In Puerto Rico, we start celebrating Christmas in November and finish in mid-January, a period of roughly two months filled with food, parties, songs, dancing and deep cultural tradition.
Few countries have a longer Christmas season than ours, which is why we say with pride that Puerto Rico has the longest Christmas in the world (at least in the Caribbean).
The longest Christmas in the world
It is common knowledge that Christmas in Puerto Rico begins the day after Thanksgiving and extends through mid-January with the celebration of the Octavitas and the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, for roughly 45 days of celebration. Many people, however, start even earlier.
Although we have long said, sung and recited that we have the longest Christmas in the world, the reality is that we rank third on that list, behind the Philippines and Venezuela, according to historian Jesús Rivera Dávila, better known as El Boricuazo, in an interview with Anthony "El Tony" Cáceres.
Venezuela's extended Christmas season is the result of an institutional decision: its start between September and October was established in 2015 by decree of President Nicolás Maduro. This year, for example, the Bolivarian government began its celebrations on Oct. 1.
The Philippine case, however, shares similarities with Puerto Rico's. In an interview with Mónica Pinelli of CNBC, Filipino businessman Robert Blancaflor, who leads an event coordination company, explained that Christmas in his country begins in September and therefore runs for four months.
Christmas lighting ceremonies in Puerto Rico mark the start of the festive season from mid-November, transforming public plazas into spaces for community celebration.
Photo: Juan Santa for PlateaPR
He added, however, that this is a "recent phenomenon," since the traditional start of the Philippine Christmas, Nov. 1, All Saints' Day, was displaced first by the spread of shopping malls in Manila and then across the rest of the country.
The Puerto Rican Christmas
The Puerto Rican Christmas expanded because of the particular mix of our Spanish and North American cultural heritage, argues historian and singer-songwriter Herminio de Jesús in his book Historia de la celebración navideña en Puerto Rico.
De Jesús explains in his book that the cultural collision between Hispanic and American traditions transformed the customs of the typical Puerto Rican family around Christmas. Nativity scenes gave way to imported decorated trees, and the Three Kings, once the sole focus of celebration, were joined by the figure of Santa Claus.
"Due to transculturation, the media and consumerism, the custom of receiving gifts in his name [Santa Claus] reached Puerto Rico and its popularity has spread throughout our nation."
Herminio de Jesús, Historia de la celebración navideña en Puerto Rico
What sets Christmas in Puerto Rico apart?
Even if we don't strictly hold the top spot in the longest-Christmas rankings, there is nothing quite like our celebrations and traditions. Puerto Rico has a great many of them, and these are some of the best known, according to our community:
Parrandas – From November through January, a cheerful group can show up at your door at any hour of the night to sing, eat, drink and celebrate until dawn.
Christmas lighting ceremonies – Most municipalities in Puerto Rico announce their anticipated lighting events in early November and hold them mostly just after Thanksgiving.
Pasteladas – The making of the traditional Christmas pastel becomes a tradition passed from generation to generation through this gathering, where young and old alike learn to prepare it.
Christmas Eve Dinner – The Christmas Eve gathering is one of the biggest celebrations in Puerto Rico. There is music, cheer and a lot of food.
Three Kings Day on Jan. 6 – It is one of Puerto Ricans' favorite holidays. Of all the Americas, Puerto Rico is where this day is celebrated most.
Octavitas from Jan. 7 to 14 – With religious origins, these are the eight days following Three Kings Day and are part of the celebrations that extend Puerto Rico's Christmas season.
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián – For many people, Christmas in Puerto Rico does not end until this big festival is held in the historic downtown of Old San Juan. Last year the festivities ran from Jan. 16 to 19.
¡Llegó la Navidad!🎄 — Visit the guide
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
