I saw this on FamilySearch today- Puerto Rican Culture—Rich with History and Tradition: https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/puerto-rican-culture-tradition/. If you have Puerto Rican heritage, I would check the original article out. The article covers different other topics – Dances, Holidays, Baseball, Religion, and Your Puerto Rican Heritage.
November 6, 2020 – by Rachel Trotter
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Puerto Rico is an island rich with history and culture. Although Puerto Rico is now a United States territory, it thrives on its historical traditions. Puerto Rican culture is much like its people—passionate and vibrant, with a history filled with celebration.
History of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico takes great pride in its history. Its first inhabitants, the Taino, were an indigenous group that lived on the island 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived.
Upon returning from his second voyage to the Americas in 1493, Christopher Columbus landed at Puerto Rico and claimed it for Spain. He named the island San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist), but the name was changed not long after to Puerto Rico, which means rich port, and San Juan became the capital city.
Because of the many interactions between the native Taino people and Spanish settlers, Puerto Rican culture is a blend of Taino, Spanish, and African cultures. Aspects of all three can be seen in modern-day Puerto Rico.
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Puerto Rican Music and Dances
Puerto Rico’s musical roots go all the way back to the Taino people. Their music has a predominant Caribbean sound that was played on handcrafted instruments such as the mayohuacán, a wooden slit drum. The güiro is another traditional Puerto Rican instrument used by the Taino people. It is a percussive instrument made from a hollowed gourd.
Other music traditions were brought to Puerto Rico with the introduction of Spanish and African cultures. These new inhabitants brought varying instruments, including several kinds of guitars with varying levels of strings. One that stands out most is the Puerto Rican cuatro, which has 10 strings!
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https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/puerto-rican-culture-tradition/
Ups Downs Family History 