Christmas decorations generally stay up until mid-January
Cuba has an interesting relationship with Christmas. After Fidel's revolution, Cuba was declared to be an atheist nation, formerly having been Catholic like most Latin American countries. In 1969 Christmas was banned mostly because it got in the way of the sugar harvest. Gifts could still be given on January 6th, Epiphany. Almost 30 years later, Castro temporarily lifted the ban on Christmas so it could once again be celebrated in December 1997, in advance of the Pope’s visit in January. It was supposed to be just that year, but the ban was never reinstated.
Santa Claus was outlawed even before Christmas; in 1959 the Ministry of Culture declared he was "a recent importation and foreign to our culture". All North Pole decorations, including reindeer, were prohibited and Christmas cards had to be Cuban. "Decorations must be made of Cuban materials, with traditional Cuban scenes" she mandated.
Starting in November, you can see shops decorated for Christmas
These days, it is increasingly common to see Christmas trees and other previously forbidden decorations in the windows and interiors of shops and restaurants. Like in the capitalist nations, these decorations go up in November, but thankfully, the shops are free of sappy Christmas music. Similar to the way Halloween is gaining popularity, Christmas is celebrated more as a loosely adopted cultural practice than an important holiday. New Years, on the other hand, is a genuine Cuban holiday with its own traditions.
Las Parrandas de Remedios is one of the best holiday celebrations in Cuba
One of the best authentic holiday celebrations in Cuba is Las Parrandas de Remedios on Christmas Eve. Remedios is a small town near Santa Clara where, during the week leading up to Christmas, a neighborhood battle of fireworks ensues. There is a street party with colorful floats, and the night sky is lit up with a show of homemade fireworks that is as dazzling as it is insane. If you go, you will need to wear a hat, as you may get up close and personal with a few embers.
If you are wondering whether Christmas is a good time to visit Cuba, the answer is yes! The winter holidays are actually the most popular time to visit Cuba.
On Christmas day, children have the day off and many state entities are closed or will have reduced hours, so plan accordingly if you need to visit Etecsa for wifi cards or the Cadeca to change money. Most shops and restaurants will be open. Havana is an excellent place to celebrate the holiday, as many private restaurants offer a prix fixe menu and concert on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena). You can find out about these events on their social media pages. If you're looking for a more traditionally festive celebration, with carols and turkey or ham dinners, your best bet will be in upscale tourist hotels.
Celebrate the holidays with us on our Holiday Rumba tour featuring two very special and memorable holiday parties: Parrandas de Remedios on Christmas Eve and the New Year's Eve party at Cathedral Square.
Author: Sarah Arizaga
Sarah first fell in love with the rich culture and crumbling beauty of Cuba after receiving the National Geographic Cuba edition from her grandfather in 1999. She is thrilled to join the Cuban Adventures family to help travelers plan their visit to a country that is sure to captivate their hearts as it has hers. In particular, her goal is to help U.S. travelers understand the special considerations involved in travel to Cuba. An avid (some say obsessed) traveler, if she isn't planning her next vacation from her home in California, she is trying to create the perfect packing list.
If you’ve been dreaming of Cuba and want to learn more about this fascinating country before your trip, read our blog for a complete Cuban travel guide with tips and local insights.
Descubra as 9 melhores cidades cubanas para visitar: história vibrante, praias paradisíacas, música envolvente e cultura autêntica em cada esquina da ilha. Conheça os destinos turísticos mais populares em Cuba de Havana a Viñales, Trinidad e Varadero.
Siga estas instruções passo a passo para obter o código QR do programa Cuba D’Viajeros, necessário para entrar em Cuba. Preencher o formulário D’Viajeros antes de viajar é um requisito para entrar em Cuba.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to get the Cuba D’Viajeros QR code required to enter Cuba. Filling out the D’Viajeros form before departing for your trip is a requirement to enter Cuba.