Did you know? More fun facts on Puerto Rico!

[BoricuaFL2]

San Juan is the oldest city in US territory, founded in 1521 by Ponce de Leon. Making it the oldest under the American flag! Sorry Saint Augustine, Fl, which was founded in 1565!

Puerto Rico was first called by its native Tainos, Boriken; Land of the brave lord. When Columbus landed on its shores, he named it “Isla de San Juan Bautista” Island of Saint John the Baptist. The Spaniard called the island San Juan, and the city Puerto Rico for its harbor. After Ponce de Leon was named Governor, he moved his colony to present day Old San Juan and by 1531 the name of the island became Puerto Rico and the capital San Juan.

The words and items such as hurricane; huracan, hammock; hamaca, BBQ; barbacoa came from the Tainos. The clothing item known as the “slip” "inagua" was later used under a woman’s dress was also invented by the Taino woman. The Taino woman would wear it to indicate that she was married.

El pilón that is used by many Puerto Ricans to mash plantains for Monfongo was invented by the Tainos, but the original pilón was over 4 feet tall and used a large maceta which was bigger and heavier than a modern baseball bat! Tainos used it to mash their vegetables and annatto seeds to create their brown paint to ward off mosquitoes an old fashion repellant!

The oldest church still in use in the Americas is found in San Juan which was built in 1522, La Iglesia de San Jose.

The coconut palm tree was introduced to the island from the Pacific in 1542 by either Portuguese or Spanish traders.

In 1596 the British take over San Juan and brings Puerto Rico under British rule for 65 days. Can you imagine the Union Jack flying over the Morro?!

In 1634 construction begins on massive walls around San Juan to protect it, unique in the New World.

The Mona and Monito Islands are located between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. They are also called the Puerto Rican Galápagos Islands. No other island in U.S. jurisdiction has such ecological uniqueness and diversity in such a small area. The islands are recognized as a Natural Reserve, and are home to endangered marine turtles, sea birds and migratory marine mammals.

The coqui is a tiny frog found everywhere on the island and is an "unofficial national symbol". There was a legend that stated that this tiny frog would not sing if it left the island. The myth has been busted! The frog has spread to some of the Hawaiian islands when it was introduced by mistake in some plants in the last couple of years.

The small town of Cabo Rojo has more tailors then any other town in Puerto Rico. It has been known as “El Pueblo de Sastres” The town of Tailors.

The Coat of Arms which the Spanish Crown granted to the Island of Puerto Rico at the beginning of the XVI Century was first recognized by King Ferdinand by virtue of Royal Decree on November 8, 1511. The motto of the Island’s shield is: Latin “Johannes est nomen eius” "John is his name" “Juan es su nombre” Referring to the name Columbus gave the island in honor of Saint John the Baptist. It is the only one in Latin America still in official use since the conquest.

The island's symbols:

Island Bird: Stripe-headed tanager ("reina mora")

Island Flower: Puerto Rican hibiscus ("flor de maga")

Island Tree: Silk-cotton tree ("ceiba")

In 1503, the Spanish governor Nicolas de Ovando opposes the importation of slaves to no avail.

In 1508, the first school is established in Caparra Village, the first settlement established by Juan Ponce de Leon.

“Juan Garrido” is the first free African and Conquistador identified in Puerto Rico who arrived with Ponce de Leon’s expedition. He later participates in the colonization of Florida and the conquest of Mexico when he is part of Cortez’s expedition.

José Campeche, (1752-1809) was born in San Juan on January 6th 1752 to an African freed slave and a Canary Islander. Campeche became Puerto Rico's first and one of its most prominent "painters." He never left the island and had no formal schooling in his chosen profession. Campeche produced around 400 pieces of art and became known as "the most gifted of Latin American rococo artist." Much of his art reflected his religious devotion but he was also known for his talents as a portrait artist. Today his art is found over all Latino America and in Europe.

Many words that are used by many Puerto Ricans come from its black heritage:
ñáñigo: occult character
anana: pineapple
bachata: party
bámbula: black dance
bambú: plant (used in construction) bamboo
bochinche: Gossip or fight
bomba: Puerto Rican black style dance burundanga: dish made with a mix of heterogeneous ingredients.
cafolé: cafe con leche - coffee with milk ( a slang word)
fufú: spell
funche: corn meal based dish
gandinga: a soup like dish made with pork liver, heart, kidneys and condiments.
congo: type of drum
jungla: jungle
malanga: edible root similar to the yautía
Mondongo: soup made using pork stomach and vegetables

The Bomba Puertorriqueña, the Puerto Rican dance called Bomba was created by black Puerto Rican slaves in Loíza, Puerto Rico. It is uniquely Puerto Rican. The town boosts the largest population of African descendants. It developed from ritual dance slave celebrations in the 17th century when Puerto Rico was still a Spanish colony. The name was inspired by a fairly large wooden drum or barrel covered with goatskin called the "bomba." The Bomba dance was only permitted by slave owners on Sunday because they feared it might inspire rebellion. The female dancers would use their skirt and dress movements to mimic and poke fun at the slave owners.

La Plena Puertorriqueña is also a Puerto Rican dance and music style developed in the Southern city of Ponce and it is approximately 100 years ago. La Plena is also known as "el periodico catao" “The newspaper sang by its performer” because the songs are about current issues. Plena musicians often poke fun at mundane everyday occurrences or the antics of politicians.
The Plena rhythm has strong African roots but it was also influenced by other music genres such as Taíno, jíbaro, danzas, and European styles.
Plena instruments include a large tambourine like instrument called pandero. A pandero is a very short drum that looks like a tambourine without jingles, and bigger in diameter than a tambourine. The pandero was introduced in Spain by the Moors.

Hawaii and Puerto Rico are the only places in the United States or its territories that coffee if grown, processed, and sold for local and international consumption.

The sentry box that were built into fortresses like El Morro and San Critobal, guarding the entrance to San Juan Harbor has been called “La Garita del Dablio” “The Sentry box of the Devil” because some Spanish soldiers that were posted at night would disappear, never to be found again, fueling the superstition of them being whisked away by evil powers. However, the truth was that many would abandon their post to run off with local girls into the interior of the island!

The Puerto Rican flag is over 100 years old! It was created in solidarity with the Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence of Cuba. Its colors were inverted from the Cuban flag.
This is the symbolism established in 1895:
Red Stripes - The blood from the brave warriors.
White Stripes - Victory and peace after obtaining independence.
Blue Triangle - Our sky and coastal waters.
White Lone Star - Our beautiful Island.
With the establishment of the Commonwealth 1952, the flag was established as the official flag of the island. With the new status, the red stripes represented the blood of the people feeding the three branches of government; legislative, judicial, and executive which are the three points of the triangle canton.
White Stripes - represents individual liberties and the rights that keep in perfect balance the Puerto Rican government. The blue triangle – represents the "Republican form of government.” Lastly, the white lone star - represents the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Puerto Rico. The dark blue triangle canton that was used in 1952 is not the original color. The original color is the light sky-blue that the Cuban flag has. Many flags that are being flown in Puerto Rico are being made with the colors of the original flag.

The first Puerto Rican Governor was Jesus T. Piñero, who was appointed by the President. Luis Muñoz Marin was the first elected Governor.

In 1813 the Puerto Rico lottery was established.

In 1876, Spain proclaims El Yunque a forest reserve, making it one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. In 1903, the U.S. Government designates it Luquillo Forest reserve, the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. national forest system.

The first Puerto Rican to graduate from West Point, Luis Esteves who later became a Major General founded the Puerto Rico Army National Guard in 1919. Later, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard was established in November, 1947, with the establishment of the Department of the Air Force. The PR Air Guard was the first to fly jet powered aircrafts over Puerto Rican skies in the 1950s. Before that, airlines were flying propeller aircrafts to the island.

On December 2, 1922, WKAQ radio was inaugurated in San Juan. 1954 saw the first experimental transmission of television in the island.

The famous Puerto Rican Pirate, Cofresi was named Roberto Cofresi de Arellano. However, his real surname was Kupferschein, which was changed due to the Spaniards having a hard time pronouncing it. Hence, there are two ways that you will see the name Cofresi, with the C and K.

Starting from nothing in 1976, Puerto Rico now produces more than 3,000 tons of passion fruit (Parcha) a year.

The information can be collaborated by checking the net. Enjoy!

[Corvo]

“Juan Garrido” is the first free African and Conquistador identified in Puerto Rico who arrived with Ponce de Leon’s expedition. He later participates in the colonization of Florida and the conquest of Mexico when he is part of Cortez’s expedition.

I've read that there were non-slave blacks on colombus ships. from what I've read there were non-slave blacks in P.R. before 1521.

[Kephrem]

Please Educate Boriquens Children Everyday

[La_Bambina]

Originally Posted by Corvo

“Juan Garrido” is the first free African and Conquistador identified in Puerto Rico who arrived with Ponce de Leon’s expedition.

So this is the man that ruined the puerto rican ethnicity. God knows how many beautiful taino women this guy got pregnant. What a disgrace.