Home » Christmas » Christmas in Puerto Rico Christmas in Puerto Rico   Navidad is the best of Puerto Rican traditions, for it is here that Christmas celebrated in the essential Christian spirit. 123Christians offers information on Christmas in Puerto Rico. Christmas carousing in Puerto Rico begins early in December and continues into mid January if you consider the octavas and octavitas. Puerto Ricans are known for their unforgettable parrandas or trullas navidenas. A parranda is when a small group of friends gathers together to surprise another friend - the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling. Most parranderos play some sort of instrument, guitarras, tambourines, guiro maracas, or palitos. Many of the customary Puerto Rican Christmas ditties preserve the festive spirit. Part of the holiday festivities includes cooking a pig on a spit, which is a big event. The pig is purchased and prepared a couple of days ahead. On the “big day” it is mounted on a stick and put to cook as early at 4am. While the pig roasts there is lots of holiday music. Older women remain in the kitchen cooking side dishes. Children play tag and get in trouble. Guests drop in with traditional holiday desserts. Before the invasion of American culture, Christmas gifts were received not from San Nicolas. (Santa couldn’t make it to the tropics in his hot wool suit with cap and reindeer). The holiday gifts used to be from Los Reyes Magos. The island is losing many of its Puerto Rican traditions by trading them with American ones that is natural and is happening all over the world. However, the flavor of Advent remains just the same. Enjoy a Christmas in Puerto Rico with browse 123Christians.