Cuban Culture – Quick Facts, Travel Hints, & Tips
About the People
§ Cuba is the biggest country in the Caribbean and can be considered to be a melting pot of different cultures and races.
§ The population of Cuba is about 11.4 million.
§ The largest cities are Havana (2.2 million), Santiago de Cuba (440,000), Camaguey (300,000), Holguin (240,000), Guantanamo (208,000), and Santa Clara (200,000).
§ Since May 1998, Cubans have required official permission to migrate to Havana.
§ The origins of the population include Spanish (over 35%), African (over 10%), mixed Spanish-African (over 50%), and Asian (over 1%).
§ You can see the hardships endured by the Cuban people etched into their faces, but you also see their amazing spirit and joie de vivre (the joy of living).
Language and Manners
§ The majority of Cubans speak Spanish. Other languages spoken are Haitian Creole and English.
§ When speaking to the elderly, or to strangers, Cubans speak more formally as a sign of respect.
§ Shaking hands upon greeting and farewelling is most common.
§ Men often exchange friendly hugs and it is also common for both men and women to greet friends and family with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Society and Conduct
§ Most Cubans are extremely courteous and polite towards guests, and will try to please you if at all possible. Because of this, their promises may sometimes be wishful thinking, and their appointments are often not kept.
§ To those unaccustomed to Latin American ways, a first line of defense is to avoid suggesting the answer in your question.
§ If things don’t work out exactly as desired, have an alternative plan ready and avoid getting angry.
§ It’s far better to display a sense of humor than to show your temper.
§ Generally, Cubans will pick up on your attitude instantly, and if you come across as patient and friendly, you’ll always get a friendly response
Dos & Don’ts
§ When doing any sort of business with individual Cubans, respect them by keeping a low profile.
§ For example, keep your voice down, and don’t count your money in plain sight. If in a private taxi, get the money ready during the trip and hand it to the driver as you are approaching your destination.
§ By doing any sort of private business transactions with you, they will be breaking the law and will be the ones to suffer the consequences.
§ Don’t try to generate political discussions in hotel lobbies, bars, tour buses, or other public places where those nearby may only understand a small part of what is being said – you could end up seriously embarrassing someone without even realizing it.
§ Remember that the Cubans understand their political situation better than you, so rather than tell them what you think, ask them to explain what they fell is good or bad about their system.
§ Away from the beach hotels, it is unwise to wear flashy clothing as this will mark you as a foreign tourist, to the delight of assorted hustlers and beggars.
§ You’ll be more accepted if you dress simply and modestly.
The Food
§ Traditional Cuban food is a combination of Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines, with a small Chinese influence.
§ Most popular foods are black beans, stews, and meats.
§ Traditional Cuban cuisine is often called Criolo.
§ Cassava, rice, beans, eggs, tomatoes, lettuce, chicken, beef and pork are common ingredients.
§ Coffee is of high quality and grown mainly for export, common coffee in Cuba is imported from Africa
Arts
§ Since the Cuban revolution dozens of art schools have been created, museums opened, and theatre groups formed.
§ Musicians are guaranteed a salary, and a national film industry has been established.
§ The National Ballet of Cuba has received international acclaim.
§ Music, art, drama, dance, and writing are a major part of Cuban culture, and activities in these fields are coordinated by the National Cultural Council.
§ Cuban artists and writers enjoy many privileges as members of the party-controlled National Union of Artists and Writers (UNEAC), and expulsion from this body is the artistic equivalent of being sent to Siberia.
Music
§ Cuban music is a happy combination of forceful African rhythms and Spanish poetic melody that ethnomusicologist Fernando Ortiz termed ‘a love affair between the African drum and the Spanish guitar.’
§ Cuba is a living model of cross-cultural fertilization, greatly influencing and contributing to the development of Argentinean tango, Ghanaian high-life, and Spanish flamenco.
§ Musicians across the globe have long drawn inspiration from Cuban rhythms, and salsa artists from New York to Puerto Rico continue to play predominantly Cuban music.
§ Cuban music has been perhaps the most popular form of world music since the introduction of recording technology.
§ The most influential form of Cuban music is called Son, which is said to be the Cuban equivalent of American country music. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Son and other Latin rhythms stirring in New York combined to create a loosely defined style related to jazz called Salsa.
§ Other popular forms of Cuban music are Guaracha, Bolero, Contradanza, Habanera, Charanga, Changui, and Cuban jazz.
Sports
§ Baseball is the most commonly played game in Cuba. The game has played a role in Cuban independence from Spain. Many Major League players in the United States are Cuban.
§ Boxing is the second most popular sport. Across Cuba today there are around 500 boxing coaches and 200 facilities. Of the 100,000 athletes in Cuba currently, 20,000 are boxers, including 81 of Olympic competence.
§ Other sports include soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
Religion
§ Cuba's policy on religion has changed much since 1959, when religious Cubans were persecuted and could be denied jobs or an education by the government.
§ In 1992 the constitution was amended to allow total religious freedom.
§ About 40% of Cubans today are Catholic.
§ Another large religion in Cuba is Santeria, a blend of Catholicism and traditional Yoruba (West African Community) religions.
§ 300,000 Cubans belong to the island’s 54 Protestant denominations.
§ Cuba has small communities of Jewish people, Muslims, and members of the Baha’i Faith.
Education
§ Education in Cuba has been a highly ranked system for many years.
§ The University of Havana was founded in 1728 and there are a number of other well-established colleges and institutions.
§ Students wear school uniforms with the color denoting grade level.
§ Primary education lasts for six years. Secondary education is divided into basic secondary education and pre-university secondary education.
§ The curriculum in primary and secondary schools is based upon principles of hard work, self-discipline and love of country.
§ At the end of basic secondary education, students can choose between pre-university education and technical and professional education.
Economy
§ The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods to citizens.
§ As a result of inefficient state-run agriculture, Cuba imports up to 80% of the food it rations to the public.
§ The major exports of Cuba are sugar, tobacco, coffee, citrus, nickel, and medical products.
§ Tourism is rapidly growing and becoming one of the largest industries in Cuba.
Classic Cars
§ Cuba has been called a “rolling museum” due to the large number vintage American cars from the 1940’s and ‘50s that are everywhere in the Cuban capital.
§ About 150,000 classic cars existed at the time of the 1959 Cuban Revolution when the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. After this, international trade was made very difficult, so the cars that were present at the time have been nurtured and cared for ever since.
§ With the concentration of classic cars filling the streets of Havana, it is like a snapshot of ‘50s USA come to life.
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