Festival of St John

Festival of St. John The Baptist

Throughout Puerto Rico, you will find a number of festivals, most exciting and colorful. The capital city of San Juan is a smaller Caribbean island with around 500,000 people living there.

On the island is a seven-block area of some amazing architecture, which provides you a peak into the real culture of the country. The Puerto Ricans have worked diligently over the years to preserve this particular part of the city, spending millions of dollars in the past 10 years. Today, you can start your visit in this magnificent city there and then get prepared for experiencing life on the island.

One of the most popular festivals is the Festival of St. John the Baptist. You see, Puerto Rico is known around the world for the incredible celebrations, primarily those associated with patron saints, otherwise known as Fiestas Patronales. When visiting the island during any of these festivals is a time you will never forget – live music, food, drink, games, rides, and colorful, religious parades. Keep in mind that each town in Puerto Rico has a different patron saint so the activities will vary slightly from one town to the next.

The most interesting is that many cultures influence the festivals, which includes a wonderful blend of African, Indian, and Spanish. Probably the most exciting is called El Dia de San Juan Bautistata, or Festival of St. John the Baptist. For this festival, literally thousands of people will line the beaches at midnight, walking backwards into the water. This ritual is performed seven times to ensure good luck will be coming for the following year. Seeing and participating in this celebration is an amazing opportunity that you do not want to miss.

The great thing about going to the Festival of St. John the Baptist event is that it occurs during the summertime, typically in June, and is a wonderful blend of religious and secular cultures. Because of this, you do not have to be a religious person to enjoy. Throughout the Bible, John the Baptist would bring people to the water to baptize, or dunk them in the water, as a way of publicly announcing the person’s belief in Christianity and to show that all sin has been washed away.

In addition to the Festival of St. John the Baptist, you can enjoy the Puerto Rico Danza Week, which offers a number of cultural celebrations. During this event, you will enjoy the culture of danza along with danza music. Although this particular celebration was originally associated only with the wealth Spanish, today it is a celebration for everyone, rich or poor. Then in the month of November, Puerto Rico hosts yet another incredible festival, this one the International Film Festival. Each year, more than 100 films are presented, as actors, directors, the press, and diehard fans come from around the globe to experience. Finally, each July there is the Festival de la Bahia, a very popular musical event held in the heart of San Juan city.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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