Ricardo M Hernandez Arocho
Puerto Ricans certainly go all out during Christmas. We proudly boast that we have the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. In fact, we start celebrating promptly after Thanksgiving. As Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) arrives your friends and family gorge themselves on pastesles, arroz con gandules, pernil, and coquito (all traditional Puerto Rican Christmas staple foods). If you’re religious you may also go to the Misa de Gallo (midnight mass) to sing aguinaldos (carolls).
You were tired afterward but no, your friends hyped you up to go do some parrandas before heading home. Parrandas? What are those? You soon find out. All night into the early dawn, you go from house to house, singing, playing instruments, dancing, eating, and drinking some more. Great, now I can rest you say, but no… now your kids are opening their Christmas presents so you give up and resign to rest later.
That evening, however, your friends are back to wake you up for another round of parrandas and you start to wonder what is holding these people together… It’s that Christmas spirit… or more likely the Christmas spirits you all keep drinking as you go from house to house. You somehow keep this partying going intermittently and you make it all the way to New Year’s Eve where you again celebrate with more of that delicious food you had all throughout the season so far. You count down the clock, as it strikes midnight eat twelve grapes for some reason, and you continue to celebrate like crazy as the new year arrives. You sigh with relief as you somehow make it home and settle in for some rest, figuring Christmas is finally over… that is until the next day when Rafael and your friends are back again and tell you that they are doing another parranda. What the heck is going on here, you ask yourself as you feel an anxiety attack coming on.
Before you start thinking you lost your mind and are living a moment similar to the one Bill Murray had in the movie Groundhog’s Day, there is something important you should know. For Puerto Ricans, there are still more traditional Christmas days left to celebrate in January. What are these celebrations you say? I got you!
Before becoming a U.S. Territory, Puerto Rico was part of the Kingdom of Spain. Under Spanish rule, Puerto Rico was Roman Catholic and observed many traditions derived from the church. At that time, Santa Claus did not bring presents to Puerto Rican children. Instead, we had the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men) bring us presents on the 6th of January. This of course has to do with the biblical story of the Epiphany where the Magi traveled from distant lands following a star to Bethlehem so they could find the son of God, worship him and gift him with gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold.
When I was a young boy I remember the traditional routine that all children follow to have the Reyes Magos leave us a present. Unlike Santa who greedily devours the cookies and milk left for him by families on Christmas Eve, the Reyes Magos only ask for hay for their camels. Children therefore get a shoebox and take it to their yards to fill it with grass to feed the Three Kings’ camels. After you fill it up as much as possible, you cover up the box with its lid and leave it underneath your bed. At that point, you go to sleep and when you wake up in the morning the shoebox is gone and replaced with presents.
I feel a little guilty that my sister and I killed this beautiful tradition. This happened because our parents (who were going through tough financial times) told us that we had to choose to have either Santa or the Tres Reyes leave us presents. Why would we choose Santa? Well, he did leave his presents a whole 13 days before the Reyes Magos did. We also usually had to go back to school the very next day after the Three Wise men left their presents and barely had any time to enjoy them. The adult in me is sad that we lost this tradition, but I understand how much of a struggle that would have been for younger me to wait that long for presents.
One good thing about 6 January is that even when your parents can’t afford presents, you can still get gifts. Traditionally the city and state governments buy gifts for children, all you have to do is line up to get them from your friendly local politician. Kids get their toys and the politicians get their photo-op with kids… a win-win situation for everyone.
So the Reyes Magos left their gifts, we ate and drank some more, and went to more church services… are we done yet? Oh no, not by a long shot. Now it’s time for the Octavitas. “For Pete’s sake what the heck is that,” I hear you saying. Well, quite simply it’s a bonus 8 days to keep on partying, eating, drinking, and doing more parrandas. Ok, what happens on the 8th day? Surely everyone chills out by then right? Come on, how could we close out Christmas with a whimper? At the end of the Octavitas we have one of the largest, loudest, and funnest festivals on the Island… Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian (The Festival of the San Sebastian Street) in Old San Juan. Yep, you guessed it, more drinking, eating, dancing, and performances by famous artists and performers.
Ok what’s next after that? Wait you haven’t you had enough? Go get some rest. Christmas is over dude.