The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-12-21
How Cubans Celebrate
Christmas.
celebrate Christmas. but
not in the same manner that

which his sleigh can glide. So the lit
tie Cubans do not hang up their stock.
ings in expectation of gifts.
The Cubans give presents in connec
ton with the Christmas celebration.
but this is done on Jan. 6. lei Dia de
los Reyes" The day of the kings Cuba
| celebrates the visit of the three wise
men-B Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar-
to the infant Jesus with their offerings
of gold. frankincense and myrrh. This
is the annual love gift day. when the
Cubans give their children and dear
ones beautiful presents in our bounti-
full Christmas manner.
In Cuba you don't ask child, what
do you want Santa Claus to bring
your but, What are the wise men Of
the east going to give you?"
Instead Of our Christmas day dinner,
the Cubans have a great family re-
union, the Christmas eve supper, called
the ''cena de noche buena," or supper
of the good night" The long table is
graced by three and four generations
Of the large families in gay attire.
great yearly family feast in which the
elder generation gives blessing to the
young somewhat akin to that Of the
old patriarchs. The long festal board
is spread in the great dining room, the
high ceiling and walls of which are
covered With festoons and floral deco.
rations. The table is also adorned with
Cuba's many fruits, fragrant flowers,
tall parafin >colored candles and a
monstrous golden cornucopia filed with
delicious Cuban sweets. No big roast
Christmas turkey is seen, but instead
plump. juicy. gayly bedecked roast
pig is the tables centerpiece.
A famous accompanying dish is the
great pyramid of boiled white rice and
black beans, or 'Moros y Cristianos,"
as the Cubans dub it in remembrance
of the wars between the Moors and
Christians in old Spain. This delicacy
is much relished, and many are the
ancestral jests made in the eating of
it. The choicest vintages Of Spain are
served in abundance. and the air is
fragrant with tobacco smoke
The Christmas eve dinner of several
hours concludes with the thick black
Spanish chocolate and various liqueurs
made in Cuba. At midnight the cock
crow mass commemorating our Saw
iour's birth is announced by the ring
! ing Of the great bronze bells in Ha-
vana's many churches. Blares of shrill
| trumpets. guitar serenades in the
streets and joyous singing of many
Christmas carols accompany the thou
| sands Of worshipers to the ceremony.
In Havana this mass is largely at.
! tended by the devOut. and the narrow
streets leading to, the cathedral and
| other churches are crowded by the
| worshipers. The church services are
most impressive. Large bodies of we'll
trained voices beautify the mass.
| There are no pews in the Cuban
cnurcncS The wOrshipers kneel on the
! marble floor or ON cushions brought
! for the purpose. There is perfect de.
morracy in the service. Rich and poor
alike share III the mass
The Christmas afternoon is devoted
to many outdoor games. HatleSs. coat
less. >h"eleSs. the young Cubans play
Alun" the coral ocean shores and great
pIitn tree avenues. The goat is the
! rhintren'> tnvOrite animal. and be is
kept busy Oh christmas day drawing
the youngsters throughout all the
parks.
The SpaniardS in Cuba retain some
Swarthy SenorS form rings of dancers
| in public plaZaS and sing Spain's many
old sacred airs. The handnrriaS and
| g,Ia rachaS. much like our banjo dittieS
| are pleasing accomlanimentS
The weather. Spanish and Cuban
families spend Christmas week at
their stately homes on the vast sugar
| plantations in Santa Clara. Puerto
| Principe and other provinces. They
gather about them merry house par
| ties. which continue Until the New
Years. Their hospitality is generous.
and Americans are fortunate to be
guests. The grandparents have their
| several generations Of children and re-
new the old peninsular Christmastide
| customs.
4 sumptuous evening dinner is fol
lowed by the languOrous Spanish dan
III. An aristocratic old don will lead
the papalote. which is similar to our
old fishers hornpipe- He is followed
by the young senors and senoritas.
often in gay Spanish court costumes.
| Throughout the smaller towns of Gu
ba's provinces the poorer classes: dur
| ing the Christmas week hang on the
| front walls of their humble homes Il
'arge basket. The passerby is cordial
| ly greeted from the door and windows
Of the shack or peasants more preten
tious home with most cordial Ma!
| God bless you and yours for ever and
ever In return the recipients of the
henediction put small coins. Christmas
| fr,lits and deiicacies. and religious, Or
namentS in the hanging basket