Cuban Halloween: Made in Hollywood
Photo by Enrique de la Osa
As early as the 20th century, Halloween was celebrated by a select sector of Cuban society, the wealthiest of families. They organized large parties and dances where guests dressed up as terrifying characters. Since the United States’ intervention in Cuba’s independence war in 1898, Cuban aristocracy (and Cuba in general) was greatly influenced by U.S. culture. Northern traditions were incorporated into the island’s lifestyle, at times quite awkwardly.
After the Cuban revolution, this holiday disappeared from everyday Cuban life. Cultural customs from the north were labeled "ideologically divergent." Thus the Beatles, jazz, rock and roll, and other cultural components that resembled the U.S. in any way were banned. In any case, those who previously celebrated this holiday, the aristocracy, had mostly left the country after the triumph of the revolution. The working class had not integrated this holiday into their traditions and would not do so for another 50 years via the global cultural industry and what many intellectuals call "soft power."
At first, Halloween re-emerged at college campuses. Later, well-to-do families began hosting private parties and decorated their houses with plastic, inflatable pumpkins. These parties and decorations were mostly isolated events until 2014 when for the first time Havana’s streets filled with crazy teenagers and young people dressed as fictional characters.
Halloween has recently gained ground in today’s Cuba, despite the blockade and hostile relations with the United States. The flow of Cubans between the U.S. and Cuba, more accessible Internet service allowing for more exposure to the world, and El Paquete which offers loads of pirated T.V. series and Hollywood films have contributed to Halloween’s popularity today. Many young Cubans are jazzed about dressing up; Batman, Dracula, Edward Scissorhands, and the Suicide Squad are all popular costumes.
No Trick or Treat
Most families cannot afford to buy enough candy to give away. Even costume rental is quite expensive considering the average monthly state salary (~30 USD). While some can afford to rent costumes in specialty stores others make their own at home and use makeup to paint terrifying expressions on their faces.
It's no secret that Halloween celebrations in the United States bring in millions of dollars. In Cuba, the private sector is also taking advantage of this new holiday opportunity by attracting mostly a younger clientele with themed parties, captivating orange and black decorations, and dance competitions.
Local clubs in Havana that offer Halloween themed nights.
Halloween celebrations are mostly found in the cities. Havana, Varadero, and Santa Clara are three of the country’s epicenters where young people fill the streets. The rest of the provinces witness holiday cheer on a smaller scale although momentum is increasing every year.
Before the return of Halloween, Cuban intellectuals showed signs of disapproval; "The Witches’ Party" is seen by many as a bourgeois practice. Given the fact that Cuba is a former Spanish colony, All Souls’ Day is the traditional cultural practice at this time of year. Every November 2nd, vaults are cleaned and people place fresh flowers for their deceased relatives. Despite Halloween’s religious origins the mostly secular holiday of today could indicate less of a following for this national tradition.
The Critics Wonder…
Why celebrate the arrival of the equinox in a country that only experiences dry and wet seasons? Do Cubans need to protect themselves from the "dark season" in the tropics where the day’s hours don’t vary greatly at any time of the year? Should Cubans thank the gods for the end of harvest just a month before the sugar harvest begins?
The truth is that Halloween, a cultural tradition so distant from the Caribbean lifestyle, has managed to sneak into Cuban culture and is turning a traditional religious practice into a party - a popular event, an excuse to go out, a break in the daily routine, and a time to let your imagination fly.