Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. The official holidays of Puerto Rico, as defined in Article 387 of the Political Code, include New Years’ Day on January 1, Independence Day on July 4, and Veteran’s Day on November 11, just as in all the states of the Union. Other official U.S. national holidays are also on the calendar. But just as Arkansas observes Daisy Gatson Bates Day and Alaska celebrates Seward’s Day, Puerto Rico also has its own special holidays. Puerto Rican holidays are observed in Puerto Rico and often in Puerto Rican communities in the states, as well.
Three Kings Day
Día de Reyes, or Three Kings Day, is on January 6. Christians around the world celebrate this day as the Feast of the Epiphany, the day according to tradition when the three wise men visited the infant Jesus. This is an official holiday in Puerto Rico, wrapping up the Christmas season. It is celebrated with special foods, parades, community festivities, and gifts for children.
Citizenship Day
Citizenship Day, March 3, commemorates the day in 1917 when Puerto Ricans gained U.S. citizenship.
Emancipation Day
March 22 is the anniversary of the end of slavery in Puerto Rico. While the United States abolished slavery in 1865 with the Thirteenth Amendment, Puerto Rico was still under Spanish colonial rule at the time. It wasn’t until 1873 that slavery was officially abolished in Puerto Rico by the Spanish government.
Constitution Day
Constitution Day, July 25, commemorates the signing of the Puerto Rican Constitution into law by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín in 1952. Territories can write their own constitutions, but they must be approved by Congress. Congress required some changes in Puerto Rico’s constitution, as they have in many other cases. Having an approved constitution is one of the required steps toward statehood.
José Celso Barbosa Day
José Celso Barbosa was a prominent Puerto Rican physician, sociologist, and political leader. He is most famously known as the father of the statehood movement in Puerto Rico. His birthday on July 27 is celebrated as an official holiday on the Island.
Friendship Day
In Puerto Rico, Día de la Raza is celebrated as Friendship Day on October 14. While the origin of the holiday commemorates the encounter between European and indigenous American cultures, the focus in Puerto Rico has shifted to celebrating the diverse heritage and unity of its people.
Día de la Puertorriqueñidad and the Discovery of Puerto Rico
November 19 is the anniversary of Christopher Columbus‘s arrival in Puerto Rico in 1493, a pivotal event in the island’s history. It is celebrated as a festival of Puerto Rican culture. Día de la Puertorriqueñidad promotes appreciation for the island’s diverse cultural heritage, emphasizing its blend of indigenous, Spanish, African, and American influences.
Were you expecting to see Puerto Rico Day? The second Sunday in June is the traditional day for the Puerto Rico Day parade in New York City, but this is not among Puerto Rican holidays. It is a joyful celebration of Puerto Rican culture for the diaspora, but is not celebrated on the Island.
