The well-known Cuban actor Luis Alberto García used his signature wit to counter the government's stance against Christmas celebrations. This came after Lis Cuesta, wife of Miguel Díaz-Canel, and former Culture Minister Abel Prieto, criticized traditional holiday symbols as "imperialist" and "capitalist."
In a social media post, García sarcastically thanked the "SUCCESSFUL" state for considering those without Christmas trees, which he mockingly referred to as "that imperialist remnant, a symbol of cultural colonialism," in reference to a recent statement by Prieto.
The phrase "un prieto ahí" was widely interpreted as a direct jab at Abel Prieto, who had recently criticized Santa Claus and Christmas decorations in an article titled "Encounters and Disagreements with Santa Claus."
García employed sarcasm to highlight the frequent power outages plaguing Cuba, calling them a state "initiative" to replace Christmas trees by making household lights flicker in sync with the blackouts.
"It comes, it goes, it goes, it comes back, then it goes out again... the surviving appliances signal with their little sounds," he quipped.
The post was a direct response to Lis Cuesta's message on the social platform X, where she stated that Christmas "should be about solidarity, but it isn't always." Her message, alongside Prieto's text, faced widespread criticism for its ideological tone and lack of connection with the Cuban people's daily struggles.
García concluded his message by cynically noting, "Fortunately, any damaged appliance is replaced within 72 hours with the same brand and price, right?" This was a clear critique of the government's false triumphalism and the lack of real solutions.
Shared and commented on thousands of times, García's post has positioned him as one of the most outspoken figures in Cuban culture, boldly voicing what many feel but fear to express.
Response to Government Criticism on Christmas in Cuba
Why did Luis Alberto García respond to Lis Cuesta and Abel Prieto?
Luis Alberto García responded to criticize their derogatory remarks about Christmas symbols, highlighting their disconnect from the everyday problems faced by Cubans.
What did García say about the power outages in Cuba?
García sarcastically suggested that the frequent power outages were a state initiative to replace Christmas trees by creating a flickering light effect in homes.
How did the public react to García's message?
The public widely shared and commented on García's message, appreciating his boldness in addressing issues many Cubans feel but hesitate to speak about openly.