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Cuban
Events and Celebrations
With its colorful history
and diverse cultural background, Cuba has a very interesting
selection of events and festivities throughout the year.
In actual fact, one could say that the year
in this island is crammed with festivals. Most of them are
cultural, featuring film, music and dance above all. Some
of the most popular events are the jazz and cinema festivals,
usually held in Cuba’s capital. Other wonderful events
along these same lines include dance festivals, ranging from
ballet and contemporary dance to traditional folk dancing.
Although the jazz festivals are some the most popular music
events there are all sorts of other music events to enjoy,
going from classical to folk music.
Religious holidays in Cuba used to be banned
by the government and people would celebrate quietly at home.
Things changed in 1998 however, when Pope John Paul II visited
Cuba in January 1998. Fidel Castro decided to make Christmas
Day (abolished in the 60’s) an official holiday. Other
important religious times throughout the year in Cuba include
the Epiphany (January) and Easter Week.
Also, you will find that depending on the region,
there are certain days honoring patron saints or the Madonna
that are celebrated by the locals. Ceremonies and festivals
linked to the Santería religion are also held in some
Cuban cities and towns.
Cuba’s public holidays generally commemorate
political and historical events, such as the War of Independence
and the Revolution. On these days shops, offices and factories
close for the day and people usually convene in the Plaza
de la Revolución, although such parades and rallies
are a thing of the past. Nowadays, large rallies aren’t
as common anymore.
Carnaval is another important part of Cuba’s
events calendar although it is not held at the pre-Lenten
time anymore, as it traditionally used to be, but rather in
July.
Take
a look at the calendar with Cuba’s most important dates.
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