Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

CUBA THROUGH THE Y EAR  41

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature
The chart covers the
°C °F
entire island. In practice,
30 90 Eastern Cuba, especially
the Santiago area (except
25 80
for the mountainous
20 70 zones) is hotter. On
15 60 the cayos the annual
temperature range varies
10 50
little. The humidity level
5 40 goes from 81 per cent
in summer to 79 per
0 30
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec cent in winter.
reintroduced in 1998. New Día de San Lázaro, Santiago
Year’s Day is usually celebrated de Las Vegas, El Rincón (16–
at home with the family or with 17 Dec). The faithful and the
close friends, rather than being sick come on pilgrimage to the
the focus for public events. church of Rincón; many come
from Havana on their knees.
December Parrandas de Remedios,
Festival Internacional del Remedios (8–24 Dec). Cuba’s most
Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, popular folk festival begins with
ICAIC, Havana (first half of Dec). a children’s parade and ends with
This is the most important floats, and lavish fireworks on
cinema festival and competition Christmas Eve (see p181).
A dancer performs in traditional Afro- of the year, attracting famous Festival Internacional Jazz
Cuban costume international guests. The Plaza (mid-Dec).
main cinemas in the The greats
“Wemilere”, Guanabacoa (Nov). capital present of world jazz
A festival of folk events, with a screenings of celebrate along-
closing prize-giving ceremony. the Latin side organiser
Festival Cuba Danzón, Teatro American films Chucho Valdés.
Sauto, Matanzas (second half of in the comp- Feria Internacional de
Nov). Performances by danzón etition, as well The Feria Artesanía (FIART),
orchestras and dancers, as retrospective Internacional del Pabexpo, Havana (Dec).
courses and conferences. Cuban and inter- Libro logo Handicrafts fair. Stands
Baila en Cuba, Havana (late national filmmakers. from different countries;
Nov). Dance classes, workshops See http://www. meetings and lectures.
and seminars on Cuban salsa. habanafilmfestival.com.
Festival Internacional de Fiesta a la Guantanamera, February
Música Contemporánea de Guantánamo (first half of Dec). Feria Internacional del Libro,
La Habana, Havana (late Nov). Performances of, and lectures Fortaleza de San Carlos de
Contemporary classical, choral on, Afro-Cuban religion. Visits to La Cabaña (Feb–Mar). Book fair
and electro-acoustic music the French cafetales (old coffee featuring a different nation each
as well as the work of young plantations) and the stone zoo. year. New Cuban and foreign
Cuban composers. World publishing initiatives presented
premiers and lectures. See www. and sold. Round tables, poetry
musicacontemporanea.cult.cu. readings and concerts. See http://
feriadellibro.cubaliteraria.cu.

Winter National Holidays
The most active season of the New Year’s Day/
year from a cultural point of Liberation Day (1 Jan)
view, with many top con- Labour Day (1 May)
ferences and festivals, the
majority held in the capital. National Rebellion Day
The events calendar is not (26 July)
generally disrupted by the Start of First War of
holiday season; although Independence (10 Oct)
Christmas has grown steadily Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Christmas Day (25 Dec)
in popularity since it was Latinoamericano poster

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