BandBCaribbean

Casa Particular or Destination Blog My Bookings 0 My Lists $ USD Account

Home / Blog / Traditions and celebrations in Cuba / 7 popular traditions and celebrations in Cuba

7 popular traditions and Newsletter Sign Up

celebrations in Cuba
First name
"
# "
$ "
% "
& "
'
Email address
! Sun 21 Jul 2019

I have read and accept the

Privacy policy
See privacy information
Cuban Food, Music and Traditions
7 popular traditions and celebrations in Cuba to know Subscribe
1- Fire Festival in Santiago de Cuba (early July)
2- Carnivals in Cuban provinces (late June and Sign up for our newsletter to get
the best bed and breakfast
throughout July)
deals and news sent straight to
3- Parranda of the remedies in Villa Clara (16 to 26 your inbox. You can unsubscribe
December) at any time.
4- Cubadisco Festival (mid-May)
5- Fiesta of the Red and Blue Majagua parties in Categories
Ciego de Ávila (early November)
Cuba Travel
6- Benny Moré Popular Music Festival in Cienfuegos
(late November) Traditions and celebrations
7- Festival of the Theater in Havana (End of October) in Cuba
What are the main holidays in Cuba?
Accommodation Cuba
Safety when attending celebrations in Cuba

Things to do Cuba
Local traditions and celebrations in Cuba are respected
and enjoyed by tourists. If you are traveling to this country and
want to know more about them in BandBcuba, Bed and
Breakfast in Cuba, we will give you a tour of the most
important ones. Their music, food and beliefs reIect the
European, African and Caribbean cultural mix that makes this
island special.

Cuban Food, Music and Traditions

The Cuban celebrations are full of Caribbean Iow. Music,
dances and colours which are typical of this land. They can be
divided into two major groups: the oPcial ones (linked to the
dates of the revolution and their heroes) and the national ones
Explore Cuba
comprising festivals, parrandas, carnivals and dances. These 374 Casas
have cultural and religious inIuences from Catholicism and Particulares
Santeria, both popular religions in Cuba. Vinales
Cuban rhythms like the timba, rumba, drum yuka, trova, jazz,
469 Casas
mambo and others are part of the local culture. Other
Particulares
traditions are linked to the history and culture of the regions
Trinidad
and to their gastronomy. In all, there is a high local
participation, since these days are holidays for workers.
92 Casas
Areas such as Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Havana, Particulares
Guantanamo and Pinar del Rio have their own local festivals Havana Vieja
open to locals and tourists. If you want to enjoy them you
have to plan your travel calendar according to your interests. 20 Casas
For example, if you want to attend the carnival you must arrive Particulares
in late June or early July when the Xrst parades begin in Varadero Beach
Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba and Havana. Also taking place
119 Casas
in this month are the famous parrandas and festivals of
Particulares
Caribbean music.
Cienfuegos
There are also traditions linked to the Cuban lifestyle. Such as
baseball matches and playoffs, domino tournaments, 122 Casas
community parades and more that are held throughout the Particulares
year. The months when there are most Cuban celebrations are Havana Centro
January, June, July and December.
46 Casas
Particulares
Santiago de
7 popular traditions and celebrations Cuba
in Cuba to know
96 Casas
Among all the celebrations in Cuba we could highlight 7 of
Particulares
them. These are ideal for those who seek to know more about
Havana Vedado
the culture of this country and have fun.
2 Casas
1- Fire Festival in Santiago de Cuba (early Particulares
July) Ciego de Avila
In early July one of the most anticipated festivities by locals
34 Casas
and tourists begins: the Caribbean festival, better known as
Particulares
"La Xesta del fuego". This is a tradition that began in 1981 to
Holguin
pay tribute to the music, food, dances and traditions of this
Caribbean town. 26 Casas
The party lasts about 8 days and is celebrated in Santiago de Particulares
Cuba, known for being cultural capital on the island. It is Playa Larga
characterized by dance presentations, Xreworks shows,
11 Casas
theatrical performances, local crafts, workshops of poetry and
Particulares
acting, cinema series and much more. It is one of the most
Playa Giron
world famous celebrations in Cuba.

If you attend,y ou will not only have contact with traditions of 13 Casas
Cuba... but also with others Caribbean countries. Like Brazil, Particulares
Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Curacao Island and others. Guardalavaca
The locals start planning this event since the beginning of
January and have been the hosting this for more than 30
years.

2- Carnivals in Cuban provinces (late June

and throughout July)
During these dates, Cuban carnivals are held in regions such
as Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Rio, Las Tunas,
Holguin, Matanzas and Villa Clara. The characteristics are
similar between regions:

Parade with Ioats, accompanied by typical music such

as t he conga santiaguera (typical rhythm of comparsa)
with drums.
Street food offering
Typical Cuban meals
Fancy dress parades
Live music.

There is no set date for the celebration of these carnivals.

They usually begin at the end of June in areas like Camagüey.
The Havana Malecon is the location chosen to celebrate in
the capital. You will Xnd open air stages along the Malecon
with musicians playing

During the day there are children's activities and with the
schools, the kids go out in typical Caribbean costumes and
perform theatrical shows. At night there are more shows, live
music and parades with Ioats and lights.

3- Parranda of the remedies in Villa Clara

(16 to 26 December)
This celebration is one of the most popular and attractive in
Cuba. The best parts are the lights, the dances, the colourful
costumes typical of the regions and traditional Caribbean
music. It is celebrated in the province of Villa Clara, in San
Juan de los Remedios. It began in 1820 as a religious tradition
and today it is a mixture between the religious and folkloric
traditions.

There are numerous traditions linked to the parranda of

remedios, among them is the interesting competition between
local neighbourhoods like San Salvador and El Carmen. Both
compete to show case the best cars and musical shows.

Las Parrandas de Remedios Cuba

4- Cubadisco Festival (mid-May)

This international fair brings together singers, composers and
artists. It has awards and celebrations. Live music by different
Caribbean music artists is what makes this event so
special. It is usually celebrated from 14 May.

The exhibitions, concerts and awards gathers locals and

foreigners together to enjoy the event. Cubadisco is like the
Grammys music awards for Cuban musicians. Cuban new
talent is show cased, artists meets with collectors and music
lovers. It also brings together recording companies, experts
and artisans of musical instruments
instruments.

5- Fiesta of the Red and Blue Majagua

parties in Ciego de Ávila (early November)
A celebration which reIects the Cuban peasant culture and
takes place in Ciego de Ávila, in the centre of the island. There
is a lot of music, typical dress, competitions and regional
dances. It is an experience for tourists who can learn more
about Cuban history. And also enjoy the parrandas and
dances with maracas, bongo, keys and accordion.

There are theatrical performances and of course what gives

life to this party are the competing groups who dress in either
Red or Blue and act as rival in the shows. Live singers, sports
competitions and craft shows are common in this celebration.

6- Benny Moré Popular Music Festival in

Cienfuegos (late November)
A popular festival in Cienfuegos which celebrates the life of
Benny Moré, one of the most talented songwriters of Cuba. In
this celebration,the comparsas, folkloric dances, Caribbean
rhythms, local bands, workshops on music and art stand out.

The festival is usually celebrated on November 29, Benny

Moré's birth date, but this can change depending on the year.
It is important that if you plan to attend, check the dates
beforehand.

7- Festival of the Theater in Havana (End of

October)
It is celebrated every year since 1980 in plazas and theatres in
Havana where works of National and international fame are
performed. It is an educational space to learn about the
history, traditions and beliefs of the locals. There are
workshops, conferences, contests, art shows and more.

The aim of the festival is to remember the movements and

theatrical exponents that changed the world. The date of the
celebration is not always the same, so if you want to attend
check at the beginning of the year. It usually occurs in mid-
August or late October.

Check out the schedule of the presentations, schedules and

places to attend. Remember that there will be not only Cuban
theatrical shows. There are also countries such as Brazil,
Colombia, Australia, Venezuela, Spain and Germany.

What are the main holidays in Cuba?

January 1st.Triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
April 19th.Victory of Bahia de Cochinos
May 1st. Workers Day
From July 25 to 27.Commemoration of the Assault on
the "Cuartel Moncada"
July 26.Day of National Rebellion
October 10th.Independence Day (Cuban Independence)
December 25th.Christmas
December 31stNew Years Eve

Safety when attending celebrations in

Cuba
The celebrations in Cuba are surrounded by an atmosphere of
euphoria and joy and sometimes you can be careless.
Although this is a country with a low level of crime, we must
take certain precautions and security measures, here are
some:

You can stay in private homes in HavanaHavana. It´s

reasonably priced and you have the opportunity to be in
contact with the locals. If you are looking for a variety of
private homes, contact us.
Do not carry important documents such as a
passport, immunization letter or ID card from your
country to the festivals. Always leave the originals in a
safe place and carry copies in case of emergency. Also
take a copy of your credit cards with you to Cuba to
report in case of theft or loss
Be aware of abusive prices or non regulated services on
the streets. You can haggle. Always keep and eye on the
attitude of who offers the service
Wear light clothes. Remember that you are in a tropical
climate and in the middle of the celebration, it will be
hotter
Protect your belongings and do not expose them too
much. With so many people it will take time to detect
and report a theft.
Avoid wearing expensive jewellery or accessories
that you can lose during Comparsas and dances.
Drink plenty of water.

Ready to enjoy these traditions and celebrations in Cuba?

Which one interests you most? Let us know in the comments
or chat with us on Twitter

Fuente infografía

( Best souvenirs to bring

from your trip to Cuba

Related post

Best Carnival of Typical

souvenirs to Santiago de cuban dishes
bring from Cuba: Party, you must try
your trip to heritage and while in the
Cuba tradition: 18 - island
Thu 06 Jun 2019
27 July 2018 Wed 10 Oct 2018
Tue 04 Jun 2019
Read more Read more
Read more

Owners Company We use cookies

Añadir Casa Particular
Centro de Gestión
We use cookies and other tracking
About us Terms and Conditions Privacy & Cookies
technologies to improve your browsing
Legal Disclaimer Contact us
experience on our website, to show you
personalized content and targeted ads, to
Join us analyze our website traffic, and to

)))
# $ understand
*
from.
where our visitors are coming
Everything that you need to know about
Santiago
The logos and trademarks are property of Francisco Javier Seva Dávila de Cuba
(Copyright 2011-2023), which owns
+and reserves all rights. I agree Change my preferences
Read more ,