The Santos tradition on the island of Puerto Rico, is one that heavily influences, art, community, and social aspects of Puerto Rico. On the island, the Santos tradition is incorporated into many aspects of life. In Puerto Rico festivals are common throughout the island and celebrate many aspects of the culture, such as the arts, religious beliefs and the Tino and African beliefs and culture ofthe island. A popular fesitival known as Fiesta de los Reyes Magos, is a celebration of the Three Wise Men, a tale within the Christian religion that depicts three wise men that visited Jesus on the night of his birth and they each presented imporant and symbolc gifts the the baby Jesus. The Threem Wise Men are common and traditional figures carved by Santeros and often displayed suring Fiesta de los Reyes Magos.
Santos are not just an artistic tradtion, but are used in rituals within Puerto Rican culture. Santos are vesels through which those who practice Catholicism can communiticate with God and access a higher power. These everyday rituals which include prayer and offerings can be seens as an incite into the Puerto Rican culture and community. The participation in these rituals whether for religious or spiritual purposes can be interpreted as means of releaving stress and calming or empowering the participant (Powell, 2017). In rural parts fo Puerto Rico, many people did not have access to a local church or priests so the Santos served as a conduit of religious expression and connection. Many withing the Catholic community believe that use of prayer and access to a priest gives them strength and allows them to relieve anxiety and stress. Without regular access to these common religious practices, the Santos have taken the place of Priests or churches (Merin, 1990).
Santos are folk are that is used to convey the beliefs and traditions of the Puerto Rican culture and Catholic community within the folk group. It is thought that folklore's main purpose is the preserve the culture of a folk group and to continue a culures traditions and beliefs beyond just that community to which the folklore belongs to (Sims, 2011). In spreading that culure and beilefs, santos have been collected by many arists and museums. These Santos are displayd and collectors and tourists come to view the santos and engage in Puerto Rican culture.
Both the process in creating the Santos and the use and celebrations and rituals the santos are used in are all parts of this Puerto Rican folk art and folklore. The material and creation of the Santos creates a subgroup within the greater folk group, known as Santeros. The collectors of Santos also have branched into another folk groups within this tradition. The Santeros take great pride in their art and the techniqures used to create the Santos. Traditional hand carved Santos take a great deal of skill and practice to create. The collectors of Santos appreciate the techniques used by traditional carvers as well as the modern techniques that involce power tools to begin the initial carving process (Merin, 1990). Santos exemplify more than just religious belief, but comradery and community. The Santos influence Puerto Rican culture beyond religious festivals. This folk art is not olny for Puerto Ricans, but those who have respect and admiration for the are and the traditions that surround the folk art.
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