THE CUBA REVIEW 



2r 



kept in close quarters and fattened on walnuts to render their flesh more toothsome for 

 the feast. The supper table is laden with roast turkey, baked hams, previously boiled 

 in champagne and well sugared, and rice and black beans, or moros y cristianos as this 

 dish is dubbed in remembrance of Spain's antagonistic races of olden times, the Moors 

 and Christians. Delicacies of all sorts, fruits, guava marmalade, cheese, preserves and 

 sweetmeats of all kinds are served and black coffee is succeeded by cigarettes for the 

 men, who regale themselves with the fragrant -weed, while the ladies wink at their 

 smoking. Wines and champagne flow freely, but seldom does anybody drink to excess, 

 for intoxication is rare among Cubans who are generally abstemious and temperate, and 

 intemperance is an imported vice. 



After supper people attend midnight mass, or the "Cockcrow mass," as it is called. 

 The birth of our Saviour is heralded by crowing roosters, pealing bells, blare of trumpets, 

 explosion of torpedoes anff street cries, — in fact bj^ a loud clamor of voices everywhere, 

 and boys play pranks on unwary church-goers and sometimes pin women's gowns 

 together, so when they get up from their knees there is a rip and a rent. 



Natives of Old Spain form a ring in the plaza and dance their traditional provincial 

 dances and sing national airs. The strumming of guitars is heard as well as Cuban 

 bandurrias and guarachas. A bandurria is somewhat similar to a banjo, rrud guarachas 

 are Cuban ditties composed by natives who are apt versifiers, and whose favorite theme is love. 



Many families pass the holidays in their country homes and gather around them a 

 merry house-party. Cavalcades of gallant cavaliers and gay maidens ride to church 

 while their elders prefer to go in their carriages. Upon their return from midnight 

 mass, the j-oung people indulge in the langourous daitsa with its slow, plaintive measure 

 and graceful swaying movement. To add to the general merriment, sometimes a sprightly 

 old don will dance the papalofe with the youngest girl, imitating the movements of a 

 kite, and while his partner will pull the imaginary strings, in obedience to every motion, 

 he sways from side to side and his speed and antics increase. Sometimes a pianist 

 furnishes the music, or else a number of colored musicians, with primitive drums con- 

 sisting of two wooden tubs with a hide stretched tightly over each one, on which the 

 performer beats time with two sticks and rhythmic regularit^^ while the strident notes 

 of the trombone or saxhorn intermingle with those of the botija. a clay jar, with finger 

 holes, into which the musicians breathes, his deep bass harmonizing with the accordeon, 

 and another son of Ham scratches the smooth surface of a gourd with a small instru- 

 ment, producing a rasping accompaniment. 



Dansas as well as guarachas are often dubbed grotesque names. However, "a rose by any 

 other name would smell as sweet," so this does not detract from their melody. And the 

 languor, grace and beauty of the tropics seem to be portrayed in Cuban strains. 



It is not the Cuban custom to give Christmas presents, as New Year's Day is their 

 season for gifts or agtiinaldos. On that day, members of families, friends and depen- 

 dents are remembered. 



During Advent, all the Roman Catholic churches have a miniature reproduction of 

 the Virgin Mother and the Infant Jesus. Mary, with the holy babe in her arms, is 

 represented near the manger, while the Wise Men from the East, who have followed 

 the star from afar, present their offerings to the Saviour of the world. In the back- 

 ground are the lowly denizens of the stable. Some devout Catholic families have 

 oratories in their pala- 



"^ PRIMITIVE 



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SUPPLY. 



tial homes and during 

 Christmastide also dis- 

 play a miniature repro- 

 duction of the Holy 

 Family in Bethlehem. 



And thus we cele- 

 brate in Cuba the Christ- 

 mas holidays in com- 

 memoration of the day 

 when angels sang : "Glory 

 to God in the highest, 

 and on earth peace, 

 good will toward men." 

 M. E. Springer. 



