El Día de San Juan on June 24 is a national holiday in Puerto Rico honoring the patron saint of the island, St. John the Baptist. As in most Spanish and Latin American towns the largest festivals are celebrated on the birthday of their patron saint. In fact some people take their vacations and go festival hopping across a country, going from town to town.

Originally the entire island was known as San Juan Bautista but was renamed Puerto Rico (Rich Port) the capitol city retains the name which was later shorten to San Juan.

Dia de San Juan celebrates the culture and customs of Puerto Rico with live performances of salsa, merengue, reggaeton and folkloric music and dance. If you are a Salsero this event is like entering heaven with the best music and dancers gathered in one place, at one time.

In Puerto Rico the celebration culminates at the stroke of midnight when you will find literally thousands of people lining the beaches who then walk backwards into the ocean. This ritual is done seven times and it is done to ensure good luck and the cleansing of the spirit for the coming year.

You can find a Dia de San Juan Festival pretty much anywhere in the US where Puerto Ricans live, but nothing compares to New York! There are about 80,000 parade participants who march down 5th Avenue. And that's just people who are in the parade! There are more than 2 million people who actually attend, making it one of the largest outdoor events in the United States.

There are numerous recipes for this drink dating back to the early part pf the nineteenth century. The common ingredients found in all variations are rum, sugar, and lemon or lime juice. Traditionally you should use three different variations of Rum - light to dark. I like this recipe just the way it is but if you want to scale it down just mix the rum, pineapple, orange and lime juices in a collins glass and add a cherry.

Planter's Punch Recipe:
1 1/2 cup dark rum
1 1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 1/2 cup guava nectar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Angostura bitters
6 fresh pineapple rings
6 orange slices
6 cinnamon sticks
6 Maraschino cherries
In a one gallon pitcher, mix together rum, fruit juices, brown sugar and bitters. Pour into 6 tall glasses filled with ice. Garnish each drink with pineapple ring, orange slice, cinnamon stick and cherry.

The Island was originally called "Boriken" (Borínquen) by the Taíno Indians, the native people who inhabited the island of Puerto Rico at the time of the European colonization.

In 1493 Christopher Columbus, the explorer, claimed Puerto Rico for Spain.

In 1898 following the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines, was ceded to the USA.

In 1917 Puerto Rico became a territory of the US and Island residents are granted US citizenship but can not vote in US presidential elections.

In 1936 Bacardi y Compañia was established by the Bacardi family in Puerta de Tierra.

Puerto Rico is approximately one hundred miles long and thirty-five miles wide.

On August 14, 1948 gambling was legalized.

On July 4, 1950 Puerto Rico became an unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status.

July 25, 1952 the red, white and blue flag (which is the same as the Cuban flag with the colors reversed) was adopted. It must always be flown along side the American flag.

Residents of the island do not pay federal income tax.

Puerto Ricans do not require a work visa (green card) to live and/or work in the United States.

Puerto Rico is one of the most densely populated islands in the world with 3.9 million residents.

Many Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as "Boricua" stemming from the original name of the Island.

85% of Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic.

The official language is both Spanish and English.

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