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Puerto Rican culture and traditions were displayed throughout the grounds at the Central Florida Fairgrounds west of Orlando during the ninth edition of La SanSe Takes Orlando 2023.
The event featured music, dancing, compotes, Creole food, Puerto Rican artisans and artists all featuring Puerto Rican folklore, which attracted 25,000 people according to the last count of the organizers.
Orlando’s Sanse is a celebration similar to the traditional San Sebastian Street Festival that has been held in mid-January in San Juan, Puerto Rico since 1954. On the island, 400,000 people celebrated for four days.
One was held in Orlando on a Saturday and also had a large attendance due to the great growth of the Boricua community in central Florida.
The “World’s Longest Christmas” with SanSe ends with a family party where people of all ages come together and arrive at the fairgrounds at noon to start the party.
Came from Puerto Rico to delight the attendees with a delegation from the Comparsa de Talentos Nacional Puertorriqueña Carnival de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce and tour the grounds with their colorful costumes and costumes, music, dancing and a giant Puerto Rican flag Was. The chest swelled with the pride of Puerto Ricans who saw him go.
And is that this event, in addition to the fact that it has become a tradition for Puerto Ricans in Florida, also promotes Boricua roots among new generations and also shows the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico to other Hispanic communities .
Attendees also enjoyed a free concert where renowned artists such as India, Algarete, Julio César Sanabria, Los Bombis de la Plena, Grupo Afuego and the internationally renowned Grupo Mania performed.
In addition, this fun celebration supports the economy of merchants and artisans, both local and some who came from Puerto Rico to sell their products and crafts. This year the artisans had a special indoor section.
There were handmade musical instruments such as the Puerto Rican Cuatro, Gyro, costume jewelry, clothing, hats, handmade glasses, carved wood, domino tables, paintings and typical Puerto Rican candies that sold out very quickly.
He was in the artisan area, while those outside enjoyed boricua cuisine such as bacalaitos, alcapuria, typical rice with pigeon peas, fried meat, chicken, tostones, maduros, skewers, as well as spirits, pina coladas and much more. All “gasoline”.
“I loved it! I had a super time! Grupo Mania was launched. It was like I was on the island,” said Orlando resident Elaid Aponte.
For the first time, SanSe and its organizing committee had Commissioner Maribel Gómez-Cordero as the godmother of the event. The governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, also sent a recognition to Maribel and the organization Inicítiva Acción Puertorriqueña presented her with a plaque for her tireless work with the residents of Orange County.
“I feel very excited. I didn’t expect this recognition and to be told that he is the ‘Municipal Commissioner’. It makes me feel very happy because I feel confident that I am answering to the community, don’t believe that of which the residents gave me one day. Also for being recognized by the Governor of Puerto Rico and the fact that the San Sebastian Street Fiestas were held last week in San Juan and now we see that they are here in full swing We’ve been successful. I’m happy because we can bring those traditions here and enjoy them,” Gómez-Cordero told La Prensa.
For her part, Jessica Alcoasar, regional director of the Puerto Rico Office of Federal Affairs, said:
“The Government of Puerto Rico considers this recognition the importance of the contribution that Maribel has made to the Puerto Rican community and with the diaspora in trying to maintain our roots and culture of Puerto Rico. Didn’t have the opportunity, but did send a proclamation to recognize his work in the community.
Luis Martinez was also presented with the Community Excellence Award from the City of Orlando Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“It was hard work but such good results and it is very comforting to know that the artisans were happy. The day was a bit chilly but beautiful and all the traders left very happy. They achieved their purpose of being there and exceeded their own expectations . Thank you to Tomás Javier for being there all the time and solving everything he saw for us”, said Ada García, who coordinated the artisans.
“It went very well for us, everyone is super happy and grateful for how it went,” said Hector Rodriguez, who brought the Three Wise Men and Florida under the Puerto Rican Living Association and the Hispanic Artisans Federation There are also entrepreneurs.
For its part, Santos Santiago de Marques de Puerto Rico, an organization that unites artisans with entrepreneurs, expressed: “We are a bridge between Puerto Rico and Florida and we bring products from the island to Florida. I have been participating in Sanse for five years and this year we did very well and we are also indoors and we are not cold.
“The artisans of my union were sold and were very happy as they did not feel cold. The site was ‘packed’ with people. Carmen Vieira, president of the Puerto Rico Artisans Association, commented, “With my planeros artisan, musical groups formed all the time, planeros singing and people being very happy.”
“We are already preparing for next year and we hope that our artisans will have the same or greater success than this year,” concluded Garcia.
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