Cuban culture

The culture of Cuba is a striking example of the interpenetration of Spanish and African cultures.

Literature

The development of Cuban literature was greatly influenced by the struggle for independence, which lasted more than a hundred years. The founder of romanticism in Spanish America was the remarkable Cuban poet and prose writer José Maria de Heredia y Heredia (1803–1839). Of other Cuban writers of the 19th century. the authors of the abolitionist novels Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda (1814–1873) and Anselmo Suarez y Romero (1818–1878), everyday writers Cirilo Villaverde (1812–1894) and Ramon Mesa (1861–1911), and the romantic mulatto poets Placido (present) stand out . name Gabriel de la Concepcion Valdez, 1809–1844), and Juan Francisco Manzano (1797–1854), the greatest representative of the poetry of Spanish-American modernism Julián del Casal (1863–1893). Central place in Cuban literature of the 19th century. occupied by Cuban national hero and passionate independence fighter Jose Marti. One of Cuba's most prominent philosophers was the positivist Enrique José Varona (1849–1933).

At the beginning of the 20th century. the tradition of realistic prose was developed by the novelist Miguel de Carrion (1875–1929) and the authors of psychological stories Alfonso Hernandez Cata (1885–1940) and Jesus Castellanos (1879–1912). In the 1930s, Cuba became a hotbed for the formation of Latin American “negrism.” An outstanding representative of this movement was the poet Nicolas Guillen (1902–1989), whose poems, sounding in African rhythms, are imbued with a passionate desire for social justice. One of the founders of the “new Latin American novel” was the world famous writer Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980). Another famous novelist and poet, José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), became renowned as a daring innovator of form.

A new generation of modern Cuban writers rose to prominence after the revolution; these are the masters of the story Humberto Arenal (b. 1926), Felix Pita Rodriguez (1909–1990), Onelio Jorge Cardoso (1914–1986), Vergilio Piñera (1912–1979), novelists Soler Puig (1916–1996), Cintio Vitier (b. . 1921), Lisandro Otero (b. 1932), one of the founders of Latin American documentary fiction “testimony” Miguel Barnet (b. 1940).

Also famous are the poets Eliseo Diego (1920–1994), Fayar Khamis (b. 1930), Pablo Armando Fernandez (b. 1930) and Roberto Fernandez Retamar (b. 1930) - poet, essayist, publisher of a literary magazine, who for many years headed the international cultural center "House of the Americas". By the mid-1990s, a number of younger writers had gained widespread popularity both for their literary prowess and for their choice of topics that most post-revolutionary writers had preferred not to touch. Among the best of them are Cenel Paz and Abilio Estevez.

Music

The beginning of the professional Cuban school of composition was laid by Manuel Saumel Robredo (1817–1870) and Ignacio Cervantes Cavanag (1847–1905), who for the first time used themes of national folklore in their Cuban dances for piano. The founders of Cuban opera were Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes (1874–1944) and José Mauri Esteve (1856–1937), who first turned to the traditions of Afro-Cuban folklore. This trend was developed into modern musical forms by two of the best Cuban composers of the 20th century: Amadeo Roldan (1900–1939) and Alejandro García Caturla (1906–1940). The songs and plays of Ernesto Lecuona (1896–1963) are very popular. After the revolution, the national musical tradition was developed by composers influenced by Western European avant-gardeism: Carlos Fariñas (b. 1934), director of the national symphony orchestra (founded 1960), Manuel Duchesne Cusan (b. 1932), guitarist Leo Brouwer (b. 1939), Juan Blanco (b. 1920), adherent of electronic music. The “Society of Music Lovers” and the “Lyceum” that existed before the revolution, which promoted good music, were replaced after 1959 by numerous cultural centers.

Cuban folk music remains the basis of many modern dance rhythms around the world. In addition to the singers and musical groups that were popular in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s (such as Benny More and the Matamores trio), singers such as Pablo Milanes, Silvio Rodriguez, Omara Portuondo and Elena Burque, jazz pianists Chucho Valdez and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, as well as the ensembles of Elio Reve, Isaac Delgado, Pacho Alonso, Adalberto Alvarez, the Los Ban Ban ensemble, etc.

Cinema and theater

Under the auspices of the Cuban Institute of Cinematography and Film Industry, founded in 1959, the national cinematography is thriving. The most famous directors are Julio García Espinosa (b. 1926), Humberto Solas (b. 1942) and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (1928–1996).

Since 1979, Havana has hosted an annual international film festival - the largest film forum in Latin America and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere. Although the state of Cuban cinema was heavily affected by the financial crisis associated with the fall of the world socialist system, by the end of the 1990s there were signs of revival; With the help of foreign film producers, most often Mexican or Spanish, new films are made.

In December 1998, the 20th traditional film festival was held in Havana, and the main prize was won by a Cuban film directed by Fernando Perez.

After the revolution, the number of theaters in the country increased, including those giving performances in open areas. The first such theater was the experimental theater Escambray, created in the late 1960s, directed by Sergio Corrieri, famous for playing the leading role in Gutiérrez Alea's film Memories of Backwardness. The plots of the plays staged in this theater are borrowed from life and reflect the interests of ordinary people of the province of Escambray, and the professional activities of the troupe are closely related to sociological and political work. In total, there are more than 50 drama groups in the country.

The National Ballet of Cuba, created in 1948 by the famous ballerina Alicia Alonso, as well as the Camagüey Ballet, founded by Fernando Alonso, are very famous. There is also a wonderful folk dance group.

The formation of the national school of painting dates back to the first half of the 19th century, when the Academy of San Alejandro (now the National School of Fine Arts of San Alejandro) was founded (1817). The tendency to reflect national reality clearly manifests itself at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. in the works of painters Armando Menocal (1863–1942), who depicted scenes of the liberation war, and genre painters Leopoldo Romagnacha (1862–1951) and Ramon Loy (b. 1894). On Cuban artists of the 20th century.

contemporary French art had a noticeable influence. These include the abstract painters Amelia Pelaez (1897–1968) and Mariano Rodriguez (b. 1912); original artists Cundo Bermudez and Rene Portocarrero (b. 1912), using decorative and architectural motifs, Marcelo Pogolotti (b. 1902), creator of paintings with urban and proletarian themes; the famous Wilfredo Lam (b. 1902), for whom the pagan religious cult of Santeria served as the basis for his own fantasy world;

and finally, Mario Carreño, the author of murals depicting the life of black peasants in Cuba. In the 1950s, abstractionism became widespread among young artists as a form of protest against traditional art. The famous “Group of Eleven” belonged to this trend, uniting the most talented representatives of the younger generation, such as Raul Martinez (b. 1927), Antonia Ayris and Servando Cabrera Moreno.

During the revolution, a new generation of artists emerged, many of them became widely known, such as José Bedia, Tomás Sánchez, Juan Francisco Elso Padilla, Moisés Finale, José Franco, Flavio Garciandia, Manuel Mendive, Saida del Río, Julia Valdez, Marta Maria Pérez Bravo . They were joined by a number of even younger artists who had already made a name for themselves in the art world: Abel Barroso, Tania Bruguera, Carlos Estevez, Alicia Leal, Elsa Mora, Sandra Ramos, the Carpenter couple. The 1990s saw the emergence of a group of talented self-taught artists, including Roberto Hai Matamoros, Isabel de las Mercedes and Gilberto de la Nuez. The most original works are those of Garcia Montebravo, Luis Rodriguez and Julián Espinosa. Since 1984, when the Center named after. Wilfredo Lama organized the First Havana Arts Festival, and every two years an international exhibition of fine arts (Biennale) is held in Havana, representing the art of Latin America and the entire Third World.

ABSTRACT

Based on my own impressions, first of all I would like to say that Cuba is a country that it is impossible not to fall in love with. The first awareness of this fact occurred in 2009, when I was lucky enough to step off the plane on the Moscow-Havana flight at José Martí Airport. It does not leave me to this day, therefore, precisely for this reason, in my work I want to highlight the multifaceted, amazing, original culture of Liberty Island, what makes it up, what gave birth to it, what made it so unique - extraordinary , bright, contradictory and at the same time fascinating.

The rich and controversial history of this most amazing and beautiful country, the amazing mentality of its wonderful inhabitants, the peculiarities of their worldview and worldview, the experience of informal communication with them, as well as images of cultural monuments and attractions that I was lucky enough to visit - all this encourages me to use in this text a huge number of epithets, sometimes piling up sentences with them, but in this case it is impossible to do otherwise, since we are talking about the most amazing country - a free country, a country truly independent from anyone else...

It is impossible to talk about her without emotion...

...a country where people, receiving a maximum salary of $20, know how to smile...always, everywhere and to everyone...

...People who, despite all the hardships and troubles of a historical and economic nature, have not forgotten how to enjoy the sun, the ocean, the rain... each other, in the end...

“...When the UN first calculated the happiness index for countries that wished to provide data, rather unexpected leaders appeared at the top of the list of lucky people. The top five included Vanuatu, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominica, Panama, and Cuba took sixth place. These countries are not “rich” at all - but their residents feel happy..."

And how, after all of the above, can one resist the temptation to study in more detail all aspects of Cuban culture? I don’t know... And this is only a small part of what I want to say...

1. General information about the country

Cuba. Geographical position

Cuba- Member of the WTO, ECLAC, UNCTAD, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), Group of 77, Non-Aligned Movement, ILO. Located in the Caribbean Sea on the islands of Cuba, Juventud (until 1978 - Pinos) and many (about 1500) small islands. Cuba is washed by the Florida and Yucatan Straits in the north and southwest, respectively, in the east by the Windward Strait, and in the south by the Caribbean Sea. * The Cubans themselves compare their long and curved island to a sleeping crocodile.

The area of the country is 111 thousand square meters. The highest point of the country is Turkino Peak in the south (1,974 m above sea level). Administratively, Cuba is divided into 14 provinces: Pinar del Rio, Havana, Havana City, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo and 1 municipality: Isla Juventud.

Population of Cuba -is 11 million 163 thousand 934 inhabitants. Cubans make up 95%. In turn, they are divided into Creoles (descendants of the Spaniards and other European settlers; approximately 65%), mulattoes and blacks. It is believed that by the end of the 19th century, about a million black slaves were brought to Cuba from Africa. There is a fairly large Chinese colony on the island, which arose as a result of the Spaniards stimulating immigration after the end of the slave trade. On about. Descendants of Japanese settlers live in Juventud. In the eastern regions of Cuba there are immigrants from Haiti. In the province of Oriente there is an indigenous Indian population that has mixed with the Cubans, but has retained elements of its original culture.

Climate- tropical, trade wind. The average annual temperature is 25.5°C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 22.5°C and the hottest (August) is 27.8°C. The temperature of surface waters off the coast in winter is 22-24°C, in summer - 28-30°C. The average annual precipitation, usually in the form of showers, is 1400 mm, but dry years often occur. Cuba has clearly defined two climatic seasons: rainy (May-September) and dry (October-April). The rainy season accounts for 3/4 of the total annual precipitation.

Capital -Havana (2.8 million people). The city arose in 1515 as a well-fortified Spanish fort on the initiative of Diego Velazquez de Cuellar. At the end of the 16th century. Havana became the administrative center of the Spanish colony, and in 1902 - the capital of the Cuban state.

Time -The time is 8 hours behind Moscow. When it is noon in Moscow, it is 4 am in Cuba.

Politic system

Cuba is the only socialist state in the Western Hemisphere. The form of government is a socialist republic. The level of support for the Cuban government is quite high, despite a sufficient number of people dissatisfied with the regime.

* In Cuba, the so-called “dry and wet feet” law applies - Cubans who illegally tried to leave the territory of Cuba by swimming or by means of transport devices and were detained at sea return to Cuba, where not the most pleasant sanctions will be applied to them - imprisonment, but those Those who managed to land on shore receive the right to reside in the United States. John Kennedy once announced that “any Cuban who sets even one foot on the shores of the United States automatically receives the right to political asylum in this country.” The law was passed as a kind of apology to the Cubans, whom the United States was unable to liberate from the Castro dictatorship in April 1961. Now in Miami alone, 150 kilometers from Cuba, 1.5 million Cubans live, who have created a “little Cuba” here in anticipation of the collapse of the Castro regime.

The highest organ of the state is the National Assembly of People's Power, endowed with legislative rights. It elects from among the deputies the State Council, which represents the Assembly during breaks between sessions, and appoints members of the Council of Ministers, the highest executive and administrative body that is the government of the republic. Chairman of the Council of State - head of state and government - Raul Castro, and the symbol is, of course, Fidel.

*On my own behalf, I can note that the overwhelming majority of Cubans are true patriots. The names of Fidel and Che are pronounced enthusiastically and sublimely, with an exciting aspiration and a smile, and tourists are also happy to give coins worth three Cuban pesos with the image of the national hero - Ernesto Che Guevarra. :)

National flag

The Cuban national flag first flew in the city of Cardenas, Matanzas province, when a group of rebels took up arms against Spanish colonial rule in 1850.

The three blue stripes represent the three parts into which the island was divided at that time. Two white ones remind of the purity of intentions of the fighters for independence. The equilateral triangle represents the revolutionaries' ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity. The red color of the triangle is a proclamation of the blood that must be shed until independence is achieved. The white star is a symbol of complete freedom.

National emblem

The top field depicts a golden key, indicating the geographical position of Cuba between the two Americas, and a rising sun, symbolizing the birth of a new state. The three blue stripes and two white stripes on the left margin reflect the political and administrative divisions of Cuba during the colonial period, while the royal palm on the right margin symbolizes the unbending character of the Cuban people.

Cuban anthem- was written in parts. IN In 1867, Pedro Figueredo, a lawyer from the city of Bayamo, wrote its melody, and a year later, when the Ten Years' War had already begun, he composed the text of this anthem, which was initially called the Anthem of Bayamo, and later became the National Anthem. It was first performed publicly in the city of Bayamo on October 20, 1868.

*The unofficial anthem of Cuba is the famous song Guantanamera - translated from Spanish. "The Girl from Guantanamo Bay"

Official language -Spanish. "Cuban" Spanish includes many loanwords of African and Native American origin.

*and the phrases are pronounced very quickly, loudly and expressively. Many Cubans speak English, German and French. The Russian language is spoken predominantly by the adult or, let’s say, “morally mature” part of the population. But it is worth noting that the “younger” generation cannot take away their enthusiasm for learning the Russian language, especially those who are involved in the tourism business. They are happy to ask questions, be interested, and learn. Very inquisitive and good-natured people :)

2. Brief historical excursion

Cuba mentality population culture

The settlement of the island of Cuba occurred quite late, about four thousand years ago. By the time the Europeans arrived, the Indians were still at the stage of a primitive communal system and did not seek to resist the small detachment of Christopher Columbus, who landed in October 1492 in one of the bays of the island. However, the Spaniards began to conquer Cuba only in 1510. After the conquest of the Indians, a strict colonial regime was established. By 1537, almost the entire indigenous population of the island was exterminated. With the creation of a sugar cane plantation in Cuba, the need for cheap labor increased sharply, so the Spanish conquerors began to import black slaves from Africa to the island.

Over the following centuries, Spain actively sought to limit the development of industry in this colony, hoping to use it solely as a raw material appendage. England, which fought with Spain on the seas, in turn, itself dreamed of taking possession of Cuba. In 1762, she even managed to capture Havana and proclaim a free trade zone in it, which led to the weakening of the colonial regime. By the end of the 18th century, Cuba was already trading with France and the United States, which contributed to the rise of the tobacco and sugar industry and thus kept the islanders from active anti-Spanish protests.

But the desire to achieve independence has always lived among the Cuban people. Since 1868, a ten-year war for independence unfolded, local patriots even adopted a special constitution, and Spain made concessions. In 1886, slavery was abolished on the island. In 1895, revolutionary-minded circles of the Cuban public again rose up to fight for national sovereignty, which resulted in autonomy gained in 1897. Having entered into war with Spain in 1898, the United States tried to take advantage of the liberation struggle of the Cuban people, and according to the Paris Peace Treaty, Cuba was formally declared independent, but was practically occupied by the United States. Thus, the United States received exclusive rights, becoming virtually the decisive force on the island in all matters of foreign and domestic policy. Nevertheless, in May 1902, Cuba was already officially declared a republic and its North American neighbors were forced to withdraw their troops from its territory.

Cuba's continued dependent position on the United States gave rise to a whole wave of revolutionary uprisings in subsequent years. In 1934, the United States capitulated and revoked its rights to intervene in the island's internal affairs. The rise of pro-socialist sentiment among Cubans in the 1940s forced the government to abolish the constitution and impose a dictatorship. Although the attempt by revolutionary forces in 1953 and 1956 to overthrow the dictatorial regime was unsuccessful, a widespread guerrilla war unfolded throughout the island. By 1959, the rebels, led by Fidel Castro, took possession of the entire territory of their country and a socialist system was gradually established in Cuba.

3. Culture and traditions in Cuba

In contemporary art in Cuba, the theme of the struggle for justice and independence is most clearly expressed, because here each city keeps its own revolutionary stories that inspired poets, writers, composers, sculptors and painters to create immortal works glorifying freedom. Perhaps this is what seduces guests of the country who come here to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Cuba, where there is no place for oppression and prejudice!

Today's republic is considered the birthplace of many great people who influenced world culture: literature, painting, architecture, but first of all, of course, music.

The culture of Cuba is a harmonious synthesis of several cultures: Spanish, African and Afro-Cuban. The influence of these cultures is noticeable primarily in architectural style and fine arts. In music you can find African rhythms, lyrical Spanish serenades, fiery Cuban rumba and salsa everywhere. Cuban poetry is quite unique, reminiscent of the love lyrics of French and Spanish poets.

Literature.The development of Cuban literature was greatly influenced by the struggle for independence, which lasted more than a hundred years. The founder of romanticism in Spanish America was the wonderful Cuban poet and prose writer Jose Maria de Heredia y Heredia (1803-1839) (pictured). Of other Cuban writers of the 19th century. the authors of the abolitionist novels Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda (1814-1873) and Anselmo Suarez y Romero (1818-1878), everyday writers Cirilo Villaverde (1812-1894) and Ramon Mesa (1861-1911), and the romantic mulatto poets Placido (present) stand out . name Gabriel de la Concepcion Valdez, 1809-1844), and Juan Francisco Manzano (1797-1854), the largest representative of the poetry of Spanish-American modernism Julián del Casal (1863-1893). Central place in Cuban literature of the 19th century. occupied by Cuban national hero and passionate independence fighter Jose Marti. One of Cuba's most prominent philosophers was the positivist Enrique José Varona (1849-1933).

At the beginning of the 20th century. the tradition of realistic prose was developed by the novelist Miguel de Carrion (1875-1929) and the authors of psychological stories Alfonso Hernandez Cata (1885-1940) and Jesus Castellanos (1879-1912). In the 1930s, Cuba became a hotbed for the formation of Latin American “negrism.” An outstanding representative of this movement was the poet Nicolas Guillen (1902-1989), whose poems, sounding in African rhythms, are imbued with a passionate desire for social justice. One of the founders of the “new Latin American novel” was the world famous writer Alejo Carpentier (1904-1980). Another famous novelist and poet, José Lezama Lima (1910-1976), became famous as a daring innovator of form.

A new generation of modern Cuban writers rose to prominence after the revolution; these are the masters of the story Humberto Arenal (b. 1926), Felix Pita Rodriguez (1909-1990), Onelio Jorge Cardoso (1914-1986), Vergilio Piñera (1912-1979), novelists Soler Puig (1916-1996), Cintio Vitier (b. . 1921), Lisandro Otero (born 1932), one of the founders of Latin American documentary-fiction “testimony” Miguel Barnet (born 1940).

Edmundo Desnoes (b. 1930) deserves special mention, many of whose works are devoted to the collapse of the old world and the problems of the Cuban intelligentsia; Based on one of his novels, director T. Gutiérrez Alea staged one of the most remarkable Cuban films, “Memories of Backwardness.” Also famous are the poets Eliseo Diego (1920-1994), Fayar Khamis (born 1930), Pablo Armando Fernandez (born 1930) and Roberto Fernandez Retamar (born 1930) - poet, essayist, publisher of a literary magazine, who for many years headed the international cultural center "House of the Americas". By the mid-1990s, a number of younger writers had gained widespread popularity both for their literary prowess and for their choice of topics that most post-revolutionary writers had preferred not to touch. Among the best of them are Cenel Paz and Abilio Estevez.

Music.Characteristic is the use of a whole orchestra of musical instruments: wind, percussion and plucked instruments. The maracas is considered one of the symbols of folklore - this is a funny rattle, carved from a dry pumpkin and filled with seeds, which often sets the melody or complements it with its unusual sound.

Many specific features of Cuban art were illuminated and interpreted in the works of the internationally renowned anthropologist and musicologist Fernando Ortiz (1881-1969), who studied the role of African cultural heritage in Cuban culture. According to Ortiz, "the love union between the Spanish guitar and the African drum" gave rise to Cuba's most characteristic musical forms, the rumba dance and the long-winded "son" song. Cuban music has preserved European melodies, adopting unique and rich African rhythms. The song traditions of Spanish folklore can be traced in the most common musical genres - such as romantic songs and ballads (punto), the rustic dance of the zapateo (like tap dancing) and the peasant song of the guajira.

The beginning of the professional Cuban school of composition was laid by Manuel Saumel Robredo (1817-1870) (pictured left) and Ignacio Cervantes Cavanag (1847-1905) (pictured right), who for the first time used themes of national folklore in their Cuban piano dances. The founders of Cuban opera were Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes (1874-1944) and José Mauri Esteve (1856-1937), who first turned to the traditions of Afro-Cuban folklore. This trend was developed in line with modern musical forms by two of the best Cuban composers of the 20th century: Amadeo Roldan (1900-1939) and Alejandro García Caturla (1906-1940). The songs and plays of Ernesto Lecuona (1896-1963) are very popular. After the revolution, the national musical tradition was developed by composers influenced by Western European avant-gardeism: Carlos Fariñas (born 1934), director of the national symphony orchestra (founded 1960), Manuel Duchesne Cusan (born 1932), guitarist Leo Brouwer (born 1939), Juan Blanco (born 1920), adherent of electronic music. The “Society of Music Lovers” and the “Lyceum” that existed before the revolution, which promoted good music, were replaced after 1959 by numerous cultural centers.

Cinema and theater.Under the auspices of the Cuban Institute of Cinematography and Film Industry, founded in 1959, the national cinematography is thriving. The most famous directors are Julio García Espinosa (born 1926), Humberto Solas (born 1942) and Tomas Gutiérrez Alea (1928-1996).

After the revolution, the number of theaters in the country increased, including those giving performances in open areas. The first such theater was the experimental theater Escambray, created in the late 1960s, directed by Sergio Corrieri, famous for playing the title role in Gutiérrez Alea's film Memories of Backwardness. The plots of the plays staged in this theater are borrowed from life and reflect the interests of ordinary people of the province of Escambray, and the professional activities of the troupe are closely related to sociological and political work. In total, there are more than 50 drama groups in the country.

Art.The formation of the national school of painting dates back to the first half of the 19th century, when the Academy of San Alejandro (now the National School of Fine Arts of San Alejandro) was founded (1817). The tendency to reflect national reality clearly manifests itself at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. in the works of painters Armando Menocal (1863-1942), who depicted scenes of the liberation war, and genre painters Leopoldo Romagnacha (1862-1951) and Ramon Loy (b. 1894). On Cuban artists of the 20th century. contemporary French art had a noticeable influence. These include abstract painters Amelia Pelaez (1897-1968) and Mariano Rodriguez (b. 1912); original artists Cundo Bermudez and Rene Portocarrero (born 1912), using decorative and architectural motifs, Marcelo Pogolotti (born 1902), creator of paintings with urban and proletarian themes; the famous Wilfredo Lam (born 1902), for whom the pagan religious cult of Santeria served as the basis for his own fantasy world; and finally, Mario Carreño, the author of murals depicting the life of black peasants in Cuba. In the 1950s, abstractionism became widespread among young artists as a form of protest against traditional art. The famous “Group of Eleven” belonged to this trend, uniting the most talented representatives of the younger generation, such as Raul Martinez (born 1927), Antonia Eyris and Servando Cabrera Moreno.

Castro's government spends heavily on publishing books and makes great efforts to bring art to the masses. The publishing house “House of the Americas” was created, under whose auspices a number of government-funded international writers’ congresses took place; many Latin American writers and congress participants began to support the ideas of the Cuban revolution. In 1960, the National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists was created, whose first chairman was the poet Nicolas Guillen, and after his death - Abel Prieto (currently a member of the Politburo and Minister of Culture in the Cuban government).

Holiday life.The festive life of Cuba is very diverse.

Cuba's holidays are always a fascinating and colorful spectacle, be it a calm Catholic ceremony in the spirit of the Middle Ages or costumed annual carnivals with a sea of music, dance and fun. For many decades, researchers have been trying to uncover the secret of the lively and always cheerful lifestyle of the Cubans, who show their optimism even in the most hopeless situations. Perhaps the whole secret lies in the close contact of the people with rich folklore, observance of ancient traditions and closeness to nature. Only such a number of festive entertainment ceremonies and carnival processions can give a charge of vivacity and energy and leave all problems in the past.

The following national holidays are celebrated in Cuba:

January - Liberation Day

May - Labor Day

October - Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

December - Christmas

On holidays, the main attractions are not closed, most services are open, with the exception of banks and government agencies. Easter and other international religious holidays are not officially celebrated in Cuba.

Cubans celebrate the New Year fervently and publicly. Hot weather and the absence of any hint of snow does not in the least prevent the temperamental islanders from having fun from the heart. An interesting fact is that January 1 is celebrated in Cuba with much greater force than New Year's Eve. Do you know why? It’s just that on this day the residents of the “Island of Freedom” rejoice at the anniversary of the 1959 Revolution. It was on the first day of the year that troops under the command of Fidel Castro succeeded in removing the dictator Fulgencio Batista. In total, the celebrations last three days, ending on the second of January.

However, let's return to the New Year celebrations. First of all, we should talk about New Year's traditions, most of which have Spanish roots and are common in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cubans are descendants of Spanish conquistadors and African slaves, which explains the closeness of many superstitions and “rituals”. Here are some of them. On New Year's Eve, islanders prefer to dress up not only in new clothes, but also choose a suit based on color. Yellow and red are the most common because... symbolize luck and wealth. Often underwear also has this color. The second strange tradition is to walk around the house with a suitcase or sack on New Year's Eve. This, according to the Cubans, will help them spend the next 12 months on exciting travels. People set out to make circles around their homes after first putting on underwear of the desired color (usually yellow) and placing several small coins in their shoes. The last “ritual” promises wealth. Also at midnight you need to open the doors in the house. The new year will enter through the main entrance, and the old year will leave through the black one.

In many areas of Cuba, the custom of getting rid of last year's water has been preserved. To do this, cups, bowls, and pots are filled with water, and with the onset of the New Year, the contents are thrown out into the street right through the windows with joyful screams. At the New Year's table, Cubans also don't have to get bored; as soon as the clock starts striking 12 times, you need to eat 12 grapes, make the same number of wishes and not choke. It is believed that sweet berries mean happy months of the year, and sour ones mean unlucky months.

New Year's dishes are traditional and simple. Since there is some food shortage in Cuba (due to economic sanctions imposed by the United States), spit-roasted pig is already a great delicacy. Roast turkey is considered a "bourgeois" food, so it is served mainly in European restaurants aimed at tourists. A traditional dish that is present on the tables of both rich and poor families is black beans. This product symbolizes wealth and successful farming in the coming year. From black beans and rice, Cubans prepare a dish called “Christians and Moors,” apparently named so because of the combination of colors. Favorite side dishes for meat are stewed vegetables, rice or fried…tostones bananas. By the way, tostones are loved by Cubans at any time of the year; they are consumed not only with pork, but also as a snack and a nutritious breakfast. All festive dishes are generously sprinkled with hot sauces and seasoned with aromatic spices. Of the drinks, the most popular and popular is Cuban rum. It is drunk both in pure form and in cocktails diluted with juices with the addition of ice and fruit. Most islanders perceive champagne as an unprecedented luxury.

In Cuba, the New Year is celebrated everywhere - in the capital and in small villages. Whether you find yourself in Havana, Santiago, Trinidad or a small port town like Guibara, you will find crowds of people walking, having fun and dancing everywhere. It should be noted that in megacities, holidays, including the New Year, are more pompous. Thus, in Havana, the center of ceremonial events is Cathedral Square. This part of the Old Town has magnificent architecture and creates an uplifting mood in itself. On New Year's Eve, access to the square is closed, and seats for the Gala Dinner are reserved in advance and are not cheap (about 100 euros). Few Cubans can afford a holiday here.

In addition to the grand banquet, amazing Tropicana music and dance shows are held on the square. Another iconic metropolitan place is the Tropicana Cabaret. The entrance ticket here will cost 150 euros, but the money spent will be repaid with a lot of positive emotions. The entertainment program is organized with the participation of the best Cuban musicians and dancers. However, in order to have a fun New Year's Eve in Cuban style, you don't have to pay a lot of money. Many islanders and tourists choose inexpensive paladar restaurants, where you can eat well, drink plenty of rum and dance to the rhythms of fiery salsa. Local artists will accompany you on guitars and banjos and sing upbeat songs. Closer to midnight, a crowd of establishments and houses pours out into the streets and squares in order to watch the festive fireworks and congratulate those around them.

In small villages, the New Year is celebrated unitedly and grandly. In the evening, dances are held on the main square with competitions for the best dancing couple. The rum is flowing like a river! However, there are no very drunk people to be seen. Closer to the morning, tired and hot islanders go to sleep, so that the next day they can devote themselves to the Revolution Day holiday with renewed vigor.

It is also worth noting such an event in Cuban life as the Festival of Peasant Art - the days of El Cucalambe, which take place in June in Las Tunas. Trova performers come to participate in this event (cultural and musical movement that emerged in Cuba around 1970; based on the genre of romantic song)from all over Cuba. The festival is named after the poet Juan Cristobal Napoles Fajardo, nicknamed El Cucalambe (1829-1862), who lived here. He composed desims (ten-line stanzas), which were then set to music. In 1856, he created a poetic cycle praising the Creole peasant (guajiro). The poems found a response in the souls of Cubans and played a role in the political movements of the 19th century. A celebration in honor of the poet is held at the El Cornito Motel, 7 km west of Las Tunas. There are also cabarets here all year round.de la Cultura Camagneyana (Camagneyana Culture Days) are scheduled for the first two weeks of February. The Havana International Jazz Festival is held every two years in February. In April, the Semana de la Cultura (Culture Week) in Baracoa and the Electroacoustic Music Festival in Varadero are celebrated. During the first week of May, the Romeria de Mayo (May Folk Festival) takes place in Holguin. At the end of June, Trinidad hosts the Fiestas Sanjuaneras (Feast of Saint John). The Caribbean Culture Festival is celebrated in June or July. The 10-day Havana Contemporary Music Festival takes place in October. At the end of November, Trinidad hosts Semana de la Cultura Trinitaria (Trinitarian Culture Week). Every December the International Latin American Film Festival is held in Havana. Remember, in Cuba, Christmas Day is a working day.

The oldest and strongest tradition in Cuba is, of course, carnivals! They reveal the cheerful and easy character of the local population, in whose blood such nationalities as Spaniards, French, mestizos, mulattoes and blacks are mixed. Although who knows, maybe the love for noisy holidays goes back to the indigenous Siboney Indians, who were almost completely exterminated during the cruel times of the conquest of the island by European colonialists.

One way or another, it was in carnivals that for many centuries Cubans gave free rein to the impulses of their souls, forgetting about all prohibitions and prejudices. Even a random guest, for example, at a Havana celebration will speak within a few minutes in the most frank, most sensual and natural of all languages - the language of dance, which the temperamental residents of this colorful country speak perfectly.

The famous February carnivals, almost canceled in 1990 due to the difficult economic situation, have now been revived in Havana, Varadero, San Juan de los Remedios and Santiago de Cuba (July 24-26).

The carnivals themselves, often held in all big cities and lasting about a week, are a colorful procession accompanied by rhythmic folk and modern music. During this celebration of life, you will see both people in everyday clothes and disguised artists dancing on improvised platforms (carros), but in any case, the rhythmic body movements of all participants cannot leave anyone standing indifferent, and there are no spectators here - everyone is overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling of the universal unity and the desire to join the fun crowd!

Carnivals in Cuba are an integral part of everyday life, so not a single important political or historical event is complete without them.

The most interesting sight awaits residents and guests of Havana in the summer. The Chariot Carnival takes place here, which lasts three evenings in a row. Stages are passing through various places in the city, presenting fantastic performances based on legendary scenes, as well as walking ensembles - “comparsas” and large dressed up dolls “muñecones”, symbolizing various national characters. There are musical performances and open-air dancing throughout the night, and a sea of rum and beer adds endless fun to the celebration.

Santiago's famous Carnival originates from the "slave feasts" that were officially sanctioned in the 18th century, and the annual July Festival of Caribbean Culture has its roots in African religious rites. Today, these holidays take the form of competitions: compars bands march through the city streets, staging exciting musical “battles.” Townspeople dress up in colonial-era clothing or as deities (orishas) and clowns with huge papier-mâché heads. Some, on the contrary, strip down to bikinis decorated with sparkles and feathers. To the sound of Chinese horns and the sound of drums, this procession conga dances down Avenida Jesús Menendez.

Speaking of Cuban carnivals... There is one place in Havana where the carnival rages every day... :)

Once a well-known gangster Al Caponespecially came to Cuba to visit the most famous show in all of Latin America - Tropicana. And there was something to see: more than 200 singers, dancers and musicians took part in the bright and enchanting performance. They say Capone was very pleased with what he saw. The famous Havana cabaret "Tropicana" appeared in 1939. It was built on the territory of the Villa Mina estate and was originally called "Beau Site" (Beautiful Place). In 1940, the cabaret received the name “Tropicana”: the owner was fascinated by the song of the same name. Over time, the cabaret was divided into two parts: "Arcos de cristal" (Glass Arches) for musical performances and shows and "Bajo las estrellas" (Under the Stars) in the open air. Tropicana gained great popularity back in the fifties, when Cuba was actually under US rule. The Americans believed that "The Tropicana, which can accommodate over 1,750 guests, is a cabaret that no other cabaret in the United States can match.". At the Tropicana of that time, gambling was legalized - from slot machines to roulette and dice. Today, Tropicana has become a global brand that is associated not only with the most spectacular cabaret in the Caribbean, but also with Cuba itself, with the warm nights of Havana. The first thing that pleasantly surprises visitors is this amazing show business center. Many world-famous stars shone on the Tropicana stage. And today, performances in the legendary cabaret continue to attract spectators from all over the world..Religion in Cuba

Most Cubans consider themselves devout Catholics, believe in the ideals of socialism and participate in the rituals of African cults at the same time!

After the victory of the Cuban revolution, the church was separated from the state, and the state guaranteed the right to both the free exercise of religious worship and the conduct of atheistic propaganda. Many of the previously banned African religious cults received equal status with other churches.

A population survey conducted shortly before the victory of the revolution showed that 95.5% of respondents considered themselves believers. Of these, 72.5% called themselves Catholics. Today, 55% of Cubans consider themselves atheists.

Christian religions in Cuba are represented by the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches. In addition, there are about 42 religious sects, most of which preach various variants of African-Cuban spiritualist beliefs. There are followers of Judaism and small groups of followers of Eastern religious traditions.

The most common religion in Cuba is Catholicism. About 40% of Cubans consider themselves adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. There are many active Catholic churches in Cuba that are of great architectural and artistic value. Among them are the Havana Cathedral (pictured) and the Church of the Holy Angel.

In 1941, the Cuban Council of Churches was created. Today it unites 21 denominations - Protestants, the Anglican Church, Evangelicals and Pentecostals.

It should be noted that the “totalitarian communist regime” did not close a single church after the revolution, although it limited the manifestations of “normal church life”: special permission from the authorities was required for the construction or repair of a temple, for the purchase of a car and for obtaining entry or exit visas by priests and monks. And it was possible to obtain such permission only by refusing the slightest criticism of the existing regime. The celebration of religious holidays was prohibited.

On January 25, 1998, at the invitation of Fidel Castro, Pope John Paul II arrived in Cuba. The Pope visited four provinces, celebrated four masses, gave F. Castro a list of 302 names of political prisoners and held a number of other events. The culmination of this historic visit to the Island of Liberty was a mass in the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, where about a million Cubans gathered under the gaze of a huge portrait of Che Guevara. After the pontiff's visit, the Cuban authorities released several prisoners, allowed them to celebrate Christmas, agreed to allow new missionaries to enter the island - in general, the attitude towards the church became more liberal.

Due to the prohibitions of the Catholic Church under Spanish law, Protestantism in Cuba appeared later than Catholicism - at the end of the 19th century under the influence of Cubans who emigrated to the United States. The main temples were built after the North American intervention in 1898. During the first 50 years of the existence of the Cuban Republic, with the help of missionaries from the United States, Protestantism developed rapidly. Currently, 3% of the country's population is adherents of this religion. Protestants include Protestant Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, Nazarenes, Quakers, Salvation Army supporters, etc.

In January 2004, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople consecrated the first, and so far the only, Orthodox church in Cuba (pictured). The keys to the Church of St. Nicholas in the historical part of Havana were presented to the head of the Church of Constantinople by Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The temple, the construction of which Fidel Castro agreed to two years earlier, was erected entirely at the expense of the Cuban government. According to official data, the Orthodox community in Cuba numbers about two thousand people, the vast majority of them are immigrants from the republics of the former USSR, permanent residents of the island, as well as foreign diplomats and specialists.

Most Cubans combine Catholicism with syncretic beliefs that arose from a mixture of the Christian religion and various African cults. This is how the Afro-Cuban religion arose. Syncretism was born in the process of black slaves identifying their own gods with Catholic saints in search of the opportunity to freely practice their religious cults. Syncretic cults are represented in Cuba in two forms: Santeria (the most common) and Voodoo.

From 1513 to 1886, approximately 1.3 million slaves were brought to Cuba from Africa. These were representatives of four African peoples: the Bantu - the largest group from Central and Southern Africa; for - from southeastern Nigeria (arrived in 1762); the Yoruba - from West and South-West Africa, and the Ewe-fon (or Dahomeans) - from Benin - who brought with them the magic and witchcraft of the black people. When the first slaves were brought from Africa, they were prohibited from practicing the pagan folk religions. While forcibly converting slaves to Catholicism, slave owners still did not want to initiate them into all aspects of their faith, because they were afraid that by accepting Catholic teachings, slaves would realize that they were the same full-fledged people as their masters, and that slavery was evil. Having adopted Catholic saints and other attributes of this religion, Cubans of African descent continued to worship their folk deities. Slaves incorporated various aspects of Christianity into their national traditions, finding many similarities in Catholicism and their traditional faith: both religions worshiped the same Supreme God and believed in the existence of supernatural beings and life after death. The Catholic Mass was associated with blood sacrifice due to the ritual use of the body and blood of Jesus Christ by parishioners. So, it turned out that slaves and their owners believed in the same gods, but called them by different names. Catholic saints were identified with African spiritual beings - loa; The Blessed Virgin of Cobre, revered by Catholics as the patroness of Cuba, is from Ochun; The Most Pure Virgin of Mercy - with Obatalazh; The Blessed Virgin of Regla was associated with Yemaya; Saint Barbara is from Chango, and the patron saint of the infirm, Saint Lazarus, was like Babalu Aya. This allowed African slaves to maintain their cultural identity and resist the evil around them. In the Afro-Cuban religion there are no temples, all rituals are performed at home, the altar is located in the most visible place, and in the Catholic church the black man internally turns to his pagan saint.

Judaism in Cuba is practiced by members of the Jewish community. 1.5 thousand people consider themselves Judaists. There are several synagogues on the island, mainly in Havana.

However, regardless of their religious beliefs, Cubans remain one of the most cheerful and life-loving people on our planet.

Santeria is a syncretic religion that developed in Cuba. The African roots of “Santeria” are Yoruban (and not Dahomean, like “Voodoo”). The Yoruba live along the Niger River in what is now Benin and Nigeria. Forcibly converted to Christianity in the colonies, Yoruba slaves practiced their native religion in secret, using Catholic saints as a cover for the veneration of African gods - the orishas. The name "Santeria" comes from the Spanish word "santo", which means "holy". For a long time, the Cuban Yoruba called themselves and their religion “Lukumi” (like their African ancestors). And only relatively recently, when more and more whites (mainly of Spanish origin) began to join the cult of the orisha gods, many of its followers began to agree with the name “Santeria,” which is now widely known. From Cuba, Santeria spread to other Latin American countries - Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, as well as to the United States, where there is a powerful Cuban diaspora. Naturally, with such a number of followers and such a geographical spread, this religion has a lot of variations. Each community has its own versions of the names of the gods and associated myths, rituals, divination techniques, etc.

The Voodoo religion came to Cuba from Haiti, and its adherents are primarily immigrants from the island of Haiti. This religion has a rich cultural history and an interesting combination of beliefs from other religions. As a spiritual tradition, voodoo originated in Haiti during French colonial slavery. Voodoo is a more or less intact African religion, and its Christian elements are part of the colonial legacy. The Voodoo religion comes from Dahomey (the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, where the Yoruba, Ewe-fon and others lived - now the territory of Togo, Benin and Nigeria) and Congo (the Congo River basin and the Atlantic coast in the western part of Central Africa). Both regions underwent a long process of religious change, brought about by the fact that no tradition was considered orthodox and was thus capable of flexible adaptation. The population of the Congo considered themselves Christians. In Dahomey they were also familiar with the basics of Christianity. Life on the plantations forced people from different parts of Africa to come together. Slaves began to worship not only their own gods, but also gods from other religious traditions. They unified and changed the rituals of various tribes, as a result of which various religious groups united their teachings and created a new religion - “voodoo”.

Almost all followers of the Afro-Cuban religion practice spiritualism - the belief in constant communication between the living and the dead, either through their own mediumistic abilities or through a so-called medium.

In Cuba, during all the years of the Castro regime, Masonic lodges operated openly: more than 26,000 people belong to 300 Masonic lodges. Most Masons live in Havana. Interestingly, the national hero of Cuba and passionate fighter for independence, José Martí, was a master of the Masonic lodge.

The lodge named after him still exists in Cuba.

*The activities of Masonic lodges have never been prohibited or persecuted in Cuba. This is the only country of the socialist camp where Freemasonry has been preserved. Currently, about 28,000 Cubans are members of the Grand Lodge of Cuba.

Conclusion

To summarize...and I don’t want to sum it up, to be honest...

I would like to cover many aspects, but, unfortunately, I am limited by the format of this work, as well as the main topic that I needed to cover, namely culture. Although...if you delve into free speculation on the subject - “what is culture in our modern life?” and to philosophize a little, you can go into the wilds and talk about how and when the Internet appeared in Cuba, and why the “blue” dream of Cuban youth is to purchase a mobile phone... Therefore, we had to adhere to the classical interpretation of this concept.

Once you have personally met Cuba, you don’t want to part with it, it’s impossible not to remember it, and it’s impossible not to talk about it. And you always want to talk a lot, loudly and emotionally, gesticulating furiously, to match the local population...:)

For me, this is not just a beautiful exotic country, with generally accepted and widespread associations - rum, cigars, Fidel, Che, socialism, mojitos, Hemingway, etc.

Perhaps, having visited there and tried to understand and study the history of Cuba, its culture, the mentality of the population, and most importantly, “perceive” (“n” is omitted on purpose in order to emphasize the very origin of this verb - from the word “ perception", as if to dissolve in myself...) first of all empirically, to absorb and cultivate the whole range of feelings that she gave me, I revised some aspects of my worldview and carried out a “moral inventory” of my values.

Fortunately, this work does not pretend to be anything.

It’s just that sometimes it’s very useful to take your eyes off monitors, phones, TV screens and just look around. Look around. And try to smile... at the sun, at the rain, at a passerby who accidentally bumped you, at just the world around you... as the Cubans still know how to do...

And I hope they will never forget how.

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Talking about Cuban culture, it is necessary to dwell on its holidays, because it is the holidays that often better determine the spiritual beginning and the paths for the further development of the people. In Cuba, it is customary to celebrate holidays on a truly Latin American scale. If it is Independence Day, the streets are filled with crowds of jubilant people waving national flags and shouting words of welcome to Fidel and Raul Castro. If this is Guerrilla Day, then literally every Cuban considers it his duty to go out into the street wearing a T-shirt with Che Guevara looking menacingly. If it is Christmas, then thousands of people procession through the streets of Havana and other large Cuban cities, in which people pay tribute to the Savior and the Virgin Mary.

Cuban culture– this is also amazing Cuban literature. In many ways, the literature of Liberty Island is aimed at glorifying the existing political system, but in addition to many works of Cuban socialist realism, there are other books. These include the works of Lydia Cabrera, who is considered the founder of a literary movement in Cuba dedicated to people of African descent. She was not only an excellent writer, but also an excellent ethnographer. Many students in Cuba and the United States still study from her ethnographic works today.

Another great representative of Cuban literature can be considered Eduardo Maneta. This is a playwright whose works are used to create performances in theaters in Cuba, France, the USA and other countries of the world. Eduardo Manet is a Chevalier of the French Order of Letters and Arts.

IN Cuban culture There is also a place for very contradictory religious cults. One of these is the cult of voodoo. Many attribute voodooism to manifestations Cuban culture based on magical rituals. This is partly true. Although to a greater extent, the cult of voodoo is a way of life for those who try to achieve unity with nature and its forces.

For tourists from other countries, voodoo rituals may seem too cruel, so the ritual themes of the cult are under an unspoken ban by official authorities.

Also see:

Capital of Cuba: a kaleidoscope city

Havana is a city that symbolizes the spirit of true freedom, sun, beaches and, of course, the main revolutionary on planet Earth today – Fidel Castro. The capital of Cuba is a city about which poems are written and songs are dedicated to it. This city is a magnificent image of multiculturalism.

State symbols of Cuba

The Island of Liberty, Cuba, is a state that embodies the spirit of Latin American independence, love of life and devotion to ideals. Cuba's national symbols reflect these ideals. Let's take a closer look at the coat of arms, flag and anthem of Cuba.

And before you head to the beach, plan at least a few excursions that will let you learn about Cuba's history; I assure you - you will not regret it at all.

For more than twenty years, the eastern part of the capital of Cuba, Old Havana, has been restored, so half of all buildings have been completely updated and now, probably, it can become a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the special uniqueness of its architectural structures. Walking between buildings painted in pastel colors, you can visit the famous Plaza de la Catedral, where the magnificent San Cristobal Cathedral stands, and eat in a restaurant with a terrace that will shelter you from the scorching midday sun.

Among the many cafes and bars scattered in the area, there is one called Bodeguita del Medio, where the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway liked to go. In order to truly feel the local flavor, you will need to spend at least one day walking along the small streets of these places. Fans of original alcoholic drinks will be able to amuse themselves with a short but quite interesting visit to the Rum Museum. There is another place that also attracts many people - this is the Castillo de Ral Fuerza.

At the exit of Old Havana, it is interesting to see the combination of Spanish-Andalusian colonial architecture, which has become decrepit over time, with new buildings with strict lines, reflecting the era and the local way of life. Since Havana is a real architectural monument telling the history of the island, one can only hope that not only Old Havana, but the entire city is being restored. Because of its extraordinary style, it can certainly become the most beautiful city not only in Latin America, but in the whole world.

On the outskirts of the western part of the city, you can also visit one of the largest cemeteries in the world - Necrópolis de Colón, containing 800,000 graves. Famous Cuban personalities, including politicians and artists, were buried here. For example, not far from the entrance, on the right side, there is the grave of the former lead singer of the once popular group Buena Vista Social Club - Ibrahim Ferer. Knowing that tourists can easily get lost in such a huge area as this cemetery, smiling Cubans come here specifically to sell them a short guide.

A walk along Malecon Avenue, which runs along the sea in the northern part of the city, will give you great pleasure. An original cabriolet taxi of the old type will help with this; here it is called a “cocotaxi”. This is an ordinary moped, which has only two seats for passengers in the rear.

Continuing along the Malikon, closer to its eastern side, is the Hotel Nacional, built in 1930. It was home to such personalities as: Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, as well as gangsters of the Frank Costello era. Over a cup of evening coffee in one of the hotel rooms, you can admire exactly the same design that is present in Coppola's films.

Evening time can be used to attend Latin dance shows, such as salsa, because Cuba is the birthplace of these dances. If you are truly interested in Latin dancing, then you should not go to some places on the outskirts of the city or where both accommodation and services are included. Your best bet is to head to the Habana Café at the Melià Cohiba Hotel. Only here you can see a high-class show.

After such an impression-filled walk around Havana, you can finally sit comfortably on the hot sand of a sun-drenched beach.

Today's republic is considered the birthplace of many great people who influenced world culture: literature, painting, architecture, but first of all, of course, music.

Literature

The development of Cuban literature was greatly influenced by the struggle for independence, which lasted more than a hundred years. The founder of romanticism in Spanish America was the wonderful Cuban poet and prose writer Jose Maria de Heredia y Heredia (1803-1839) (pictured). Of other Cuban writers of the 19th century. the authors of the abolitionist novels Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda (1814-1873) and Anselmo Suarez y Romero (1818-1878), everyday writers Cirilo Villaverde (1812-1894) and Ramon Mesa (1861-1911), and the romantic mulatto poets Placido (present) stand out . name Gabriel de la Concepcion Valdez, 1809-1844), and Juan Francisco Manzano (1797-1854), the largest representative of the poetry of Spanish-American modernism Julián del Casal (1863-1893). Central place in Cuban literature of the 19th century. occupied by Cuban national hero and passionate independence fighter Jose Marti. One of Cuba's most prominent philosophers was the positivist Enrique José Varona (1849-1933).