Costumbres
Navideñas
In our “ native lands ” there were many customs taught to us by our parents , and by our parents ’ parents , each associated with the holidays ! These are the warmest times of the year , simply because they are filled with a certain magic .
Chances are , if you put a bunch of Latinos together in a house , yard , club or hall and throw on some of our great Latin music , you ’ re going to have one heck of a party ! Our fiestas are beyond comparison – far from boring or mundane . Even on regular occasions , you sill find plenty of food , drink , music and dancing . But during “ Las Navidades ” we go ALL OUT ! Preparing lots of delicious traditional dishes , decorating the house with all your treasured Christmas decorations and humming those great canciones in preparation of our next fiesta . Hispanos have many similarities … not only our shared language , but also our customs , look , styles , beliefs and traditions . -Jolie
In this issue of Latin Times Magazine , we shine the spotlight on “ Costumbres Navideñas ” how it ’ s done back home , and what makes it all so special . de Puerto Rico
La Isla Del Encanto !
Por Jose Diaz
El Jorgorio está , El Jorgorio está , bien por la maceta . Vamos a bailar , aja ! WEPA ! WEPA ! WEPA !
Las Parrandas ¡ Ya vienen las Navidades ! That ’ s an expression that is clearly etched in my fondest memories of my boricua upbringing . As a child , I remember visiting El Borinquen during Las Navidades . It seemed like just about every year my parents would visit mis abuelitos in Orocovis for the Holidays . Legen has it ( according to my abuelito ) Puerto Rican Christmas ’ are rumored to be among the longest celebrated in Latin America !
They actually started celebrating Las Navidades in late October and often celebrated up until Passover and further ! Supposedly on the night of Passover , they would go so far as to back up the clock so that they could have more time to continue El Jorgorio . This was often called La Media Raja or La Napa .
I still remember the sound of las parrandas , and the chiki que chiki of the guiro . My favorite part of these parrandas was the way they started ” A group of us would gather in the batey ( front lawn ) of someone ’ s home in the middle of the night , and all you could hear was the combined whispers , the children ’ s giggles and the loud : Shhhhhhh !”. Then , all of a sudden the music would fill the air with its beats until our friends would wake up , run for the door … still in their pajamas , the lady of the house often wearing rollers . Since it was considered a huge honor to have a parranda at your home , the hosts would immediately prepare a warm meal for the parranderos . Afterward , it was common for the current hosts to become guests at other homes that would be visited that night .
Home-made Ron Pitorro ( Ron Caña ) lent that extra special feeling to the evening , especially when accompanied by a group of friends / family , a good cuatro termpao , a guiro , a set of maracas , a cow bell , some clapping hands , some pretty good singers , ( you get the picture ). The aguinaldos made everyone want to dance , and it seemed this went on hasta el amanecer . My tio Sico entertained everyone with his trovas y bombas , sweet decimas of inspirational frenzies . Yeah … those were the days ! The jorgorio would go on all night and into the morning .
La Comida It was impossible to ignore the aroma of the Arroz con Gandules , the Morcillas and the Guineitos en Escabeche . The freshly made pastels , mmmm boiling in a big black pot , And the desserts ! Arroz con Dulce , Majarete , Flan y Pudin . The ladies would all gather in the kitchen , talking about losing weight in the coming year , all the while generously consuming un poquito de todo ! Una Piña Colada , Coquio , a Bacardi n ’ Coke , or ¡ dame un “ chot ” de Ron .. It ’ s Noche Buena !
10 Abraza El Calor De Tu Cultura !