Fiesta de la Cruz

In the first week of May, Puerto Ricans celebrate the Fiesta de Cruz. The Fiesta de Cruz, which symbolizes Jesus’ cross, gained popularity in 1787 when Puerto Rico was struck with a major earthquake that profoundly impacted Puerto Rican lives. After the earthquake, the Fiesta de Cruz was believed to appease natural catastrophes. Celebrating the Fiesta de la Cruz began to whither out in the 20th century, but the celebration was slowly brought back to life around the 1950s, partly by the leadership of some local entertainers from Santurce. With the revival of the Fiesta de la Cruz, some aspects in the Fiesta changed and the celebration became even more important than ever before.

Prior to the 1950s, the Fiesta de la Cruz was predominantly a religious celebration in a private atmosphere between relatives and friends, usually held in people’s homes. Each night a different family would sponsor the celebration in their home, paying respect to Jesus and praying for a better future. Singing the rosary was the most popular musical entertainment. As time progressed, the Fiesta de Cruz lost its religious character and became a popular celebration in which Afro-Puerto Rican culture and music influence the Fiesta’s nature. Once revived, the Fiesta de Cruz became a public event that attracted people from all social sectors.