Christmas Day in Puerto Rico
Christmas Day falls on December 25 and is a holiday for Puerto Rico government employees. The day sits within a longer Christmas season marked by family gatherings, music and traditions that continue beyond December 25.[1][2]
Public holiday and time off
Puerto Rico’s Act 26-2017 lists Día de Navidad, or Christmas Day, on December 25 among the holidays enjoyed by public employees. This provision covers employees of the Government of Puerto Rico; it does not establish a day off for every private-sector worker.[1]
Covered U.S. federal employees follow federal rules: for a standard Monday-to-Friday workweek, a Saturday holiday is observed on the preceding Friday and a Sunday holiday on the following Monday. Those federal rules apply to federal employees, not automatically to every Puerto Rico employer.[3]
Christmas observances
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus in Christian tradition. In Puerto Rico, some people attend Misa de Gallo, a midnight Mass, while many families gather on Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, for a meal, singing and time together. For many families, Christmas Eve is a larger gathering than Christmas Day itself.[2]
Parrandas, also called trullas, are a form of Christmas caroling in which friends and family visit a home late at night with guitars and percussion, waking the hosts to join in singing and dancing. A parranda traditionally begins with an aguinaldo, a song that pays homage to the host. These musical customs connect Christmas celebrations with Puerto Rican musical traditions.[4]
Food, the longer season and planning
Holiday meals may include lechón or pernil, pasteles, arroz con gandules and coquito. The season also includes Three Kings Day on January 6 and octavitas, a further period of celebration after that feast. The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in San Juan are a later seasonal event.[2]
Opening hours vary: local businesses, restaurants and attractions have limited hours or close on Christmas Day. Visitors should check directly with places they plan to visit and make reservations where needed.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Puerto Rico law lists December 25 as a holiday for public employees. The provision does not make Christmas Day a guaranteed day off for all private-sector workers.[1]
When is Christmas Day observed?
Christmas Day is December 25. Covered federal employees follow the applicable U.S. federal in-lieu rules.[3]
What Christmas traditions can visitors see?
Are shops and restaurants open on Christmas Day?
Hours vary. Some local businesses, restaurants and attractions have limited hours or close, so check with each place before travelling.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Christmas Day in Puerto Rico:
- “Ley de Cumplimiento con el Plan Fiscal” [Ley 26-2017, según enmendada]- Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto, Gobierno de Puerto Rico
- Holidays and Christmas Traditions in Puerto Rico- Discover Puerto Rico
- Federal Holidays - "In Lieu Of" Determination- U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- Música Jíbara: Aguinaldo and the Season of Celebrations (3rd–5th)- Smithsonian Folkways Recordings