Las Mañanitas (celebration) facts for kids

Las Mañanitas is a special yearly event in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's a celebration to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is considered the patron saint of the city.

Every year on December 12, thousands of people wake up before sunrise for this festival. The day starts with a religious parade through the streets, followed by a special church service called a Mass. After the service, the city's government treats everyone to a free breakfast.

This popular event brings together over 10,000 people. This includes religious leaders, important city officials, and families from all over. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 celebration was different. The parade was canceled to keep everyone safe, and the Mass was shown on TV so people could watch from home.

History of the Celebration

The first Las Mañanitas celebration in Ponce was in 1964. No one is completely sure how it started. Some stories say it was begun by engineers who moved to Ponce from Mexico. Other stories say it was started by people from Extremadura, a region in Spain.

A key part of the festival is the music. Everyone sings the traditional Mexican birthday song, "Las Mañanitas". Live mariachi bands, a type of Mexican folk music group, play along with the crowd.

What Happens During the Event?

The celebration begins very early, at 4:00 in the morning. People gather at a park called Parque del Tricentenario. From there, they walk together in a parade down a main street, Calle Isabel. The parade ends at the city's main cathedral, Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

After the church service, everyone heads to the historic Ponce City Hall. The city provides a free breakfast for all who attended. The mariachi bands continue to play music while people eat and celebrate together.

Sometimes, the city has also scheduled the Ponce Marathon for the same day. Runners in the marathon would start their race at 5:00 a.m. and finish around the time the breakfast celebration was beginning.

Attendance and Cost

Las Mañanitas is a huge community event, with more than 10,000 people attending each year. Mayors and other leaders often join the public in the celebration. In 2016, the city spent about $30,000 on the event. This cost also included the city's Christmas decorations and the start of other local festivals.

See also

• Bienal de Arte de Ponce
• Carnaval de Ponce
• Carnaval de Vejigantes
• Día Mundial de Ponce
• Feria de Artesanías de Ponce
• Festival de Bomba y Plena de San Antón
• Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño
• Festival Nacional de la Quenepa
• Fiesta Nacional de la Danza
• Ponce Jazz Festival