Esta ley declara el 24 de diciembre de cada año, después del mediodía, como día feriado oficial y legal en Puerto Rico. Dispone el cierre de todas las oficinas públicas, estatales y municipales a partir de esa hora.
(Approved December 25, 2002)
To declare the twenty-fourth $\left(24^{ ext {th }} ight)$ day of December of each year, after twelve noon as a Holiday.
Christmas is a season in which people express their wishes for peace, love, health and prosperity for all other persons who share the magnificent feeling of being part of this land, with great enthusiasm.
The Christmas season is celebrated in Puerto Rico with great interest in highlighting the values of our culture and the human and spiritual value of our people, making known the importance of family bonds as a determining factor in our quality of life as a people.
It is very important to celebrate Christmas and especially Christmas Eve without having any other commitments and/or economic, social, and political interests coinciding with said festivities of such deep significance to for our people.
This measure has the intention of preventing that commitments, obligations, and/or every day interests should coincide with the positive Puerto Rican activities of celebrating the great family reunion: the Christmas Eve Dinner. Thus it is reasonable to declare the twenty-fourth $\left(24^{ ext {th }} ight)$ day of December of each year, after twelve noon as a Holiday.
We have no doubt that this proposed legislation will encourage a greater participation of all Puerto Ricans and at the same time, make them aware of the importance of love and unity in the family institution.
Section 1.- The twenty-fourth $\left(24^{ ext {th }} ight)$ day of December of each year, after twelve noon is hereby declared to be an official and legal holiday in Puerto Rico. Furthermore, all public, commonwealth and municipal offices of Puerto Rico shall be closed as of that time.
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 305 (H.B. 885) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare the twenty-fourth $\left(24^{ ext {th }} ight)$ day of December of each year, after twelve noon as a Holiday, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $30^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director