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Why do people in Puerto Rico celebrate Thanksgiving but not the other traditional U.S. holidays like 4th of July, St. Patrick's Day or April Fool's Day?
The 4th of July in PR carries a political connotation. You'll see the pro-statehood sector of the population bring out their US flags and celebrate it, while it is mainly ignored by the pro-Commonwealth and pro-independence population. July 25th is another can of worms: the pro-commonwealth people celebrate it as the day in 1952 that the PR constitution was ratified. The pro-statehood people celebrate it as the day in 1898 that the US entered PR. The pro-independence people protest the 'invasion' of PR by the US.
St. Patrick's day is largely ignored. The PR version of April Fool's Day happens on December 28 and is called "El dÃa de los inocentes" or the day of the innocents.
Thanks - that makes sense re: 4th of July and April Fool's Day. I can even understand that St. Patrick's Day has more appeal in the U.S. where it is not infrequent to have Irish blood but I still find it interesting that the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated. I guess maybe it is because it is hard to object to a holiday for the purpose of showing gratitude (unless you are a turkey)!
I only witnessed one here but Thanksgiving seems like it's not observed with as much intensity. For example my university only gave us Thursday and Friday off when most in the States give a week. People celebrate it here but I don't think it typically comes with all the fanfare in the States like, "Okay we took off work all week now we are going to drive to grandmother's house and spend 4 days there for Thanksgiving". It seems more like a dinner/casual get together and then it ends. I also never saw Thanksgiving decorations like turkeys or pumpkins or pilgrims in stores or other places like one would often see in the states.
People here recognize April Fools. Shoot, my neighbor told me on Friday that Inter-American was going to have a budget strike like UPR and I almost had a heart attack!
I only witnessed one here but Thanksgiving seems like it's not observed with as much intensity. For example my university only gave us Thursday and Friday off when most in the States give a week. People celebrate it here but I don't think it typically comes with all the fanfare in the States like, "Okay we took off work all week now we are going to drive to grandmother's house and spend 4 days there for Thanksgiving". It seems more like a dinner/casual get together and then it ends. I also never saw Thanksgiving decorations like turkeys or pumpkins or pilgrims in stores or other places like one would often see in the states.
People here recognize April Fools. Shoot, my neighbor told me on Friday that Inter-American was going to have a budget strike like UPR and I almost had a heart attack!
In what state do people take the whole week off? I've lived on FL, NJ, and PA, and all I've seen is people getting Thursday off, and SOMETIMES Friday. On places where people have to work on Friday, they sometimes take it off too, but charge it as a personal vacation day, rather than a paid holiday.
Hmm... we always had a week off school, whereas here they only give Thursday and Friday. Work would be more reflective of the working conditions/boss rather than the locale. I just found Thanksgiving observed more alla fuera than here.
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