A little taste of Christmas in Puerto Rico, the best of Puerto Rican culture.

A little taste of Christmas in Puerto Rico, the best of Puerto Rican culture!!!!!!.

This time of the year is full of happiness, tradition, aguinaldos, décimas, festivities, lots amount of food (asopao, arroz con gandules, lechón asado,tostones, tembleque, coquito and other traditional plates.) and of course... parrandas which include all of the above.

Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico begin very early, people say that  Puerto Rico has the longest Christmas in the world this is because they start right after Thanksgiving Day, at the end of November and continue into the middle of January taking consideration of the "octavas and octavitas"... During those days we have excuses to celabrate everyday, no matter the day of the week nor the hour.  Even though there is party almost every day the big Christmas celebrations are; December 24 - Nochebuena; December 25 - Navidad; December 31 - Despedida de Año; and the biggest and most important of el Día de Reyes on January 6th.

The Parrandas (or trullas Navideñas) are one of our biggest and amusing traditions.  A parranda is when a small group of friends gather 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 scream: "¡ASALTO! and 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.

Even though this is the most traditional and fun ways to make parrandas, parrandas are also given at work, special communities, hospitals and other sectors of community without expecting something on exchange, only the joyfullness and happiness of others.

Hope you enjoy this little bit of our culture! there is MUCH moooorrrreeeeee !!!