The Epiphany (Jan 6, the day the three kings supposedly came to baby Jesus) is celebrated like this in Wisconsin: kids go to school, people go to work, and if you’re a strict Catholic you might attend service in the evening.  My parents never made me go, unless it fell on a Sunday anyway. No big deal.

Puerto Rico? It’s a national holiday. On January 5th my hubby went to the bank at 2pm and…closed at noon! Toys R Us was PACKED!  Oh.  Fireworks were shot around our neighborhood that night. 

Speaking of night…apparently the Puerto Rico kids put out grass for the three king’s camels, and even treats for the Kings themselves! Because I guess you tell the kids that the Kings come to your house with gifts the night of the 5th.  In fact, my neighbor grew up in he country and said Santa never came to her house, she didn’t get gifts until the three kings brought some on January 6th. I guess Santa was more of a city thing. Now maybe all those men go to everyone’s house? I’m not sure how they explain to the kids how the Magi’s magically get to everyone’s house. I have a hard enough time warding off detailed questions about Santa. I can’t imagine weaseling my way of explaining a whole other story!

It’s 5:30am on the 6th and we have all our doors and windows open because the weather is mah-valous dahling and what happens? Some ASSHOLE starts blaring music outside our neighborhood. Sounds like one of those trucks with the mega speakers driving back and forth. Ugh! What a jerk! I am incredibly irritated and start sending hate vibes to that person and wonder if anyone is going to call the cops.  The music persisted until around 6:30am. 

And no, no one called the cops. It was a parade put on by the MAYOR! Apparently I missed this last year. A parade. Pre dawn. Three dudes dressed up as the Kings sit in a truck that goes around waking up the kids in the city to come outside and find their gifts. (There’s a Jehova Witness church right outside our neighborhood. I bet they love this very intruding tradition). I’ve heard that this is a very exciting tradition that the kids adore. The three kings came to Jesus in the wee hours of the morning ( I can hear Mary thinking, “really??”) I guess there is a certain pre-dawn energy but whew! How many ornery kids will run around the next day? My friend in Cabo Rojo said they had 4am public celebrations. Like you had to get up and physically go somewhere at 4am people.  Haha. Never would fly in Wisconsin. We hunker down those long cold winter nights. (But I shouldn’t judge. I woke up at 5am last July 4th to snag good parade seats).   

 My neighbors gave our kiddos some gifts (I didn’t). And mi hija y yo attended a party at a friends house. I had to detour around some big Three Kings street parties where I heard they give out freebies to kids. That’s cool.      
 

It’s 9:37pm as I write this and there are kids running around the streets and I can hear a neighbor’s party music. Sounds like a live band. 

We probably broke some sort of code since we took down our Christmas tree already, but it’s our tradition to do so on January 1st. 

I do love learning about other countries’ traditions!

English below..

Voy a practicar mi español ahora porque está blog hoy es para mis amigas y amigos en Puerto Rico quien no ven nieve antes. A conducir carros en nieve puede dar miedo. Hay un poco reglas que pueden ayudarte. 

Siempre hay idiotas que conducen demasiado rápido. Usualmente ellos conducen en el ‘ditch’ (zanja?). Nieve es muy resbaloso. 

Today’s post is for my Puerto Rican friend who have never driven in snow. Driving in snow can be scary. There are a few rules to follow. 

There are always morons who drive too fast and end up in the ditch. Snow is slippery. 

 

             

Ahora estas listos a conducir en nieve. Y también, oro a Díos. Jaja

So, the Christmas season in Puerto Rico is longer than any I’ve experienced. Some building decorate even before Thanksgiving, and of course start selling Christmas items in October (ahem Walmart) but by and large the season begins right after Accion de Gracias. (Thanksgiving)

The mall decorates with very religious scenes. There was no live Santa there this year…but there were several nativity scenes.  

 Plazas really light up! And cities put up lit scenes by the streets.  

   
Growing up in Wisconsin, the tales of snow and sleighs fit in perfectly with our winters. I asked my friend what they told Puerto Rican kids. Hardly any houses have chimneys. Santa has a magical key he uses to come in the front door!

The Three Kings are super huge here. My neighbor told me on January 6th kids put a shoebox full of grass under their beds for the camels, and the three kings being the kids gifts. This strikes me as a little odd, but I bet the kids love more gifts.  Here’s more about it: http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/eventsandholidays/ht/Christmas.htm

Also, if you want to know how to hang lights on a palm tree without stabbing it with a nail, see my solution:  

 

 

  
    
    
    
 

Tonight I attended my first Diwali party! The invitation said we could dress in Indian attire if we wished. So naturally I bought the first product listed when I searched for ‘Indian shirt’ on Amazon.com. I was ready!

There are zero Indian restaurants on the west side of this island. I was so ecstatic to eat delicious, homemade Indian food I had four servings. I make no apologies. 

  
We lit candles to Lakshmi and asked for her to take away something in our life that wasn’t aiding us any longer and bring us something we did want. Then our host put a red dot with rice on our forehead. 

As with all parties we attend we found fascinating people to chat with. About everything from dinosaurs, to coast guard rescue diving, to safari’s. 

  
Fun fun!

Trevor and I have been going on a lot of movie dates this fall. 

There are two theatres in town. Both are freezing! Wear pants. Maybe even a hoodie. And wear your giant wedge shoes too.  

 Learn to read Spanish really fast! All the movies are subtitled. 

There’s at least 30 minutes of commercials and previews before the show actually starts. I personally love previews so I don’t mind.  

 

 
Tickets are cheap! Two adults for an evening show =$13.50!! Popcorn is cheap too. And the bathrooms actually have toilet paper, so that’s good. 

Oh, and lastly, in EVERY show we’ve seen there’s been a baby or toddler in the crowd. Seriously. I’m waiting for Spectre to start and there’s a one year old in the last row. Who brings a toddler to James Bond??? There was one in Mockingjay pt 2 as well. Jeez!

   

If you take your garbage to the garbage bins at the exit when the movie is done you will be in the minority. And we are always the last ones to leave. Hey, I like reading the credits!