Catholic Christmas

Cubans begin to celebrate the new year on December 25For the first time in nearly thirty years, the people of Cuba were able to openly celebrate Catholic Christmas in 1998. This concession was made by the Communist authorities at the urging of Pope John Paul II, who visited Cuba in January 1998.

December 25 was declared a working day in 1969 for the sake of achieving records in the harvest of sugar cane. Among other things, public displays of Christmas performances were banned. Since then, Christmas trees have only been seen in hotels for foreign tourists. In Cuba, this holiday is unofficial, because Catholicism is not the only religion. Recently, non-Christian Afro-Asian cults have become increasingly common in Cuba. Churches are open to believers, so Catholics can go to Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve.

But still, Cubans love Christmas... On this day they begin to see off the last week of the old year. And, despite their religious affiliation, on this day all people are preparing for the New Year. And one of the main traditions of the celebration is the festive dinner, which symbolizes a good start to the Christmas week.

There is no traditional Santa Claus in Cuba, and the Christmas tree is not a traditional Christmas tree. Sometimes Cubans decorate trees that resemble our pine, sometimes cacti, but mostly palm trees. Decorate trees who can, depending on family income, often homemade paper toys and garlands.