Celebrating Christmas in Cuba

Each year Christmas in America begins earlier and earlier. Even before Halloween now, Christmas items can be seen in the stores. It has reached a point to where the commercialism has taken away all the meaning of the holiday. It has become a shopping spree and nothing more. Quite sickening. If you are ready to escape the madness of the American Christmas and get to something simpler, the best way is to take your holiday and get away for awhile in another locale. One place you can go that is not too far to find a simple, relaxing holiday is Cuba. Although it is not on everyone's list of vacation destinations, Cuba has a lot to offer at any time of the year and is the perfect spot for a quiet, peaceful Christmas with friends or family.

Traveling to Cuba for Americans is difficult to do legally. You must first have a license to spend money in Cuba for the U.S. Department of Treasury Office Of Foreign Assets Control. These licenses are not given to everyone. Most Americans traveling to Cuba do so on the down-low by first traveling to a 3^rd country. By first travelling to Canada or Mexico, you can buy a Cuban tourist card at the airport and then take another flight to Cuba. Canada has an especially high rated travel service and promotional network for trips to Cuba.

Once in Cuba, you will want to visit throughout the country. Unless you are staying at an all-inclusive resort and don't care to see any of the sights besides the beach, you will have to travel to see all that you can see. The most popular cities to visit are Havan, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Trinidad, and Santiago de Cuba. All of these destinations offer something unique and worth seeing.

Christmas in Cuba has only been celebrated recently in the past 10 years. Cuba was officially declared an atheist nation in 1962 and Christmas celebrations were banned in 1969 under the pretext that they interfered with the sugar cane harvest. Christmas was provisionally reinstated as a national holiday in 1997 and officially in 1998 as a peace offering to the Pope while he visited the island nation.

Christmas in Cuba is more a religious and family holiday than anything. Most celebrations are low key events that begin on Christmas Eve with a traditional dinner of pit-roasted whole pig, apples, plantains, beans, rice, and flan desserts amongst other local favorites. Christmas day is a time to visit quietly with friends and family.

If you are a tourist staying at a resort, the resort may cater to your needs by offering a more Americanized or European celebration. Personally, I would avoid this and go to a local restaurant to get a taste of a real Cuban Christmas. Midnight Mass is held in chapels across Cuba and it is recommended to attend.

There is a wealth of tradition and tropical fun to be had in Cuba for visitors. Christmas tourists are always welcome and by going at this time of year you can escape the commercialism of our modern American celebrations.