Holiday Traditions in Puerto Rico: We Don’t "Fa La La", We "Le Lo Lai"!

Spanning about 45 days, the festive period kicks off right after Thanksgiving and extends well into mid-January, culminating with the vibrant San Sebastián Street Festivals (SanSe). 

This extended season is a marathon of joy, music, food, and cultural traditions that beautifully reflect the island's unique spirit. Here’s a glimpse into what makes Puerto Rican holidays truly magical.  

For Boricuas, Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is the highlight of the season, often outshining Christmas Day itself. Families and friends come together for elaborate dinners featuring local delicacies like Pernil (roasted pork), Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and Pasteles (savory tamales wrapped in banana leaves).  

After feasting, many attend Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass), where they celebrate the birth of Jesus. Churches across the island sometimes stage live Nativity scenes, adding a touch of solemnity to the joyous occasion.  

Music is at the heart of Puerto Rican holiday celebrations. One beloved tradition is the Parranda (or Trulla), Puerto Rico’s version of Christmas caroling. Friends and families gather late at night—often after 10 PM—with tambourines, maracas, guitars, and other instruments. They quietly approach a home before bursting into jubilant songs known as aguinaldos, a folk style of music.  

The surprise doesn’t end there. The hosts traditionally offer refreshments and join the group, taking the Parranda to another home, and spreading the cheer well into the early hours. Parrandas ends at the last house where the sun often rises on the continuing festivities.  

While the rest of the world might “fa la la la la,” Puerto Ricans “le lo lai” during this season. The phrase captures the lively, melodious spirit of aguinaldos, Villancicos (religious Christmas songs), and Trovas, an improvisational art form rooted in the island's Jíbaro traditions. Add to this the beats of Bomba and Plena, and you have a diverse soundtrack to the season.  

San Sebastian Street Festival

Third weekend of January – Old San Juan

One of the most anticipated parties of the year and the unofficial close of the holiday season, the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián takes over Old San Juan from Wednesday evening until Sunday afternoon. During the day, plazas are filled to the brim with artists and artisans; some have stages for live music, dance, and circus performances. In the evening, the party ignites, and the street fills with people and music. 

The Día de Reyes celebration doesn’t end there.

On January 6th, Puerto Ricans celebrate Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day), marking the Magi’s visit to baby Jesus. Children collect grass or hay in shoeboxes to feed the camels of the Three Wise Men, leaving them under their beds in exchange for gifts.  

The eight days following Three Kings Day, known as Octavitas, are filled with parties and Parrandas, culminating in the grand Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in Old San Juan. This colorful cultural festival is the official conclusion of the holiday season, showcasing live music, art, and community spirit.     

Welcoming the Año Nuevo (New Year) in Puerto Rico comes with a mix of rituals rooted in tradition and superstition. Boricuas clean their homes to usher in positivity, throw buckets of water out windows to ward off evil spirits, or even dive into the ocean at midnight to start fresh.   Another custom, inherited from Spain, involves eating 12 grapes during the final 12 seconds of the year.

Each grape represents a wish for the months ahead, and finishing all 12 by midnight is believed to bring good fortune.

This extended season is a marathon of joy, music, food, and cultural traditions that beautifully reflect the island's unique spirit. Here’s a glimpse into what makes Puerto Rican holidays truly magical.

Music is at the heart of Puerto Rican holiday celebrations. One beloved tradition is the Parranda (or Trulla), Puerto Rico’s version of Christmas caroling. Friends and families gather late at night—often after 10 PM—with tambourines, maracas, guitars, and other instruments. They quietly approach a home before bursting into jubilant songs known as aguinaldos, a folk style of music.

The surprise doesn’t end there. The hosts traditionally offer refreshments and join the group, taking the Parranda to another home, and spreading the cheer well into the early hours. Parrandas ends at the last house where the sun often rises on the continuing festivities.

While the rest of the world might “fa la la la la,” Puerto Ricans “le lo lai” during this season. The phrase captures the lively, melodious spirit of aguinaldos, Villancicos (religious Christmas songs), and Trovas, an improvisational art form rooted in the island's jíbaro traditions. Add to this the beats of Bomba and Plena, and you have a diverse soundtrack to the season.

No Puerto Rican Christmas is complete without traditional dishes and drinks:  

- Pernil: Tender, seasoned roasted pork that is a centerpiece of holiday meals.  

- Arroz con Gandules: A flavorful combination of rice, pigeon peas, and spices.  

- Pasteles: Tamale-like bundles made of green bananas and meat, steamed in banana leaves.  

- Tembleque: A creamy coconut pudding dusted with cinnamon, perfect for dessert.  

- Coquito: Puerto Rico’s answer to eggnog, a rich and creamy drink made with coconut milk, condensed milk, rum, and spices.  

Puerto Rican holiday décor transforms the island into a magical setting. Christmas trees, lights, and festive displays adorn homes and town squares, often staying up until mid-January.

Local designs, like jibaritos (representations of traditional farmers), add a tropical flair to the decorations, creating picturesque scenes that invite photo ops at every corner.  

Puerto Rico’s holiday traditions embody the warmth, joy, and cultural richness of its people.

Whether you’re joining a Parranda, sipping Coquito, or marveling at the vibrancy of SanSe, the island offers a festive experience unlike any other. It’s a celebration that doesn’t just mark the holidays - it embodies the essence of Puerto Rican identity.  

Discover Puerto Rico - Images and inspiration.

Wikipedia - Parranda

Mark Derho is a seasoned expert in the Internet industry with over 25 years of experience in NYC's software development, digital marketing, and advertising sectors. A certified Google Partner, Mark specializes in content creation, AI chatbot development, open-source software, modern website design, and SEO/SEM marketing. He leads PR Website Agency and lives in Puerto Rico with his dog, Luno.

Mark Derho is a seasoned expert in the Internet industry with over 25 years of experience in NYC's software development, digital marketing, and advertising sectors. A certified Google Partner, Mark specializes in content creation, AI chatbot development, open-source software, modern website design, and SEO/SEM marketing. He leads PR Website Agency and lives in Puerto Rico with his dog, Luno.