Puerto Rican Culture Primarily European
Jul 7, 2020 9:08:13 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jul 7, 2020 9:08:13 GMT -5
European Influence the Strongest
Some might wonder why I took time to post this article. Well, this article is in response to the constant claim that Puerto Rico is a black African republic and that its island culture is predominantly South Saharan African. It is definitely not intended to insultingly ignore nor disparage other historically significant island influences such as the Taino and African. It is only meant to set the historical record strait by presenting historical facts in the service of truth.
Europen Influence the Strongest
The most profound European influence is that of Spain, the island's colonizer. Spanish influence is the most notable of all cultural influences in Puerto Rican culture. Spanish heritage has left an indelible mark on the island, and signs of this cultural exchange can be found everywhere, from the official language to the local culinary styles.
The culture of European countries has also influenced the development of the performing arts on the island, especially in music. Many of the island's musical genres have their origins in the Spanish culture, which is responsible for such genres of music as decima, seis, danza, mambo, etc.
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Religion:
The Catholic Church in Latin America began with the Spanish colonization of the Americas and continues up to the present day. In comparison to Europe and other Western nations, the Catholic Church still has a major influence in Latin American society
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Colonial Architecture
European influence became prominent as Spain’s colonial power strengthened in the island. The island climate as well as military strategy were both taken heavily into account when building structures. In order to keep buildings safe, they were built within the confines of strong stone outer walls, and in order to fit all these buildings of various religious, military, and administrative functions, colonial buildings tended to be narrowly built. Courtyards within the structures were utilized for ventilation and lighting purposes. Colonial architecture in Puerto Rico takes substantial inspiration from the architecture of Andalusia, Spain, as many Spanish settlers on the island came from that region.
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Fort San Cristóbal
A notable feature of historic Old San Juan architecture, Fort San Cristóbal is a bastion fortress with heavy Vauban influence that has been used to defend San Juan during Spanish and United States occupation.
El Morro
Until the 17th century, El Morro castle was constructed in a medieval style, however, in order to improve its defenses against cannon attacks, Italian engineers Juan Bautista Antonelli and Bautista Antonelli revamped the exterior.
La Fortaleza
Built in 1533, this World Heritage Site was used as a defense against the Carib tribe, and has housed the island’s governors. Two small, circular towers around a medieval fortress was the original layout of the structure, though in time it came to bear 19th century facades and a neoclassical style. During its restoration, native-grown ausubo (ironwood) beams were a primary material.
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Baroque architecture
Yagüez Theater
It was constructed in 1909 Mayaguez by Francisco Maymom Palmer in order to show his silent films. It was reopened in 1919 with new Baroque features under the supervision of architect Sabàs Honoré, and became a historical landmark in 1976.
San Juan Cathedral
Though the vaulted tower and several rooms in the church reflect medieval architecture, San Juan Cathedral boasts the elaborate stylings of Spanish baroque throughout its structure. Juan Ponce de Leon is interred in a marble tomb in the church’s transept.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Puerto_Rico
Because Spain was the first country to colonize Puerto Rico, it had the most impact on the island's culture. Some of the most popular forms of dance originated in Spain, and have evolved into dance movements that are unique to the island.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_performing_arts_in_Puerto_Rico
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Language
Puerto Rican Spanish (español puertorriqueñ
o [espaˈɲol pweɾtoriˈkeɲo]) is the Spanish language as characteristically spoken in Puerto Rico and by millions of people of Puerto Rican descent living in the United States and elsewhere. It belongs to the group of Caribbean Spanish variants and, as such, is largely derived from Canarian Spanish and Andalusian Spanish
Andalusia and the Canary Islands
Since most of the original farmers and commoners of Puerto Rico between the 15th and 18th centuries came from Andalusia, the basis for most of Puerto Rican Spanish is Andalusian Spanish (particularly that of Seville).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_Spanish.
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Puerto Rican literature
The island's first writers were commissioned by the Spanish Crown to document the chronological history of the island. Among these writers were Father Diego de Torres Vargas who wrote about the history of Puerto Rico, Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa María who wrote poems about religious and historical themes, and Juan Ponce de León II who was commissioned to write a general description of the West Indies.
The first native-born Puerto Rican governor, Ponce de León II, included information on Taíno culture, particularly their religious ceremonies and language. He also covered the early exploits of the conquistadors. These documents were sent to the National Archives in Sevilla, Spain, where they were kept.
That same year Juan Rodríguez Calderón (a Spaniard) wrote and published the first book in the island, titled Ocios de la Juventud. In 1851, the Spanish appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Juan de la Pezuela Cevallo, founded the Royal Academy of Belles Letters. This institution contributed greatly to the intellectual and literary progress of the island. The school licensed primary school teachers, formulated school methods, and held literary contests. However, only those with government positions and the wealthy benefited from the formation of the institution. The first Puerto Rican writers came from some of the island's wealthiest families, and they were critical of the injustices of the Spanish Crown.
19th century
In 1806, the Spanish Colonial Government established "La Gaceta de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rico Gazette), Puerto Rico's first newspaper. The newspaper was biased in favor of the ideals of the government.
The first written works in Puerto Rico were influenced by the Romanticism of the time. Journalists were the first writers to express their political views in the newspapers of the day and later in the books which they authored. Through their books and novels, they expressed what they believed were the social injustices, which included slavery and poverty, brought upon the common Puerto Rican by the Spanish Crown.