Tag Archives: Feliz Navidad

¡Feliz Navidad!

Our first Christmas in Puerto Rico was a lot of fun and much different from Colorado. We didn’t have all the cues of the holidays like cold weather, fresh pine trees from the mountains, and time off work. And while we don’t have the beauty of glistening white snow falling on puffing houses, the weather this time of year in the tropics is just gorgeous in a different way.

Blue skies

The skies are clear blue with visibility at least 20 miles across the ocean. The palms are waving in the slight breeze and the humidity is low. People who have lived here for a long time might even wear a jacket (not us yet because it feels just perfect)!

SantaSanta in Puerto Rico!

The differences weren’t only the weather however. While Santa Claus has been incorporated in the culture in such places as malls and displays, the 3 Kings (the 3 Wisemen in English) are still most definitely more important culturally. Here everyone seems to have their own recipe for coquito -an egg nog style drink made with coconut cream and pasteles (sort of like tamales).  All of the downtown plazas have some sort of light display but not many houses. A lot of cars drive around with loud music, people shoot off fireworks or guns in celebrations, there are a lot more horses being ridden and everyone says “felicidades” (loosely translates as “happiness” or “Happy Holidays”) to you wherever you go. Many people head to a midnight mass on Christmas Eve after a huge family gathering.

A North American classic symbol of the season, the poinsettia plant, grows here in the ground, so we planted one!

IMG_4740
That’s not glitter on the poinsettia; it’s rain drops!

As for us, in Colorado we would normally celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas with family, but since we don’t have any here, we were so happy to spend it with our new friends. At a fun Christmas Eve gathering we saw a magnificent sunset from the patio and enjoyed getting to know more people.

On Christmas we went over to some other friends’ house for a super delicious dinner and then went with them to the Mayaguez plaza where there was a huge light display.

Green Mayaguez Mayaguez Plaza at Christmas

Overall it was one of the most unusual Christmases we have ever had, but also ranked up there as one of the best. If our family could have been here it would have been even better. But my mom and her boyfriend will be visiting soon and we can catch up then.

B and C in Mayaguez
¡Les deseamos una Feliz Navidad a todos desde Puerto Rico! (Merry Christmas wishes from Puerto Rico!)

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Christmas on Christmas Island (Puerto Rico)

Last Christmas, my mom and I went to Puerto Rico on Christmas day. It was pretty interesting to see how Christmas was spent on a tropical island, and it really was like having Christmas during the summer, something I had never experienced. Britton and I are getting excited about our trip- a vacation to Puerto Rico– on January 28…about a month from now.

Christmas in Puerto Rico
A Few Days after Christmas 2007 in Hatillo, PR

Hatillo Mask Festival Parade in Puerto Rico
At the LOUD Hatillo, PR Mask Festival Parade

Arecibo RadioTelescope
At the Arecibo, Puerto Rico Radio Telescope Observatory

For those of you on a warm tropical island and those covered in snow, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad a todos!

And in Jimmy Buffet’s own words:

Ho, ho, ho and a bottle of rum
Santa’s run off to the Caribbean
He thinks about boat drinks and fun in the sun
Ho, ho, ho and a bottle of rum

Click below for song:
Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

Beach in Rincon, PR
At a Beach in Rincon, PR

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