Puerto Rico: Facts & Stats

CULTURE

Traditions:

Puerto Ricans are known for their warm hospitality, often considered very friendly and expressive to strangers. Greetings are often cordial and genuine. When people are first introduced, a handshake is usual, however, close friends and family members always greet you hello or goodbye with a kiss on the cheek or a combination hug and kiss. This happens between female friends and between men and women, but not between male friends.

Puerto Ricans are best known by speaking using lively hand and facial gestures, as hand and body language are important forms of communication.

Celebrations:

One of the things people love about visiting Puerto Rico is the chance to see and/or participate in the many cultural festivals held throughout the year. The festivals held for the various patron saints tend to be the biggest and most interesting.

Each region or town has their own official patron saint, and the celebrations associated with these saints vary from town to town. These festivals are fascinating for many reasons, one of which relates to the various cultural influences that helped to make the celebrations what they are today. You will find an interesting mix of Indian, African and Spanish cultures in these festivals.

If you are in San Juan during the El Dia de San Juan Bautistata you will witness one of the most interesting festivals on the island. At the stroke of midnight you will find literally thousands of people lining the beaches who then walk backwards into the ocean. This ritual is done seven times and it is done to ensure good luck for the upcoming year.

You will also enjoy visiting Puerto Rico during Danza week. This week of festivities is full of events that celebrate the rich culture and history of danza and danza music. Danza was originally a past time of the wealthy, but today all levels of society take part.

During the month of November the International Film Festival is hosted in Puerto Rico. More than 100 films are presented each year, and industry people and fans from around the world come to participate in the Film Festival.

The above are just a few of the many different celebrations and festivals held in Puerto Rico each year.

Alcohol:

Legal drinking age is 18. However, some pubs and other entertainment spots will not allow people under 21 (23 at one place). A valid ID card must be presented. Management usually reserves the right to determine what is a valid ID card. Free tourist guides available at most tourist stops generally list the current entertainment places and the age limitations at each. Alcohol consumption in the streets of Old San Juan has been forbidden by law.

Sports and Hobbies:

Baseball was one of the first sports to gain widespread popularity in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Baseball League serves as the only active professional league, operating during the winter. No Major League Baseball franchise or affiliate plays in Puerto Rico, however, San Juan hosted the Montreal Expos for several series in 2003 and 2004 before they moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals.

Boxing, basketball, and volleyball are considered popular sports as well. Puerto Rico has the third-most boxing world champions and its the global leader in champions per capita.The Puerto Rico Islanders Football Club, founded in 2003, plays in the United Soccer Leagues First Division, which constitutes the second tier of football in North America. The World Wrestling Council and International Wrestling Association are the largest wrestling promotions in the main island. The World's Best 10K, held annually in San Juan, has been ranked among the 20 most competitive races globally.

Puerto Rico has representation in all international competitions including the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Pan American Games, the Caribbean World Series, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Puerto Rican athletes have won 6 medals (1 silver, 5 bronze) in Olympic competition, the first one in 1948 by boxer Juan Evangelista Venegas. On March 2006 San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium hosted the opening round as well as the second round of the newly formed World Baseball Classic.

The 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Mayagüez in 2010.

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