Christmas Puerto Rican traditions. Missing them in the US

[rioshelm]

I am in Wichita KS. and A new friend of mine just told me about his familyl back in PR getting to go our and party from house to house, now that is not fair i think we have the only two houses here in wichita, that cant be any fun, any one else missing our traditions due to lack of PR in the area? If you are in the area, drop me a line so we can get this party movin' Tonja

[mgalloza]

rioshelm, bendito, I don't live in KS, but I understand completely how you feel. I've lived in the NYC all my life. You would think that with such a heavy population of Latinos. Especially Puertoricans, that every block would have a party going on or some parandas. No, not like Puerto Rico. But, the cool thing, the fact that alot of us live in the projects, some families have their own parandas in their house. Atleast some of the tradition has not been lost. My family looked at me like I was crazy, because I decided to travel to Brooklyn to check out a paranda. What! It was so beautiful, I loved it. The men just serenaded me, they were all drinking and singing. We ate arroz con gondules y pasteles...not to make you hungry or anything. Just letting you know it was fun! The songs were even better! I'm telling I felt so proud to be Boriqua, and just part of a rich culture. The cool thing was that it was a Nicaraguan family who invited me. Ever since I met my friend from Nicaragua, it's funny I've met more of my people...I don't care if someone comes from another spanish speaking country...we are all related in some way, you know? She has taught me so much. I love that, when someone knows and is proud of where they came from.
But trust me if I was down there, me and you would start something up. Hey, do it...maybe you can get others involved. I've learned that you don't have to be puertorican to be able to enjoy the music, the food, the dancing, and just good company.

Bueno Feliz Navidad y que tenga una prospero ano!

[santana]

mija, i live in kansas city ,mo and i live and work around a lot of puertoriquenos, but we don't even know each other. they are a bunch of comemieldas and i can't believe it they think that they are better than everyone cuz they just made it of the boat!!!
so i think that if you really want to see some parandas y tomar coqito y comer pastelles y aroz con gandulles tienes que volver a borinquen!!!!good luck
PS. I LIVE ABOUT 30 MINS FROM YOU !!!
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For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but power and of love and of a sound mind.

[This message has been edited by santana (edited 25 December 1999).]

[rioshelm]

You guys are so nice. thanks for letting me know that there are others out there that are fun loving and proud but not out to change the world to fit there needs. All my amigos y amigas are non-puertoricans. but i love them all the more. but i would really love to get with some of my people to learn more about where my roots are and celebrate the things that make me who i am. My Home E_mail address is Helm@feist.com look me up there so we can talk with out getting in here, I check my mail at home more then at this site, but i do check every now and then. Especially Santana, please E-me we live so close lets not let this go with out meeting, i go to the KC area alot to see my husbands family. Chow. Tonja

[pito99]

Hey I definitely feel your pain!!! No parrandas here in Miami either!! It seems that no boricuas want to party like in Puerto Rico...hey Santana, are you Puertorican? 'Cuz if you are no lo aparentas!! Why don't you make the first step and attempt to make friendships with them. If there's one thing I've learned from the Cubans living in Miami (most of them are the true comemierdas) is to stick together. When a fellow Cuban "steps off the boat" as you say (which by the way, we don't), the other Cubans embrace him, bring him into their homes, and help him establish a good living. That's the problem with us; we do not establish unity amongst ourselves. That's the only way we can prosper!!

[santana]

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING; I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BAYAMON,PR. I CAME HERE IN 1989... THERE WERE MAYBE 5 PUERTORICAN FAMILIES. NOW THERE ARE OVER 3,000 PUERTORICAN PEOPLE LIVING IN MO. AND LET ME ASURE YOU THAT THEY ARE A BUNCH OF COMEMIELDAS. MY MOTHER WAS A HOST FAMILY FOR PEOPLE THAT CAME FROM PR. BRAND NEW ..WITH NOTHING . SHE HELPED A LOT OF GENTE GET IT TOGETHER OUT HERE. AND DO YOU THINK ANY OF THEM EVER EVEN ASK ABOUT HER OR MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO SAY HELLO. HELL NO!!
SO DON'T YOU GIVE ME ADVISE ON WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW OK!!!!!. I WORK W/ ALOT OF BORICUAS AND THEY ALL THINK THEIR CACa DON'T STINK. SO SCREW U. PENDEJA!!!!!!

[pito99]

santana,
Jeez...calm the **** down...ok that you got mistreated and I apologize for that. It wasn't my business...but I guess since it's totally the opposite for me...no one in Miami is puertorican, I just have different opinions. And I'm very sorry that things went wrong for you...I was just trying to see if things could be better...and it's cool your mom did all that...that's totally awesome. We should have more people like that...but I still stand by the fact that we should unite and **** like that...even if you're not the one who's being the comemierda...again sorry for being so blunt like that but sometimes my words get the best of me