Puerto Rico observes its own set of traditional holidays
Even though Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, the island still enjoys a large amount of independence. Part of that independence comes in the form of the holidays that are observed solely on the island. While Puerto Rico still observes the traditional holidays of the United States, Boricuas (the people of Puerto Rico) also observe a number of traditional Puerto Rican holidays to this very day.
Dia de Reyes
Dia de Reyes, commonly referred to as "Three Kings Day" or "Epiphany," is perhaps one of the most important holidays celebrated in Puerto Rico. Dia de Reyes is celebrated just after Christmas and is considered to be a continuation of the Christmas festivities. The holiday on Jan. 6 marks the occasion of the visit of the Three Wise Men, each giving a gift to the newborn Jesus. Boricuas celebrate this Dia de Reyes in the same manner.
On the night of Jan. 5 (called "La Vispera de Reyes" on the island), children traditionally fill a small box with grass and leave it under their beds before going to sleep. The grass is meant to attract the camels ridden by the Three Kings; the camel is thought to eat the grass left in the box, then leave a gift for the sleeping child in its place. When the children awake on the morning of Jan. 6, they are greeted with presents and large celebratory feasts later in the day.
Las Fiestas de San Juan
Las Fiestas de San Juan is celebrated by Boricuas each year on June 24. This is the holiday that is celebrated in honor of the birth of Puerto Rico's patron saint, San Juan Bautista. According to Hispanic Culture Online, Las Fiestas de San Juan is full of vibrant celebrations, including parades, dancing, feasts and other religious processions. Many Boricuas also observe a rather interesting custom as part of the festivities: At the end of the party, attendees will often walk and fall backward into the ocean.
Constitution Day
Constitution Day, celebrated island-wide on July 25, is one of the few non-religious holidays observed solely in Puerto Rico. Constitution Day celebrates the day in 1952 when Puerto Rico signed its first Constitution into law. The Puerto Rico Constitution, a set of nine articles very similar to the U.S. Constitution, is a great source of pride for Boricuas everywhere. According to website Holidays Around the World, the signing of the Constitution is seen as the source of Puerto Rico's high degree of autonomy. The island still celebrates the holiday to this day, generally in the form of parades, partying and other types of festivities.
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