PUERTO RICO

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico

ORIGIN OF NAME: Spanish for "rich port." NICKNAME: Island of Enchantment. CAPITAL: San Juan. BECAME A COMMONWEALTH: 25 July 1952. SONG: La Borinquena. MOTTO: Joannes est nomen ejus. (John is his name.) FLAG: From the hoist extends a blue triangle, with one white star; five horizontal stripes—three red, two white—make up the balance. OFFICIAL SEAL: In the center of a green circular shield, a lamb holding a white banner reclines on the book of the Apocalypse. Above are a yoke, a cluster of arrows, and the letters "F" and "I," signifying King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, rulers of Spain at the time of discovery; below is the commonwealth motto. Surrounding the shield, on a white border, are the towers of Castile and lions symbolizing Spain, crosses representing the conquest of Jerusalem, and Spanish banners. ANIMAL: Coqui. BIRD: Reinita. FLOWER: Maga. TREE: Ceiba. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Three Kings Day (Epiphany), 6 January; Birthday of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, 11 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Abolition Day, 22 March; Good Friday, March or April; Birthday of José de Diego, 16 April; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Birthday of Luis Muñoz Rivera, 17 July; Constitution Day, 25 July; Birthday of José Celso Barbosa, 27 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Anniversary of the "Grito de Lares," 23 September; Discovery of America, 12 October; Veterans Day, 11 November; Discovery of Puerto Rico Day, 19 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November, Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 8 AM Atlantic Standard Time = noon GMT.