Christmas in Puerto Rico is a big deal, much bigger than people who were not born here imagine. Navidad (Christmas) is when we experience the best of Puerto Rican culture. Nowhere else is Christmas celebrated like in my little island. Navidad is the time of tradition, family, aguinaldos and villancicos (Christmas songs) and parrandas (louder and funer version of Chirstmas caroling), when friends gather late in the evening (after 10pm) and visit different houses to “surprise” and wake them up with the loud music and singing of the ‘parranderos’ (those taking part in the ‘parranda’). Traditionally these are supposed to be a surprise but most people have ‘arranged’ that they will be visited; because the custom is that when you’ve been ‘woken up’ you have to join in the parranda so it grows during the evening as more people join in! The fun can last all night, finishing at dawn!
Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico begin very early in December and do not stop on December 25th. The celebrations can continue into the middle of January if you consider the ”octavitas”. The big Christmas celebrations are; December 24 – Nochebuena; December 25 – Navidad; December 31 – Despedida de Año; and the biggest and most important of all for the children, of course, el Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) on January 6th.
Throughout all of these celebrations there is one thing in common besides the spirit of celebration and that is FOOD. The main Christmas meal is normally ‘lechón asado’ (roast pork often cooked on a spit) served with ‘arroz con gandules’ (rice with pigeon peas), ‘plátanos’ (plantains) and ‘pasteles’ (a dough made from mashed green bananas or yuca filled with meat and wrapped/cooked in banana leaves). Cooking the roast pig can take all day and starts early in the morning so if there’s no time for that a “pernil” (pork shoulder bone in) will be roasted in the oven instead and is still just as delicious. For desserts there’s all sorts of yummy dishes such as ‘arroz con dulce’ (type of rice pudding) and ‘tembleque’ (type of set custard made with coconut milk) and also our coquito (like eggnog but better) flow freely during our celebrations. Friends and family start arriving in the late afternoon or early evening bringing drinks and more food and appetizers (most of the time fried goods) to eat before the lechon is ready so you’re drinking and eating pretty much all the time.
So HOW am I going to make it for two weeks here without falling off my healthy eating bandwagon? If I’m honest, I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist, especially as I sit here writing this full after breakfast at my parent’s house ( a delicious ham, cheese and egg sandwich on Puerto Rican bread) and drinking a big cup of coffee. I’m thinking I’ll be in big trouble over the next couple of weeks, but then I think about all the progress I’ve made over the past month and think that I may be able to resist all of the temptations after all, or at least show some moderation. I’ve been so proud of myself lately and feeling more energetic that it would be devastating if I let all my hard work go to waste just because I couldn’t show some self control. I’m sure I will still eat and partake in the celebrations, maybe drink a bit too much with my brothers and uncles but as long as I don’t take it too far I’ll be OK. As I learn when I went to my office Christmas party, I can show some restraint when it comes to food. I will stay away from the beer (although I did have a Medalla last night) but I will still have some rum and diet coke and maybe a few coquito shots along the way. The most important thing is to enjoy the time with my family be thankful that we’re all together and are able to celebrate, even after everything that’s happened this year.
Update to follow to see if I was indeed able to show some measure and restraint during these upcoming days.
Best wishes for a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year to all. May peace, love and prosperity follow you always.