Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

by Noelia Vigo2014

Puerto RicoIt is an unincorporated

territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands.

It comprises an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona.

Puerto RicoPopulation: 3,667,084

Land area: 9,104 km2

Languages: Spanish and English

Monetary unit: United States dollar ($)

Government: Unincorporated territory of the United States

Head of state: Barack Obama

Puerto RicoOn November 19, 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered the island in his second voyage to the New World. He named the island San Juan Bautista.

During the Spanish-American War of 1898 American troops invaded the island and Spain surrendered to the U.S. Since then, Puerto Rico has remained a U.S. territory.

Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de León colonized Borinquen in 1508 and became its first governor. Many families from Spain and European nations moved to the island, slowly marrying Taíno Indians, forming a new ethnic group called Criollos.

Puerto Rico:San Juan is the capital and most

populated city in Puerto Rico.

San Juan

Old San Juan is the name known to the historic district of San Juan. It is located in the islet of San Juan, which is connected to the main island of Puerto Rico by bridges. The city is known for its colourful buildings that date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when the island was a Spanish colony.

Interestingly, Puerto Ricans celebrate what is probably the world’s longest Christmas. The festivities get underway on 23 November and last until the end of January when the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián take place.

Epiphany is another of Puerto Rico’s deeply-rooted celebrations, with children visiting their relatives to collect the gifts left by the Three Wise Men.

Puerto Rican culture can be seen and felt all year round, but especially at Christmas, when people celebrate the traditional parrandas – Puerto Rico’s version of carol singing – when family and friends gather together at home. This tradition tends to take place in the early hours of the morning in order to surprise the unsuspecting family members who are normally fast asleep.

TraditionsPuerto Rico:

TraditionsPuerto Rico:

In addition to their love for Christmas traditions, Puerto Ricans also celebrate the Night of Saint John (the Baptist), where crowds of people flock to the beaches around the island to jump backwards into the sea seven times. They believe that this ritual rids them of their bad luck. Essentially it’s a kind of baptism, accompanied by music, dancing, eating and drinking.

Traditional foodPuerto Rico:

Stewed BeefStewed Beef

Rice with Pigeon PeasRice with Pigeon Peas Fried Green BananaFried Green Banana

Rice puddingRice pudding Sweet Plantain & Sweet Plantain & Beef LasagnaBeef Lasagna

SportsPuerto Rico:

BasketballBasketball BaseballBaseball

VolleyballVolleyball BoxingBoxing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/