CHASING A PUERTO RICAN CHRISTMAS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Christmas is a season when Puerto Rican children have the best of two worlds. Like children in the States, they have Christmas trees and gifts brought on Christmas Eve by Santa Claus. But they also keep the old Spanish Christmas customs. One of these is gift-giving on Three Kings’ Day, which is January 6.
On the night before Three Kings’ Day, children in Puerto Rico put little boxes filled with grass under their beds. The grass is for the camels of the Kings. Legend says that after the camels have eaten the grass, the Three Kings, or the Three Wise Men, as North Americans know them, will leave gifts. Thus it is that Puerto Rican children have the fun and excitement of opening gifts both on December 25 and January 6.
Another Spanish Christmas custom observed in Puerto Rico is the display in the homes of little manger or nativity scenes. The Nativity groups include Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, the Wise Men, the Shepherds, and the animals.
Carol-singing is a Christmas custom in Puerto Rico. Groups of people go from house to house, singing old Spanish carols. Musicians, playing guitars and other instruments, go with the singers. In the old days, the singers and musicians were invited into the homes and offered special Christmas food. This custom is still followed in some places, but today people often give them money instead of food.
In Spanish colonial days, children dressed in costumes and went carol-singing. In San Juan they marched first to San Jose Church, a very old place of worship, each child carrying a basket of fruit or candy. From the church the children went to the Bishop’s Palace and the Governor’s Palace, singing carols and being treated to refreshments at each place.
During the years of American rule, the people were less careful about keeping the Spanish customs. Since the Commonwealth was established, Puerto Rican leaders have been concerned with reviving some of the old customs.
PURPOSE—
This lesson is designed to be bilingual in that it will give American students an awareness of the cultural differences between an American and a Puerto Rican Christmas celebration.
MATERIALS
1.
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A photocopied copy of the article “
Chasing a Puerto Rican Christmas
” for each person in the classroom.
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2.
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A bilingual Puerto Rican guest speaker.
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PROCEDURE
1.
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Present the guest speaker/speakers to the class.
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2.
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Distribute the words of the article to everyone in the classroom.
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3.
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Allow the students to read the article to themselves.
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4.
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Have the speaker read the story again, orally with the class.
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5.
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Encourage the students to raise their hand if they have any questions about the article or his personal experiences in Puerto Rico.
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6.
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Allow time for discussion.
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7.
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Allow the speaker to ask the students about an American Christmas celebration.
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8.
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To measure what the students have learned, ask the students to write down their responses to the following questions:
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A.
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Why do Puerto Ricans fly back and forth between Puerto Rico and the mainland at Christmas time?
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B.
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How long does their Christmas celebration last?
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C.
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What cultural differences are there between an American and a Puerto Rican Christmas?
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D.
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Why do you think the author describes an American Christmas as a spectator sport?
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E.
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Which type of celebration is most appealing to you?
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F.
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Would you feel strange celebrating an American Christmas in Puerto Rico—Why or Why not?
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