Holidays in Puerto RicoBrienna Kendall & Sara Hopkins

Holy Week

Begins on the Sunday before Easter “Semana Santa” Holy Week is celebrated with many

sacraments and traditions› Palm Sunday› Monday through Wednesday› “Maundy” or Holy Thursday› Good Friday› Holy Saturday› Easter Sunday

Holy Week continued…

Palm Sunday› first day of Holy Week› people recall when Jesus came to

Jerusalem riding on a donkey Monday through Wednesday

› faithful participate in the Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis)

Holy or “Maundy” Thursday› traditional "washing of the feet“› night of the Feast of the Last Supper

Holy Week continued…

Good Friday› cities close for meditation at church at 3:00 P.M.

Holy Saturday› “Midnight Mass” to celebrate resurrection› lots of flowers, candles, singing, and saying

"Feliz Pascua Resucito!" (He is risen!) Easter Sunday

› Resurrection Day› some people go to Easter Mass rather than

regular Sunday Mass› marks the beginning of Easter season

Holy Week begins with a visit from the Archbishop. Shown

above is the Archbishop of San

Juan.

Most Puerto Rican towns depict the Crucifixion and the carrying

of the cross on Good Friday

Many people choose to fast during

Holy Week.

“Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”

Takes place on July 25 each year Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Day Most controversial holiday On July 25, 1898, U.S. troops took

Puerto Rico from the Spaniards. Most consider this as an invasion by

the United States

Constitution Day

The festivities start early on Constitution

Day morning.

Dancers, such as shown above, are common on

Constitution Day. People in Puerto Rico are generally very patriotic

on this day.

Discovery of Puerto Rico

“Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico” Celebrated on November 19 On this day, Christopher Columbus (Don

Cristóbal Colón) landed near Arguada near the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.

Columbus’ second voyage to the New World

Celebrated with huge parade Public schools & offices closed

Huge parades take place on this day.

Christopher Columbus was the initial

discoverer of Puerto

Rico.

All public schools are closed on Discovery Day.

Sources

http://www.ehow.com/about_6676003_holy-week-celebrated-puerto-rico_.html

http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/holi.shtml

http://www.ehow.com/about_4579674_holidays-puerto-rico.html