Puerto Rican Holiday Traditions

Although I do not always participate in the traditional ways of my culture, there is one specific tradition that I take part in every year. In the United States it is common practice to take part in a huge celebration during the winter months, Christmas. My family and I also take part in this Holiday due to religious reasons. However, because we are of Puerto Rican ethnicity, we participate in another cultural tradition during the winter holidays. It is common practice in the Puerto Rican culture to celebrate the holiday of Three Kings Day or Día de los Tres Reyes Magos. It takes place on January sixth, and is the main winter holiday besides New Year’s. While it has become more and more common to celebrate Christmas, the holiday is of less importance. While Three Kings Day is very cultural, it does also have a religious aspect. Christmas is merely the midpoint of a long celebration. The holiday follows the story of Christ being born, and obviously is deeply rooted in the Christian and Catholic faith. The island of Puerto Rico celebrates this holiday from the beginning of December to New Year’s Day. To decorate for the festive holiday people, much like in the U.S., decorate the outside of their house with lights. However, they take this decor one

Little kids typically partake in this tradition, some may say that it is a “Variation” of Christmas. Children are encouraged to go out and gather grass and water in bowls and to leave it out for the camels of the “Three Kings.” In return for helping the kings in their journey to bringing Jesus gifts, the kings leave presents and candies for the children. The holiday is passed down from generation just like how Christmas is. Although the tradition has never been threatened, it has lost some significance over the years due to more people prioritizing