Some common manners in Cuba

Cubans have little contact with tourists, they generate them distrust, fear and much more, unless tourism are your work, they do it for earn money, but for them this is not friendly or sympathetic.

When hope a friend in house, we need to stand up before the arrival of a visitor. If the visit is a young, elders of the House can sit; women should not be standing if the visitor is a man. When we met a friend, we must expect that the most senior person is that extend the hand. Man should wait about  women to be that extend your hand.

When speaking to the elderly, or to strangers, Cubans speak more formally as a sign of respect. They shake hands upon greeting someone. Men often exchange friendly hugs and it is also common for both men and women to greet friends and family with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

In Cuba it is in bad taste to shout in the street, or call out shout  to the people, in the public transport is must give the post of older people and who have disabilities in addition is distasteful to put music on  them.

Santeria in Cuba

Santeria in Cuba

The colours ritualism that is performed in the "Santeria" starts with white clothes because it symbolizes the purity for the occidental culture; the colour is given to following days according to the "Orisha":

• Eleggua: Guardian of the roads   RED and BLACK
• Obatalá: The world's creator  WHITE
• Yemayá: Queen of the seas and mother's protector  BLUE and WHITE 
• Oshun: Queen of the rivers, lakes and gold  YELLOW and GOLD
• Changó: God of strenght, represents the sexuality  RED and WHITE
• Oggun: God of iron and minerals  BLACK and GREEN
• Babalú Ayé: God of sickness  VIOLET

Cuban Festival and its Colors

Importantly, Cuba has different festivals in every month of the year, but today we are going to talk about the most representatives festivals that throughout of the year excited to all citizens and tourists.

1. Havana Jazz Festival: 

Was born in 1978, when Bobby Carcasses, and other well known Cuban Jazz musicians, presented the first Jazz concert at the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza in downtown Havana.

Hot, throbbing, live Latin rhythms morning, noon and night on the ultimate Latin jazz and Cuban culture dream tour.

This festival characterized by different colors, each one in charge of represent the essence of it. The most important colors are green, orange, red and blue, because they show the influence of Africa in this musical form. 

The above, we can see in its logo, that represents the festival worldwide. Also, we can see different colors on the scene, highlighting the beautiful gold of the instruments such as, trumpet, trombone, tuba, etc. 

2. Havana Carnival: 

 

Until 1998, this Cuban festival was annually held in February, but has since been moved to July. It consists in each neighbourhood organises their "comparsa", which is to perform in the parade and dance show. 

If you going to Havana Carnival, you can see too attractive colors such as, pink, yellow, red, green, blue that are part of the each beautiful dress, those illuminate every street of Havana. Also, in Cuba is typical to use different crowns with feather, which are painted with differents colors and carry lights. 

Finally, the most attractive thing in this carnival is the floats that gather all creative of each member of the neighbourhood and they have attractive,colors and figures. They form with lights and always have a mean. 

3. Remedios Carnival

This is the culmination of the Christmas festival - "Las Parrandas de Remedios", which sees fireworks, a street party and friendly competition between the neighbourhoods of Son Salvador and El Carmen. A lesser known but heart-warming and unique Cuban festival.

Of course, the most attractive things in this holiday is the use of different color lights, that illuminate each street. Also, if we have the opportunity of spending Christmas in Cuba, we can see different colors in the sky, thanks to the fireworks at the night. There are different types of fireworks and differents colors such as, green, pink, red,  blue, white, yellow, orange, etc., that you can see both in heaven and the floats. 

Religious Celebrations

Cuba is mainly a Catholic country is estimated that 60 % of the population in Cuba is Catholic , Catholicism is modified and influenced by syncretism

Membership in Protestant churches is estimated at 6% and includes Baptists , Pentecostals witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists , Presbyterians , Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Quakers (Quakers ) , and Luthe

Cuba is home to a variety of syncretic religions of cultural origin in much of Africa . According to a report by the United States Department of State , 2 some sources estimate that 80 % of the population consults with practitioners of religions that have their roots in West Africa, as Santeria or Yoruba . one of the African peoples were imported to Cuba during the sixteenth century and throughout the nineteenth century to work on the sugar plantations . Santeria blends elements of Christianity and belief in West Africa and as such made ​​it possible for slaves retained their traditional beliefs while practicing Catholicism.

La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity ) is the Catholic patroness of Cuba and is highly revered by the Cuban people and seen as a symbol of Cuba .

The festivities began to be held in Cuba from the Spanish occupation. Always involved a procession followed by a party , verbena , guateque or fair as the case . The most popular are :Our Lady of Charity of Our Lady of Candelaria and San Juan Bautista .

 
Carnivals are traditional Cuban holiday that has its roots in the celebrations held by Hispanics and their descendants. According to the old tradition of the peninsula , has elements like the costumes, floats, and parades among others. In the capital were held around three days before Lent . From the Midwest to the East its origin is linked to the festivities of the people.

 Carousing and brass bands are other traditional festival that have many points in common with the carnival for the use of floats and changüies . The best known are those of Remedios in the province of Villa Clara and Bejucal in Havana but also held in Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila .

The ceremonial and festive process, according to the various anniversaries, includes various instrumental ensembles , multiple songs and dances , which are an essential part of religious activities . Followed by its importance and dissemination manifestations of palo monte , plow and cross Santeria with Mt. post and cross with spiritualism .

In the religious festivals of Haitian origin is no marked two subgroups. They are the Bande- Rará and parties to praise .

Flag of Cuba

On May 20, 1902, the Cuban national flag was hoisted as a symbol of independence and sovereignty.

His design incorporates three blue stripes, representing the three parts that the country was divided during the independence wars, central, occidental, and oriental areas of the country, and two white stripes symbolizing the purity of the ideals and the light of the Cuban patriots. the red triangle stands for the blood shed to liberty the nation the sky turned red from the blood shed in battle and the triangle means liberty, fraternity and equality. The white star in the triangle represents the strength, beauty, wisdom, virtue and charity.

The stripes of the Cuban flag integrated symbolic numbers. The three blue stripes form the number 3 and represent harmony. The sum of the blue and white stripes is number 5 and the life-giving spirit of nature. Triangle forms the number 7, and the star is considered as divine by the Jews and Greeks.