Christmas in Cuba 2024

Christmas parades (las parrandas) take place all over Latin America between December 16 and 26. However, the Cuban town of Remedios, 27 miles (44 km) east of Santa Clara, boasts the most outstanding Christmas extravaganza, celebrating Christmas with a vibrant street party.

Las Parrandas de Remedios Christmas Festival

According to a popular story, the town's priest was concerned that people would rather go to bed than attend the midnight mass. Thus, he enlisted local children to make noise in the streets and hoped that such conditions would bring parishioners to the church. That's how Las Parrandas de Remedios Christmas Festival was born here.

The festival spans from December 16th until December 26th, but Cubans start celebrating the holiday season much earlier, in early November. Nowadays, the event is mainly celebrated with loud street parties, fireworks displays, dancing, and concerts. Witness this beautiful tradition during the month of December. Revolución de Cuba has numerous establishments throughout the country and hosts Christmas parties nearly every day of December.

Christmas Foods

On Christmas Eve, Cubans eat special dishes for dinner. The Christmas feast is called Noche Buena and often features roasted pig, black beans, white rice, yuca con mojo (special marinade with garlic, onions, and sour oranges), and Cuban bread. For partying, Cubans tend to prefer mojitos, made out of white rum, mint, and sugar cane, but there are other variations.

Best Time to Visit Cuba

If you want to enjoy Christmas differently from the previous years, winter is the best time to visit Cuba. What's more, the weather during the holiday season is warm and can reach 79 °F (26 °C), which is perfect for those wanting to escape the cold of the north and celebrate the holiday season on a beach vacation.

History of the Feast

The government had banned the Christmas celebration until the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998. Since then, it has been celebrated in a uniquely Cuban way. Today, Cuban families gather for Christmas dinner after the midnight mass and enjoy festive decorations.