Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-11-27
How Cubans Celebrate
Christmas.

IA
! ~ BANS celebrate Christmas. but
6 not III the same manner that
Americans do. Santa Claus Is
unknown In Havana There
are no elilmneys 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 thar stock
! ngs 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 Cubs
/ 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 ask child. What
do you want Santa Claus TO bring
| you,?" but. What are the wise iuen OF
the east going to give your"
| Instead OF our Christmas day dinner.
| the ACubans 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
ratipns. The table is also adorned With
Cuba's many fruits, fragrant flowers,
tail paraffin coIored candles and a
monstfous golden cornueopia filed with
delicious Cuban sweets. No big roast
Christmas turkey is seen. but instead
plump. juicy. gayly hedecked roast
pig is the tables centerpiece.
A famous accompanying dish is the
great pyramid of boiled white rice and
black beans. or "Moros = cristianos-r
as the Cubanssdub it in Remembrance
of the wars between the Moors and
Christians in old Spain. This delicaey
ID much relisheds and many are the
ancestral jests made in the eating OF
1t. The choicest vintages of Spain are
served in abundance, and the air 10
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 commend rating our Saw.
tours birth is ANNOUNCED BY the ring
ing of the great bronze bells in Ha-
vana's many churches. Blares Of shriIl
trumpets. guitar serenades in the
streets and joyous singaag OF mauy
Christmas carois accozfsny the thou
sands of worshipers,ssythe ceremony
In Havana this mass Is largely at
tended by the deyout and the narrow
streets Eeading TO the cathedral anu
other churches are crowded By tle
worshipers. Tue CHURCH services are
most impressive Large bodies OF well
trained voices beautify the mass.
There are no pews in the Cuban
churches The worshipers kneei on tina
marble floor or on cushions brought
for the purpose. There Is perfect de
mocracy in the service. Rich and poog
alike share in the mass.
The Christmas afternoon is devoted
to many outdoor games. Hatiess. coat.
less. shoeIess. the young Cubans play
along the coral ocean shores aud great
palm tree avenues. The goat is tbs
children's fayorite 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
III public p1azas and sing SPANS mauy
I old sacred airs. The bandurrias and
guaraehas. much like our banjo ditties.
are pleasing acrompaniments.
The Weather Spanish and Cuban
families spend Christmas week al
their stately homes on the vast sugar
plantations IN Santa Clara. I'uerto
Principe and other provinces. Tlreg
gather about them merry house par
ties. which continue uutii the New
Years. Their hospitality is generous,
and Americans are fortunate % be
guests. The grandparents hays tpeir
several generations of children ana re-
new the old peninsuiar Christnastide
customs.
sumptuous evening dinuer Is fol
lowed by the iangu0rous 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 or Gu
ba's provinces the poorer classes dur
ing the Christmas week hang on the
front walls OF their humble homes a
large basket The passerby is cordial
~ greeted from the door and windows
of the shack or peasants more preten-
tious home with 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 deiicacies and religious or
naments in the hanging basket.