we all commemorate the same event: the birth of Jesus. However, the date is debatable given the fact that the Bible says that it was not in December, but we celebrate it as it was on this date by being grateful of an Angel who came into this world to free us of our sins; a grand gesture of His love. That is why that the Christmas season is the perfect one to come together as family, offer a lot of love to our neighbor and given thanks to our Lord, for all the blessings that we are given every day.
But, what’s the meaning of a Puerto Rican Christmas? Yes, for us Christmas forms an important part of our lives where we are eternally grateful for all the good things that God provides us , and honor the birth of Jesus. Apart from that, Christmas has an additional meaning for us. We all know that the Christmas season in Puerto Rico are the most happiest and longest, because they begin in November and end by mid-January. It is also the season where we all get excited for the gifts, the decorations and family reunions. But most important part is that the Puerto Rican Christmas is filled with many traditions that has been carried our for years.
The Christmas Tree:
A Puerto Rican tradition is the decoration of the Christmas tree. It is said that the origin of the Christmas Tree comes from Europe, whose inhabitants, in honor of the birthday of the god of the sun and fertility named Frey, celebrated the event by decorating a tree that symbolized the Tree of the Universe. When Christianity arrived to their country, the celebration of the birth of the god Frey was changed to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Thus, they avoided to celebrate pagan traditions and introduced the Christian faith to the population.
Another version about the origin of the Christmas tree suggest that, when the north and the center of Europe is evangelized, St. Bonifacio arrives, an English bishop who came to Germany to preach the Christian faith. The Germans, and the population who were present at the moment, celebrated Christmas by sacrificing a young man on the Sacred Oak of Odin. Disconcerted by what he witnessed, Bishop Bonifacio cut the the oak with an ax to end the pagan idolatries. Thus tells the legend that a gust of wind helped the bishop to bring down the tree, which surprised the people and made them fearful of the power of God. The people then asked Bishop Bonifacio for advice on the correct way way to celebrate Christmas. Bonifacio, still looking at the fallen tree, noticed that there was a small spruce that had remained intact. This made the bishop to turn it into a symbol of God’s love and proceeded to decorate it with apples, symbolizing temptations, and with candles, which symbolized the light of God. Bonifacio asked the people to keep in their houses a perennial plant in the winter, as a symbol of peace, immortality and love of God.
In Puerto Rico, the tradition of hav
ing and decorating a Christmas tree is thanks to Dr. Agustin Stahl in the town of Bayamon. Stahl was a doctor who was born in Puerto Rico, but with foreigners parents, and always remembered of how his father talked to him, and to his brothers, about the tradition of decorating tree during Christmas in Germany. When Agustin when to visit Germany, he personally saw these types of celebrations. Once he completed his medicine studies, he decided to established himself in Bayamon and there he decorated a Christmas tree in his backyard, in 1866. The tree had lights, decorations, frost to make it look like snow, with toys and candies for the kids who did not have presents.
These types of influences have achieved that we adopt the practice of decorating a tree, representing the arrival of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Like Puerto Ricans, once Halloween comes to an end, we are already getting our decorations ready to prepare the Christmas tree. Also, there are also the people who prefers to begin the Christmas season by putting up the tree, which is done the day after Thanksgiving. You can’t also forget the combination of colors: blue and silver, gold and red, brown, all types of colors and motives. Throughout the years, the trees adopts more elaborate decorations, that includes from the decorating the tip of the tree, to its “skirt”. Every year we love to change the decoration of the tree, especially if its for the kids.
As an additional l information, the decorations that we place on our trees have a very beautiful meaning: the bells, they were used to scare away the bad spirits and now it represents the happiness of the birth of Jesus. The colored balls represent the apples that were hanged from the trees, representing abundance and nature. The bonds represent the union between family and loved ones. The candles represent the light of God; remembering the moment when Mary brought Jesus to the world with a candle used as light in Bethlehem. The stars, which symbolizes light and hope, it also represents that star that guided the Three Kings to Bethlehem to meet Jesus and present their gifts. And the angels, apart from representing those protectors of the light, it also represents the angel who announced to Mary that she will be giving birth to Jesus.
Traditional dishes:
Where there is a party and celebration, you can’t never miss the food. And we, Puerto Ricans, celebrate everything! Christmas in Puerto Rico means to in preparing a decent meal for all of those who comes to our home no matter what the time. It means share our food and satisfied our visitors. It means fill the cupboard with goodies in case we receive unexpected visit from our friends and family.
When it comes to drinks, we are obligated to mention the famous “Coquito” and, without a shadow of a doubt, the coveted “Pitorro”. The origin of the “Coquito” is a bit unknown however, there two versions: some say that the drink was originated thanks to the farmers who worked at the sugar canes, who obtained the rum from the cane and after going through the process of fermentation, distillation and aging of the liquor, they three the sugar cane and a little bit of coconut milk to make the drink richer and pleasant to their palate. However, after the United States arrived to Puerto Rico, the recipe was adapted and merged with their recipe of the “Egg Nog” (a drink similar to the Coquito, but containing eggs), to make known the recipe we prepare today. Others mention that the coquito derived from “panch”, a drink that the Persian people prepared with water, rum, lemon, herbs and sugar. This drink arrived to Europe (introduced by the Spaniards) who adapted it and gave it the name of punch. The mix continued to pass from country to country, until in Latin American the drink was transformed into what we now know as Coquito. As you can see, there are many variations of the Coquito drink however, there is only one original recipe for the classic Coquito, which are: 1 can of coconut cream. 1 can of condensed milk and 1 can of evaporated milk; ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1/1 cup of rum (completely optional). All ingredients should be mixed in a blender and then poured into glass bottles, to then be refrigerated.
Another typical; drink, popular and very Puerto Rican is the “Pitorro”. Although it is an illegal drink, its consumption dates back many years. It was a drink consumed by slaves as well as farmers and peasants who worked in the sugar canes, and used it to warm themselves from the cold in the mountains. This cane rum is artistically distilled and cured or fermented for more than a year with fruits, citrus or other ingredients. What makes this drink illegal are several factors, including non-payment of taxes and failure to meet the health and quality requirements imposed by the Department of Health. However, this does not stop the people, because although its production remains a secret, the “Pitorro” is the soul of the Puerto Rican parties. Currently, regulations have been amended, and the “Pitorro” can be produced legally in the months of November through January, as it is the season of Christmas and it is a part of the Puerto Rican tradition. So we would not suffer because it we would be able to buy it legally and savor the taste that distinguishes Puerto Rico from other countries.
When it comes to food, as Puerto Ricans we love the traditional meals that are prepared during the season of Christmas. As options for appetizers, we enjoy preparing chicken dips or mix dips with ham and pineapple, guava paste with cheese, ham and cheese rolls, amongst many other goodies. As for the main course, the rice is traditionally prepared with pigeon peas, and it is accompanied by “pasteles de masa”, “yautía”, cassava or rice; “morcilla” (a sausage based on pork blood and rice), gandinga; Potato salad; and, most importantly, the roasted suckling pig, ham or turkey. Neither of those can’t be missed during Christmas. Whether it is cooked in the stove oven or a portable oven, the suckling pig and ham are the soul of the holidays. The turkey is the protagonist on Thanksgiving, where we share in family to gives thank to our Lord for all the blessings he has provided us and celebrate the holidays that we love so much. For dessert, you can always find sweet rice, majarete or tembleque and, to close the night of celebration, we cannot miss the chicken soup or pigeon peas soup to leave warm all the way home.
Parrandas (Spree):
As if celebrations on the holidays were not enough, Puerto Rican create their own parties, to add a little flavor to Christmas. They celebrate the famous parrandas (also known as spree), which consist a group of people who come together at night, between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am, to visit their friends and wake them up through songs and the rhythm of musical instruments. Guitars, pleneros, güiros, maracas and / or tamboriles are some of the instruments that are used to lighten up the party for the parrandas. After they succeed in waking the owner of the house, he must invite them into the house and prepare some snacks with drinks. After resting for a while, they prepare themselves to go to the next house, but not before the owner of the house accompanies them to the Christmas spree. For each house that they visit, the group becomes larger and larger until it comes to an end at around 3:00 in the morning. The songs are allusive to the Christmas holiday and can vary season to season. But the most common are:
Si no me dan beber (If you don’t give me a to drink): If you don’t give me a drink I’ll a cry. If you don’t give me a drink. This is the house, I told you about. This is the house, where the give the “parranda” plenty a food. Where they give the “parranda” plenty of food. You screwed up, because you turned on the lights. You screwed up, because your turned on the lights. Because now we know that you are in your house, because now we know that you are in your house.
Traigo un ramillete (I bring a bouquet): I bring a bouquet, I bring a bouquet from a beautiful rose garden. Another year to come and another to go.
There are many traditions that marks the Puerto Rican Christmas. Events like the Christmas Parade in front of the Capitol, the lighting ceremonies in all of our homes or sharing with our neighbors by closing the street and putting the tables with food outside. Throughout the years we leave some traditions and adopt other ones; always looking for new things to do. The most important thing here is to keep the faith, the love and the peace, and always remembering the real meaning of Christmas.
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