CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba’s heritage is multicultural, with music, dance, art, religion, and gastronomy as its fundamental pillars. In one way or another, all these elements shape the ancestral essence
of authentic Cuban identity. As an essential part of this legacy, Cuba holds onto its traditions, passed down and preserved from generation to generation.

One of the country’s most enduring traditions is the ritual of circling the Ceiba tree at El Templete—a centuries-old, magicalreligious custom that attracts both Havana residents and visitors.

This tradition takes place every November 16 in Old Havana, as the capital celebrates its founding anniversary.

Around El Templete, a beautiful neoclassical structure, Cubans and tourists gather to take part in the ritual.

Participants must walk three times around the sacred tree in a counterclockwise direction, making three heartfelt wishes and dropping coins at its roots.

It is a mystical act, leaving everyone convinced that their wishes will be granted.

According to historians, it was beneath another Ceiba tree, once standing on this very site, that the Villa de San Cristóbal de La Habana was officially founded in the 16th century.

Despite the passage of time, this ceremony continues to be held unfailingly each year.

Another of Cuba’s most significant traditional celebrations is the Parrandas de Remedios and the Charangas de Bejucal, which have been celebrated on Christmas Eve since the 19th century. Recognized in 2018 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, these festivities stem from a friendly yet intense rivalry between two neighborhoods. Each side designs elaborate floats, creates themed performances, and prepares a dazzling array of pyrotechnics, leading to the most anticipated revelry of the year on December 24th.

The celebration begins with the thunderous explosion of firework batteries announcing the grand event, igniting an atmosphere of electrifying joy. The party continues until dawn, when participants are already brimming with new ideas for the following year’s spectacle.

Dating back to colonial times, another of Havana’s nmost captivating traditions is the 9 O’Clock Cannon Blast. This event takes place every night at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, where a thunderous cannon shot marks the exact time.

This booming tradition, which began in the 17th century, originally signaled the closing of Havana’s city walls, which protected the city from pirate and privateer attacks. Today, a lively reenactment performed by young men dressed in colonial-era military uniforms gathers both locals and visitors at the fortress to witness the legendary cannon blast
ceremony.

Another deeply symbolic tradition in Havana is the March of the Torches.

Every January 28, in an act of love and reverence for José Martí, Cuba’s National Hero, hundreds of university students march with torches from the steps of the University of Havana to La Fragua Martiana.

This patriotic event commemorates Martí’s birth, honoring his legacy as a symbol of Cuban thought and identity.

Many other traditions enrich the cultural life of the largest island in the Caribbean. Some are tied to specific datesand times, while others are repeated rituals that have become a
cherished part of Cuban heritage, passed down through generations.

Through these customs, Cubans continue to tell the story of their unique and vibrant homeland— Cuba.