A Cuban woman living in the United States has taken social media by storm with her humorous and witty explanation of why the traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations are not observed in Cuba like they are in other countries.
In a video making the rounds on TikTok and other platforms, the woman narrates how her boss offered her two days off on December 24th and 25th. However, she declined the offer to avoid losing money, as she humorously explains that in Cuba, those days hold no festive significance.
"The 24th is about baby Jesus, on the 24th or 25th, but in Cuba, Jesus skipped us. The kings or whoever brought him bypassed Cuba entirely. The only celebration we've had is December 31st with family, and now there's no family left because if they're not dead from chikungunya, they're in this country. If they didn't die at sea, there's no pork because it's buried underground. So, no New Year's Eve, no wise men, no toys. There's nothing there, just CDR or May 1st, which is when you find out there's still a population in Cuba. But as for eating turkey for two days and losing money, no way, my love," she said, laughing.
This candid explanation offers a satirical glimpse into the social and economic realities of Cuba, where traditional festivities were abolished for decades by the communist regime, replaced with political events like May Day or CDR marches.
Social media users praised the Cuban woman's authenticity and sense of humor, noting that despite the hardships, the Cuban people continue to find reasons to laugh at their circumstances.
The video has garnered thousands of views and comments from Cubans both on and off the island, many of whom resonate with her sarcastic depiction of Cuba's December "non-celebrations."
Understanding Christmas in Cuba
Why isn't Christmas celebrated in Cuba?
Christmas was not traditionally celebrated in Cuba due to the communist regime's policies, which replaced religious festivities with political events.
What replaces Christmas celebrations in Cuba?
Instead of Christmas, political events such as May Day and marches organized by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) are held.