New Year

New Year’s Eve is considered a major winter holiday in Cuba, as Christmas has only been allowed since 1998, and Catholicism is not the most popular religion on the island. But the custom of celebrating Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) remained.

Of course, each nation, each nation has its own traditions and signs of celebrating a particular celebration. An important attribute of this holiday in almost every country is the New Year tree. Instead of a Christmas tree in Cuba decorate the local coniferous plant - araucaria. Araucaria multileaved, the so-called indoor spruce - a low tree resembling a tree, with horizontal hard branches and prickly needles.

Before the New Year, Cubans fill all jars, buckets, basins and bowls with water, and when the clockwise stops on the number 12, water is solemnly poured out of the windows. This means that the old year is going away and they want a bright path like water. The 30-december heat does not let wet citizens freeze, and all this only adds fun to the New Year's Eve.

In addition, according to local customs, while the clock beats 12 beats, you need to eat 12 grapes and make a wish for each, and then in the new year there will be success, prosperity and joy. 12 months, 12 wishes, 12 berries for happiness. I must say, this case requires a certain skill, so the desire is better to think in advance. By the way, according to some reports, the clock in Cuba hits not 12, but only 11 times. Since the 12th stroke falls just in time for the New Year, the clock is given to relax and calmly celebrate the holiday with everyone.

On the eve of the holiday, Cuban residents try to cook traditional dishes of pork and black beans for dinner, as well as turkey or fried milk pig. Of course, without the famous Cuban rum here can not do, only drink it in its pure form, and diluted with orange juice, necessarily adding to the glasses pieces of ice.

On the eve of the holiday, children write letters to good wizards, whose names are Gaspar, Baltasar and Melchor, describing their innermost desires. A little later, these folk heroes will return to the Festival of the Three Kings.

The celebration in this country is very colorful: big carnivals and colorful fireworks, many cheerful and happy people and just as good mood.