Puerto Rican culture is somewhat complex, - others will call it colorful. Culture is a series of visual manifestations and interactions with the environment that make a region and/or a group of people different from the rest of the world. Puerto Rico, without a doubt has several unique characteristics that distinguish their culture from any other.
Lets consider that the people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and
racial mix. During the early 18-century, the Spaniard in order to
populate the country took Taino Indian women as brides. Later on as labor
was needed to maintain crops and build roads, African slaves were
imported, followed by the importation of Chinese immigrants, then continued with
the arrival of Italians, French, German, and even Lebanese people. American
expatriates came to the island after 1898. Long after Spain had lost control of
Puerto Rico, Spanish immigrants continued to arrive on the island. The most
significant new immigrant population arrived in the 1960s, when thousands of
Cubans fled from Fidel Castro's Communist state. The latest arrivals to Puerto
Rico have come from the economically depressed Dominican Republic. This
historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico
practically without racial problems (very close to but not completely).
What about Puerto Rican food, cuisine and eating habits, music, and family traditions? These among hundreds of hundreds of Puerto Rican customs and traditions are what define Puerto Rico. Get a hint of what Puerto Rican culture truly is:
- Architecture
- Arts and Crafts
- Famous Puerto Ricans
- Folklore
- Food and Drink
- Beyond Language
- Literature
- Music
- Holidays
- Sports and Recreation
Interesting Fact:
Puerto Ricans love their country, and at the same time accept the
free association with the United States, always emphasizing loyalty to
their own culture, folklore, hospitality and way of life.
Other Resources
Book your Trip!