Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-12-19

How CubanS Celebrate
Christmas.
(UBANS celebrate Christmas. but
not In the same manner that

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A not in the same manner that
Americans do. Santa Claus is
unknown In Havana. There
are no chimneys by which he could en-
ter houses, and there is no snow on
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, 'El Dia de
los Reyes" The day Of the kings Cuba
celebrates the visit of the three wise
men-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
youT" but, What are the wise men of
the east going to give your
Instead of our Christmas day dinner.
the Cubans have 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.
The Christmas eve supper is the
great yearly family feast in which the
elder generation gives a 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 paraffin colOred candles and
monstrous golden cornucopia filed with
delicious Cuban sweets. No big roast
Christmas turkey is seen. but instead
ii 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 Hqueurs
made in Cuba. At midnight the cock
crow mass commemorating our Saw
tours 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
churches. The worshipers kneel on the
marble floor or On cushions brought
foe the purpose There is perfect de
mocracy in the service. Rich and poor
alike share in the mass.
The Christmas afternoon is devoted
to many outdoor games. Hatless, coat
less. shoeless. the young Cubans play
along the coral ocean shores and great
palm tree avenues. The goat is the
children's favorite animal, and he is
kept busy on Christmas day drawing
the youngsters throughout all the
parks.
The Spaniards in Cuba retain some
old customs of their native land The
swarthy senors form rings Of dancers
in public plazas and sing SPANS many
old sacred airs. The bandurrias and
guarachas, much like our banjo ditties,
are pleasing Accomplishments.
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.
sumptuous evening dinner Is fol
lowed by the languorOus Spanish dan
"a. 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
large basket The passerby is cordial
Iy greeted from the door and windows
of the shack or peasants more preten-
tious home with a most cordial May
God bless you and yours for ever and
ever" In return the recipients of the
benediction put small coins. Christmas
fruits and delicacies and religious or
naments in the hanging basket
SsEx :i; ~ s;'
81 NV. -. ~ ~