Parranda Tradition Feature (NPRDP 2025)

During our 2025 parade television broadcast, The National Puerto Rican Day Parade paid tribute to La Parranda, one of Puerto Rico’s most cherished holiday traditions. More than just music, a parranda is an explosion of joy and community—a lively nocturnal caravan of family, friends, and neighbors who surprise each household with the sounds of aguinaldos (Puerto Rican holiday carols), played with guitars, cuatros, maracas, and güiros. In return, hosts welcome them with food, drink, and warmth, often joining the troupe as it grows from house to house. What begins as a small gathering blossoms into an extended celebration that can last until dawn. Today, this tradition thrives not only on the island but also in Puerto Rican communities across the United States, where parrandas bring a taste of home, unity, and cultural pride during the holiday season.