Photo shared by Gigi Ginette -
Gathering of our members on Calle 62 on October 31, 2019
When you think of Cuba, you immediately imagine old American cars, cigars, rum, a kaleidoscope of colors, baseball, mojitos, sunny beaches, orishas, rumba, salsa, dominoes, roast pork, congrí, the Revolution and above all, a warm and resilient people, always moving forward despite the trials.
But Cuba is above all a true fusion of African, European, Asian and American cultures, a cultural mosaic that continues to evolve over time, influenced by globalization. Our famous cultural "ajiaco" (a metaphorical soup) continues to transform, constantly enriching itself with new ingredients that, over the generations, become part of our national identity.
Halloween, a holiday of Anglo-Saxon origin derived from the Celtic Samhain (which celebrated the end of the harvest and the arrival of autumn) and the Catholic All Saints' Day, has no deep roots in Cuba. The tropical climate of the island, with alternating dry and rainy seasons, contrasts with the seasonal concept of Halloween. Costumes are also difficult to afford, especially in the current economic climate, and pumpkins, although cultivated, are used more for food consumption than for making lanterns. In addition, candy, essential for "trick or treat", is scarce.
Halloween appeared in Cuba more than half a century ago, thanks to the close ties that some Cuban families had with North America. In the wealthy circles of the Republican era, costume parties inspired by American traditions were held. However, after the Revolution of 1959, this celebration was perceived as bourgeois and consumerist, and it quickly disappeared from the public scene.
In the 1980s, some young Cubans began to revive Halloween traditions, although it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the celebration really took root among young people. In 2009, a large Halloween party was held at a university club in Havana, where participants dressed up as vampires, witches, and other fantastical creatures. The success of this event led to the recurrence of these parties, marking the beginning of a new tradition among a certain part of the Cuban population, mainly in the big cities.
Today, despite some obstacles, we see more and more children making their own costumes and participating in private parties or costume parties, inspired by zombie and vampire films. However, it is especially in tourist areas that we see an effort to recreate a version of Halloween aimed at foreign visitors, whose culture is more attached to these traditions.
In Cuban culture, there is no equivalent celebration to Halloween. Some imported traditions have faded over time, and have merged into the Catholic tradition of attending the Mass of the Dead to honor the dead.
Halloween in Canada: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/halloween
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