47 Facts About The Discovery Of Puerto Rico Day And Its Significance

Joan Agie
Oct 20, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Feb 18, 2022
Facts about the discovery of Puerto Rico day are extremely interesting to read.
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It was the maritime corridor to the New World that Christopher Columbus discovered during Europe's golden age of discovery that led him to the island of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico observes the Discovery of Puerto Rico Day every year on November 19, in Columbus' arrival in the islands during his second expedition to the New World in 1493. He initially named the island after Saint John the Baptist, which was later rechristened as Puerto Rico in the 1520s.

The name Puerto Rico literally translates to 'rich port.' Given that, it isn't exactly hard to figure out why the Spanish came and colonized the island for about 400 years, till 1898. Christopher Columbus even remarked in his journal, 'They will be good servants!', in reference to the native inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the Tainos.

Discovery Of Puerto Rico Day

It would be unfair to claim that Colombus discovered the Puerto Rican Islands with his group of navigators. It shows a lack of acknowledgment for the first known settlers, the Ortoiroid People, and even more for the Taino people, who were present long before Colombus' arrival.

  • Christopher Columbus is actually credited with the discovery of Puerto Rico.
  • During his second expedition to the New World, Christopher Columbus caught sight of the Puerto Rican islands.
  • He embarked on the voyage on September 17, 1493, from the port of Cadiz in Spain.
  • Columbus' fleet consisted of 17 ships, and he was accompanied by 1200 to 1500 soldiers.
  • He arrived on the island on November 19, which is now observed as Discovery of Puerto Rico Day.
  • The Caribbean Island was dubbed as San Juan Bautista, after Saint John the Baptist, by Columbus.
  • At that time, Puerto Rico was the name of the island's most prosperous town, an area filled with gold mines, and one of the reasons why Spain wanted to colonize the land.
  • The name Puerto Rico translates to 'rich port.'
  • However, Puerto Rico wasn't given much importance by the Spanish crown for the first 15 years after its discovery in 1493.
  • In 1508, the first European settlement called Caparra was established in Puerto Rico by Columbus' lieutenant, Juan Ponce de León.
  • The town was located near present-day Old San Juan.
  • The Spanish crown appointed Sir Ponce de Leon as Puerto Rico's first governor in 1509.
  • San German was founded as the second Spanish settlement in 1511.
  • Puerto Rico was the center of Spain's military stronghold in the Caribbean islands when it was a city.
  • The name of the island, which was San Juan Bautista, and its main port, Puerto Rico, were swapped in the 1520s.
  • The island's former name, San Juan Bautista, was changed to Puerto Rico after its most flourishing settlement. San Juan was announced as the primary port.

Celebrations Of Puerto Rico Discovery Day

The Discovery of Puerto Rico Day is observed by Puerto Ricans every year on November 19 to commemorate Christopher Columbus' arrival to the island in 1493.

  • November 19 is marked as a public holiday in Puerto Rico.
  • On this day, all establishments, including banks, public offices, and schools, remain closed in the observance of Discovery of Puerto Rico Day.
  • The celebrations feature a grand parade.
  • Besides, carnivals and cultural events are also held.
  • Families often go out on drives to see the festive decorations.
  • The Discovery of Puerto Rico Day also symbolizes the start of the Christmas season.
  • Discovery of Puerto Rico Day was celebrated on a Friday in 2021.

Importance Of Puerto Rico Discovery Day

The irony of a rapid cultural conversion is that they play out in a similar manner as religious conversions, most notably, at the expense of the native cultural identity. The story of the Taino people is no different.

  • The Taino people were the native inhabitants of Puerto Rico.
  • They called the island Boriken or Borinquen.
  • 30,000 to 60,000 Tainos inhabited the island of Puerto Rico during Columbus's arrival in 1493.
  • The land was divided into small self-sufficient villages, led by a cacique or chief.
  • The Tainos practiced agriculture as well as hunting and fishing.
  • The first encomienda system was established on the island of Puerto Rico shortly after Ponce was appointed the governor of Puerto Rico.
  • The Tainos were forced into a system of slavery for gold mining operations.
  • In revolt, they headed a rebellion in 1511 under the leadership of Agueybana.
  • A Spanish soldier, Diego Salcedo, was drowned by Taino warriors.
  • The soldier's corpse was monitored for three days to reassure that the colonizers weren't immortal.
  • However, the mutiny was quickly crushed by the governor, Juan Ponce de León, in the Battle of Yagüecas.
  • A high rate of suicide and epidemics arising from European infectious diseases resulted in the imminent decimation of the native indigenous population.
  • Within 50 years of Colombus' arrival, the Taino culture had been destroyed.
  • The Caribs, a Caribbean tribe, attempted to wrest control of Puerto Rico from Spain.
  • In 1514, they led an unsuccessful raid in the Spanish settlements situated along the banks of the Daguao and Macao rivers.
  • Their second raid was also vanquished by Spanish military supremacy.

Facts About Puerto Rico Discovery Day

Even though Puerto Rico has undergone several stages of transformation, it was the Spanish civilization that left an indelible mark.

  • Christopher Columbus landed on Puerto Rico's northwest coast, near present-day Aguada, when he arrived in 1493.
  • In 1893, a Spanish commemorative postage stamp was issued to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in Puerto Rico.
  • Puerto Rico's only stamp from the colonial era not to feature the Spanish king's face.
  • The discovery of Puerto Rico was instrumental in triggering the first known European expedition to La Florida or Florida.
  • Ponce de Leon led the America-bound voyage.
  • It is rumored that he was actually searching for the Fountain of Youth.
  • The discovery of La Florida opened the gateway to European settlements in southeast America.
  • The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista located in San Juan houses the final resting place of Juan Ponce de Leon, Puerto Rico's first governor.

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Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

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Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

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