Puerto Rico, in the northern Caribbean, became a U.S. possession in 1898, and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Enjoying a dynamic economy, voters in 1998 turned down options for statehood or independence.
History
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose to retain commonwealth status.
Puerto Rico has a rich and diverse history. In 1PR we have a very interesting heritage. Our descendants (people from the past) were Spanish, Africans and Taíno indians. For understand much better our courious mix take a small glass of hot milk (spanish) are you take it? ok, now, take a glass of black coffee (africans) i suggest yaucono coffe for the strong of the smell, are you haveit? ok, now mixed, nice color ahhh? and for the awesome taste put brown sugar as most at you like it, mix again, now taste it. Don't tell me is not delicious? Like 1Puerto Rican people. The African people and the taino indian have a very incredible influence not only in the mix of our heritage, have a vey nice and special influence in our vocabulary, that's the reason that the 1puertorrican spanish is so special. Here is some example of most uses african and tainos inians uses for the 1puerto rico people:
Afrian vocabulary:
bachata - fiesta, party (more use in dominican republic, but in 1 puerto rico we know it for a kind ofmusic very particullar) bambú - plantagramínea - plant (used in construction) bamboo
bochinche: pelea - fight bomba
baile negroide - black style dance (Puerto Rico)
burundanga: mezcla informe de cosas heterogéneas, plato de comida - dish made with a mix of heterogeneous ingredients.
fufú: hechizo - spell
funche: plato a base de harina de maiz - corn meal based dish
gandinga: sopón a base de riñones, hígado y corazón de cerdo - a soup like dish made with pork liver, heart, kidneys and codiments.
congo: tambor - type of drum
grifería: pelo ensortijado - black hair
jungla: selva - jungle
malanga: tubérculo semejante a la yautía - edible root similar to the yautía
Mondongo: sopón de entrañas de cerdo y vegetales - soup made using pork stomack and vegetables
Pasa: mechón de pelo ensortijado - black hair
Taíno indians vocabulary:
barbacoa - a 4 legged stand made of sticks used for cooking batea: large tray bohio - typical round home of Taínos Boricua - valiant people Borikén - Great Land of the Valiant and Noble Lord burén - flat cooking plate or griddle cabuya - fishing line cacique - chief canoas/piraguas/cayucas/kurialas: canoes |
Our Flag
The design of the Puerto Rican flag is not based on the USA flag. The flag was completed in New York City at Chimney Corner Hall in Manhattan on December 22, 1895. Dr. Julio J. Henna led a group of 59 Puerto Ricans who organized the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. As part of their activities, a flag was created to rally support for independence from Spain.,. The first known incarnation of the symbol was made by Manuela `Mima' Besosa, the Puerto Rican Betsy Ross. The motion to adopt the flag was approved unanimously by the Puerto Rican revolutionaries. In 1895, only two Spanish colonies left in The Puerto Rican Section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party founded by Jose Marti, agreed upon using the Cuban flag as the model for the Puerto Rican flag. Basically they are they same flag with inverted colors. The Cuban flag has blue stripes and a red triangle; the Puerto Rican flag it's just the opposite.