The names of various towns and villages, foods, objects and domestic utensils all come from the Taino Indians. Today, objects such as the famous hammocks that they used to sleep in can still be seen in many Puerto Rican homes.
The principal legacy passed on to us by the Spanish was Catholicism and the Spanish language, whilst from the Africans we have inherited the traditional ‘bomba’ and ‘plena’ dances, as well as percussion instruments including the drum and the maraca.
The fact that Puerto Rico has been a US territory since 1898 means that we have also adopted many of their traditions. As a result of our close ties with the USA, Puerto Ricans have learned to merge the Spanish language with English, creating what is known as Spanglish.
Many utensils used by our ancestors, and the Taino Indians in particular, have been discovered at archaeological sites scattered around the island. Most of these objects are today kept in the country’s museums and universities.
When it comes to art and literature, Puerto Rico has been a rich breeding ground for many outstanding writers and artiest including Julia de Burgos, Eugenio María de Hostos, José Gautier Benítez, José Campeche and Francisco Oller. Many of them are known throughout the world for their poetry, publications and works of art. Puerto Rican artists have also been involved in promoting the island’s film industry.