It is considered the ‘mother’ of all the festivities in the central region of the country.
On Wednesday, the Cuban province of Villa Clara celebrated the “Parrandas de Remedios” as it does every December 24. These festivities were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
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The city of San Juan de los Remedios, which was the eighth town founded by the Spanish colonizers in Cuba, celebrated the 205th anniversary of the Parrandas, a tradition passed down through generations.
It combines the knowledge of carpenters, electricians, and traditional artisans with modern techniques, which guarantees the continuity and evolution of this cultural practice native to Cuba.
Although it retains the most authentic and powerful character of the festival in its hometown, the Parrandas have spread beyond Remedios to 17 communities in the central region of the Caribbean country.
UNESCO highlighted that the Parrandas is a community expression where all inhabitants participate without distinction of sex, age, origin, social class, profession, or religion, which reinforces identity and cultural cohesion.
Remedios celebrará hoy 205 años su parranda, expresión genuina de la nación que está inscrita en la lista representativa del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la UNESCO desde el año 2018 en reconocimiento a su pervivencia.#CubaEsCultura pic.twitter.com/90UvYWI6WD
— Susely Morfa González (@SuselyMorremoved) December 24, 2025
The text reads, “Remedios celebrates the 205th anniversary of its Parranda, a genuine expression of the nation that has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2018 in recognition of its survival.”
The festivities date back to 1820, when parish priest Francisco Vigil de Quiñones asked children to roam the streets with pots, pans, and noisemakers to encourage parishioners to attend Christmas Masses.
Since 1851, the friendly rivalry between the El Carmen and San Salvador neighborhoods has fueled the celebration. Each community secretly cultivates its artistic and competitive offerings throughout the year.
The competition reaches a point of mutual espionage during months of preparation, which adds intrigue. El Carmen is identified by the color caramel and the symbol of a hawk; San Salvador uses blue and red with a rooster emblem.
The neighborhoods prepare three fundamental elements: plaza decorations, including monumental illuminated structures; floats, mobile art installations with stories, lights, and colors; and fireworks.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Cuba: The 27th Edition of the International Crafts Fair FIART 2025 concluded in Havana. pic.twitter.com/qHIXbwTjTk
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 24, 2025
teleSUR: JP
Source: Prensa Latina – Granma
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