“¡Soy de aquí como el coquí!”

Puerto Rico

Introduction• Welcome to Puerto Rico!

• Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Ocean. It is the smallest of the Greater Antilles Islands, which include Cuba (the largest), Haiti and the Dominican Republic (sharing an island), and Jamaica. Puerto Rico is only 100 miles long by 35 miles wide. It is 1000 miles from Miami.

• Puerto Rico has 78 municipalities.

•

National Bird: Stripe-headed tanager

National Flower: Puerto Rican hibiscus

Map

"Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission"

Click on the coquiFor an interactive map of Puerto Rico.

Flag

The Puerto Rican flag consists of 5 alternate red and white stripes. On the left of the flag is a single white five-pointed star resting in a blue triangle. The symbolism is explained thus. The white star stands for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico while the three sides of the equilateral triangle together represent the three branches of the Republican government (executive, legislative and judicial branches). The three red strips symbolize the blood that feeds those parts of the government. The two white stripes symbolizing the rights of man and the freedom of the individual, are a perpetual reminder of the need for vigilance of a democratic government is to be preserved.

Holidays• January 1• Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)• January 6 Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day)• January 14 Conmemoracióon del Natalicio de Eugenio María de Hostos (Eugenio María de

Hostos Birthday)• (second Monday in January)• January 21 Conmemoración del Natalicio de Martin Luther King, Jr. (Martin Luther King

Birthday)• (third Monday in January)• February 14 Día de San Valentín (Valentine's Day)• February 18 Día de los Presidentes (Presidents' Day)• (third Monday in February)• March 21 Viernes Santo (Good Friday)• March 22 Día de la Abolición de la Esclavitud (Emancipation Day)• March 23 Domingo de la Resurrección (Easter)• April 21 Conmemoración del Natalicio de José de Diego (José de Diego Birthday)• (third Monday in April)• May 11 Día de las Madres (Mother's Day)• (second Sunday in May)• May 26 Memorial Day• (last Monday in May)• June 16 Día de los Padres (Father's Day)• (third Sunday in June)• July 4 Día de la Independencia de Estados Unidos (Independence Day)• July 21 Conmemoración del Natalicio de Luis Muñoz Rivera (Luis Muñoz Rivera's

Birthday)• (third Monday in July)• July 25 Conmemoración del Estado Libre Asociado (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)• July 27 Conmemoración del Natalicio de José Celso Barbosa (José Celso Barbosa

Birthday)• September 1 Día del Trabajo (Labor Day)• (first Monday in September)• October 13 Descubrimiento de América (Columbus Day)• November 11 Día del Veterano (Veteran's Day)• November 19 Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico (Discovery of Puerto Rico Day)• November 27 Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving Day)• (fourth Thursday in November)• December 25 Navidad (Christmas Day)

Traditional Literature

Juan Bobo is Puerto Rico's most popular folk character. Poor Juan is a "bobo" - a young boy who is a terrific airhead. Most of the stories center on Juan and his Mother. Juan tries to accomplish different tasks but he is not mentally capable of following through. The character of Juan Bobo is a heritage from our Spaniard roots. Juan Bobo stories are endless. Most families have their favorite tales. Occasionally new Juan Bobo tales pop up here and there.

Music The folk music of Puerto Rico can be divided into three groups:Spanish, Native American, and African. The Spanish Conquistadors and colonists brought their guitars and dances. The African brought their drums and rhythms. From the Native American areyto, only the rhythm of the guiro and maracas have survived. There are many dances native to Puerto Rico: the Plena, the Bomba, and the Guateque, but the most popular is the Salsa.

Click here to hear Salsa

Art

Animals• The Puerto Rican coquí is a

very tiny and small tree frog only about one inch long. Some coquíes look green, some brown and some yellowish - actually they are translucent. Coquíes have a high pitched sound and can be heard from far away.

• The coquíes begin to sing when the sun goes down at dusk. Their melody serenades islanders to sleep. Coquíes sing all night long until dawn when they stop singing and head back to the nest.

• Puerto Ricans love their coquíes and have written poems, stories, and Aguinaldos about them.