Culture Differences: Americans Vs Puerto Ricans
There are so many aspects of Puerto Rican and American cultures that one cannot help but notice is such an inspiring aspect of society. Understanding these cultural differences between Americans and Puerto Ricans will help you identify and understand their different values, cuisines, and governments of each culture. Each of these aspects and details help build up their unique cultures.
The United States is built of many states and has a diversity of different ethnicity that helps mold the American values. Americans are taught from an early age to be independent and to put forward their dreams and goals. They don’t rely much on family, friends, or even instructors. Which such great determinations are competitive not only with themselves but with others. They believe that competitions bring out the best in them and lead to progress and success. Americans tend to value openness when interacting with other people. They often believe having an engagement or a disagreement is best resolved by having a discussion. Directiveness is what they value most.
Although Puerto Rico isn’t built of many states or has a variety of ethnicities, they do showcase their values differently than Americans. Puerto Rican do live a traditional and conservative lifestyle. Family plays a central role for them. Puerto Rican families have a great influence on family members from how they spend their time, where to work, and what education to seek. Individual achievement is not appraised as much as family loyalty. They devote most of their time to cultivating and supporting their family connections to make them stronger. The lives of Puerto Ricans revolve around their family's dreams, worries, and fulfillments. Kisses on the cheeks and hugs are a common gesture among women and men, close friends, and families. They will always receive you with a warm welcome as a sign of respect. Communication is essential for the Puerto Rican culture. Communicating harmoniously is a form of respect whether it's from a simple greeting to a conversation.
According to Deewes “America is a melting pot of many different cultures, each one bringing their culinary traditions.” Several foods are identified as American food such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, and many more. The traditional breakfast for Americans would be hot fuel foods for example eggs, bacon, toasts, and muffins. But most of them usually go for the grab and goes for instance coffee, fruits, or even maybe a donut. Their typical lunches vary from a meat loaded sandwich to a juicy double cheeseburger with a side of loaded fries and a coke to top it off. Traditional dinners are mac and cheese casseroles, chicken pot pies, and steaks and potatoes.
Chicken and rice are undoubtedly the most popular meal in Puerto Rico. They cook with two key flavor bases which are Sofrito and Adobo. Adobo is mainly used to rub meat and fishes. Sofrito is a base for soups, rice, and meat. A typical meal for them consists of soups, rice, and beans with a side of tostones, and stews. Rich stews known as asopao in Spanish is like gumbo using vegetables, a variety of meats and rice. Lunch is their most important meal which tends to be the heaviest on the other hand dinner would be the lightest. Puerto Rico's traditional breakfast food is the mallorca it’s a sweet bread topped with powdered sugar it's often combined with fried eggs, ham, and cheese and a side of coffee with cream to wash it all down.
There are holidays are honored only in the United States. Americans celebrate on the last Monday of May to honor those who have died in the military service. They celebrate their independence from Britain on July 4th. Labor Day is on the first Monday of September honors those who have worked in the country’s workforce. Stansbury explains in her article that Thanksgiving is an important holiday in America because its where people take time out to give thanks and appreciate their lives. Thanksgiving isn't only known of a day to give or receive gratitude but it’s a day known as a time to celebrate the harvest.
Most towns in Puerto Rico have their holidays to celebrate. For example, San Juan Bautisa is on June 24 at midnight people who participate go into the water fully dressed to bring them good luck. Holidays are celebrated by carnivals, concerts, and dances. Other holidays include Three Kings Day a day to celebrate the three Kings that found baby Jesus by following the path of a star across the desert for twelve days. Many families leave a shoebox full of dry grass for the camels that the Three Kings ride on. Christmas is a very significant holiday for them. They go caroling which is known as parrandas or asaltos. People are meant to be woken up around 10 pm with loud singing and instruments. More holiday includes Luis Muñoz Rivera's birthday he was a famous and significant poet, journalist and politician who advocated for the independence of Puerto Rico. The birthday of José Celso Barbosa also was celebrated this holiday is known as the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
“Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts”. Every country and every one person has a different culture which makes them unique. American and Puerto Rican culture emphasizes their cultural difference from core values to cuisine, and certain holidays and traditions. American show their independence and strive while Puerto Rican shows that family comes first and that always have a support team. The Puerto Rican style of cooking is full of Caribbean species and based on homestyle cooking. While American is based on a quick grab and go breakfast and lunch. Americans appreciate and celebrate those who have served and worked for their country rather than Puerto Rico appreciating those who was a voice for their country.
