What’s up in Cuba: January 2022
Chachachá Restaurant, our top pick for January 2022 || Image by Chachachá
Want to know what’s been up in Cuba since the start of the New Year? Well, keep reading! We’ve drafted a list of newsworthy updates, popular events, fun facts, as well as trending phrases, memes, and songs that are representative of January on the island.
01 Día de los Reyes
Unlike the U.S. which celebrates Santa Claus, Cuba inherited the Three Wise Men from Spain who bring gifts to children every January 6th. This day is known as Black Kings Day. During the colonial period, the feast of the Three Magi was the only day that slaves were freed from forced labor to perform their religious festivals in public.
The Spanish painter, Víctor Patricio de Landaluze, portrayed this ritual of slaves dressed in exotic costumes, dancing and singing to the rhythm of the drums blessed by their Yoruba saints.
After two years of COVID, this tradition was revived and like every January 6th in Havana, Cubans sang to Africa where many of their ancestors were born.
02 Caravana de la Libertdad
Led by Fidel Castro and the Rebel Army, the Freedom Caravan made its debut in Havana in 1959.
This year, the Freedom Caravan event, full of patriotic symbolism, celebrated the 63rd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.
The procession consists of a multi-day journey covering the length of the island (of more than a thousand kilometers) beginning in Santiago de Cuba to reach the capital, Havana. People welcome the passing caravans along the street, waving and shouting political slogans.
03 National Baseball Series
The 61st National Baseball Series in Cuba officially kicked off on January 23rd.
The first of the 75 games was held in Bayamo, capital of the Granma province, where last year's champion team resides.
The national series determines the pre-selection of the Cuban National Team to play in international events.
04 Festival de Teatro Villanueva
The Festival de Teatro Villanueva commenced on January 7th and will host Cuban home ground plays through January 31st. For this month-long event, nearly all the theaters on the island opened to the public for the first time since COVID restrictions from the last two years. Cuba has a very extensive theatrical legacy, with a history of strident and deeply critical works, as well as popular and Caribbean humor.
05 Second Most Vaccinated Country
Cuba begins 2022 as the second most vaccinated country in the world. As the world faces yet another phase of the pandemic, Cuba continues to roll out the national booster campaign and to enforce the countrywide mask mandate.
06 International Jazz Plaza Festival
The 37th International Jazz Plaza Festival took place January 18-23, in a hybrid format (virtual and in-person). It has been one of the most acclaimed and popular events in the Cuban music scene since its creation in 1980.
Here’s a list of our favorite Cuban and foreign artists who played in the festival to inspire and follow ↓
→ Ernán López-Nussa (Cuban) @ernanlopeznussa
→ Síntesis and Eme Alfonso (Cuban) @sintesis_music @emealfonso
→ Alain Pérez y su orquesta (Cuban) @_alainperez_
→ Alejandro Meroño (Cuban) @alejandrojupiter
→ Dayramir González (Cuban) @dayramirgonzalez_piano
→ Yasek Manzano (Cuban) @yasekmanzano
→ Javier Malosetti (Argentina) @javiermalosettiok
Also, for all of you seasoned and new-found jazz lovers, check out our blog covering five top Cuban jazz recommendations that you don’t want to miss!
07 Our Favorite Memes of the month: the Pork Crisis
If one thing is distinctive about Cuban culture, it is laughing at Cuba’s biggest problems. Last December, it was very difficult for many Cubans to get pork, an essential ingredient in the traditional New Year's Eve recipe. The shortage was part of a national food crisis that affected various products, including pork, which was poor timing, to say the least. The supply shortage in the domestic market, the insufficient food imports, and the effects of the national monetary unification led to unprecedented inflation. To put things in perspective, one pound of pork costs up to 150-250 CUP (which is about 2-3 in USD).
08 Word on the Street: January’s Trendy Phrase
Everyone has been talking about the “Habla Matador” song by El Taiger and El Matador this month. Its catchy chorus quickly turned into the new, popular phrase on the island: “Bonito, apuesto y todo lo demás por supuesto.” The meaning, you ask? To cheer up someone who thinks he/she is attractive but in reality, is not. Yep. That can be a tough pill to swallow! Many Cubans enjoy making fun of others. (But let’s be real – who doesn’t to a certain extent?)
09 restaurant of the month: chachachá
Havana restaurant, Chachachá, has been one of the top trending spots on social media. Take a look at their Instagram @chachacha.havana and add it to your list of tasty places to visit when you come to Cuba.
And that’s a wrap! The new year has kicked off with the resurgence of (safe) social gatherings and cultural activity in Cuba. Despite the arrival of the COVID variant, Omicron, the idea of shutting down the country (once again) is not a viable option and a real cause of claustrophobia, as Cuba is a country that depends on tourism more than ever to recover the national economy.
If you found this monthly update useful, interesting, or missing a noteworthy detail, please reach out to us. We’d love to hear what you think!