Cuba's traditions are recognized and appreciated by Cubans and foreigners who visit the island, looking for that unique energy of Cuban culture. Joy and colors are in fact fundamental elements of Cuban festive traditions.
These celebrations full of Caribbean flavor are part of our Cubanness.
Festive events in Cuba can be divided into two fundamental groups: the official ones (which are those related to the events and commemorations of the revolution and the history of Cuba in general) and the national ones consisting of festivals, carnivals and other traditional celebrations.
It is official that Cubans celebrate holidays such as January 1st, more for the anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution than for being the first day of the year, as well as May 1st in commemoration of World Labor Day and July 26th, the day of the national rebellion, as well as October 10th, the date of the beginning of the first wars of independence against the Spanish metropolis in 1868, and my birthday since 1975.
Good Friday and Christmas are also highlighted, although more discreetly. These Catholic holidays are increasingly revitalized and are quietly recovering their former place among Cubans, thanks above all to certain claims acquired by the intervention of Pope John Paul II during his visit to Cuba in 1998.
However, the highlight of the annual Cuban family celebrations is the end-of-year party, the date when the family reunion is sacred and where the most authentic festive atmosphere can be felt both within the family and in public squares, restaurants and bars, where you cannot miss the Cuban roast pork, rum, beer and gushing joy.
Knowing the basics of the country and the history of the places you visit is certainly important. However, being in contact with the locals and learning about their customs can be much more interesting and enriching.
If you want to enjoy these popular festive events, you just have to plan the travel calendar according to the respective interests, taking into account the dates on which these Cuban festivals and traditions are celebrated. For example, if you want to enjoy the carnival, you should visit the island at the end of June or during the months of July and August, the period when the first festivities begin of which I especially recommend the carnivals of Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba and Havana.
So here are some very popular Cuban celebrations and traditions.
Among the main traditions of Cuba, we can highlight some, ideal for those looking to learn more about the culture of this country, have fun and discover the true Caribbean flavor that Cubans naturally give off.
▪︎Charangas de Bejucal (January)
The Charangas of Bejucal, together with the Parrandas of Remedios and the Carnivals of Santiago de Cuba, constitute the three national popular festivals of Cuba.
This festival takes place in the village of Bejucal in the province of Mayabeque and has been declared a cultural heritage of the Nation.
▪︎The international book fair (February)
The cultural event is considered the most important event of the Cuban publishing movement. It began to be held in 1982, with a biennial cycle, and since the year 2000, it has begun to be held annually. It has its permanent headquarters in the fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña in Havana. Each edition is dedicated to a different writer and country. This fair also extends to other provinces of the country.
▪︎Havana World Music (HWM) (March)
The Havana World Music Festival is a great musical and cultural festival in which the richness of diversity and crossbreeding is exalted, in the image and similarity of the environment where it takes place: Havana and Cuba.
▪︎The Havana Biennial (March-April)
The Havana Biennial is a contemporary art biennial held in Havana, Cuba, since 1984.
Since the 90s, it has maintained a periodicity of three years. The city of Havana is then transformed into a large open-air stage where visual artists from all over the world come to exhibit magnificent works of art of different genres. Some of these award-winning works of the cultural event are integrated into the definitive decoration of the city.
▪︎Piña Colada Festival (April)
It is an event that for the first days of April animates the stages of the city of Ciego de Ávila, in the center of Cuba and that has always had the special intention of being dedicated to youth, and of highlighting the popular and traditional Cuban culture, through all the expressions of art.
▪︎Cubadisco Festival (May)
The most important international fair of the Cuban music industry. Each year is dedicated to a country and a musical genre, in addition, it pays tribute to personalities and artists with exceptional creative work in the field of Cuban music.
It is a real international celebration which allows you to attend numerous musical presentations which take place throughout the capital.
▪︎Mayo Teatral (May)
Every two years and under a central idea of Casa de las Américas, Mayo Teatral brings to Cuban tables a sample of contemporary Latin American theater.
▪︎May pilgrimages
The Romerías de Mayo are a tradition of the people of Holguin led by the Association Hermanos Saíz (AHS), every year in May, tradition and modernity are combined to make the city of Holguín the capital of young art. In these, a sample of the most representative of national and international culture is presented, as well as the best AHS projects in each province of the island.
▪︎Carnivals in the Cuban provinces (end of June, all of July and August)
At this time, Cuban carnivals begin in regions such as Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Río, Las Tunas, Holguín, Matanzas and Villa Clara. The characteristics of these festivities are quite similar between all regions.
There is not always a fixed date for the celebration of these carnivals. However, it will almost always be during the summer.
In regions like Camagüey, the famous San Juan Camagueyano is celebrated around June 24, undoubtedly one of the Creole festivals with the greatest popular roots.
▪︎La Fiesta del Fuego in Santiago de Cuba (July)
The Fiesta del Fuego is a traditional festival that takes place every year in the city of Santiago de Cuba between July 3 and 9. The first edition took place in 1981
There you will not only come into contact with the customs and traditions of Cuba, but also of other Caribbean countries.
▪︎Timbalaye Festival (End of August)
International Festival of Cuban Rumba of Timbalaye, a project that defends the dance musical genre of rumba, with headquarters in Havana.
▪︎Havana Theater Festival (end of October)
This festival has been held every year since 1980 in the theaters and squares of Havana. It is the perfect time to enjoy theatrical performances and discover the wonderful theaters of the capital. During the month of May, there is also a similar event called Mayo Teatral.
▪︎Fiestas de los Bandos Rojo y Azul. Festivities of the red and blue sides, in the province of Ciego de Ávila (early November)
In Majagua, a municipality in the central province of Ciego de Ávila, every November, residents dress in red and blue, when they celebrate their most important annual festival.
It is a celebration, and friendly confrontation, which essentially reflects the culture of the peasant, where music predominates, as well as costumes, dance choreographies, fireworks and the decoration of floats between the two sides, red and blue, in which the inhabitants of the city of Majagua are grouped.
▪︎The Benny Moré popular music festival in Cienfuegos (end of November)
The Benny Moré Popular Music Festival, inaugurated in Santa Isabel de las Lajas, a city in the province of Cienfuegos, where the main genius of Cuban popular music of the 20th century was born, takes place every two years from November 29 to December 2.
▪︎Havana New Latin American Cinema Festival (December)
The biggest annual celebration for Cuban moviegoers who fill Havana's movie theaters to enjoy cinematic presentations from most Latin American countries and other corners of the world.
▪︎Las Parrandas de Remedios in the province of Villa Clara (End of December)
This celebration is one of the most popular and attractive in Cuba. Its most important elements to highlight are the lights, fireworks, dances, the colors of the typical costumes of the region and the traditional music of Cuba. It is celebrated in the province of Villa Clara, in San Juan de los Remedios. It is the most authentic popular festival that can be imagined.
Celebrations in Cuba, as in any part of the world, are surrounded by an atmosphere of euphoria and joy, which is why we sometimes forget about security. However, it is a country with a very low level of crime and violence and both the atmosphere of the day and night, and its people themselves, invite you to live any experience without worries. Still, some precautions must be taken so that the occasion is always unforgettable in the best sense of the word.
You can stay in private homes in Havana and other areas without any problems, much less fear for your safety and that of your belongings.
Homestay accommodation is usually cheaper than hotels and you can have an incomparable experience in the safety of a Cuban family environment.
Never carry important documents, such as your passport or your country's identification, when you walk around or visit the city. Always keep the original in the room and take a copy with you in case of emergency. Also bring a photocopy of your bank cards so that if you lose them, you can report it immediately.
Always take a bottle of water, because, especially during the summer, temperatures tend to rise a lot and you need to stay well hydrated.
You should avoid acquiring products from informal or parallel trade, because the authenticity of a black market product is never trustworthy, nor would there be any guarantee.
Now that you know some of the most important celebrations that take place in Cuba, and you can see that it is not so complicated or risky to enjoy these events, all that remains is to plan your next Cuban adventure while it is possible for you to travel and for us to return to our normal life full of colors.
So don't stop dreaming of traveling. Cuba and the Cubans are waiting for you, ready to share its festivals and traditions.
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