Charangas de Bejucal, Cuba
Parrandas de Chambas, Cuba
Havana Carnival, Cuba
Content of this article
What are the Charangas de Bejucal?
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The Charangas de Bejucal is a celebration that takes place every year in Cuba, it is one of the biggest and most awaited festivals in the country after the Parranda de Remedios and the Havana Carnival. The festival of Charangas de Bejucal was declared Cultural Heritage of Cuba in 2015, thus granting it the importance that the festivities have for the country and the region.
The concept of the Charangas de Bejucal is about the rivalry of two groups within the town, “La Ceiba de Plata” which is characterized by the blue color and a scorpion, and “La Espina de Oro” represented by the red color and the figure of a rooster. The sides fight throughcultural elements such as music, the comparsas, the scenography of the plaza and finally the carrozas with lights and colors.
In addition to the basic and traditional elements of theCuban parrandas, the Charangas de Bejucal have some main characters that cannot be missed, these are the Macorina, the Mojiganga, the Bollera, the Kulona and the Yerbero.
La Ceiba de Plata and La Espina de Oro are the competing bands in the Charangas de Bejucal
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When are the Charangas de Bejucal[/h2>?
The Charangas de Bejucal celebrations take place every year on December 24.
History of the Charangas of Bejucal
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The Charangas de Bejucal have their origins in the slave era of the island, when the Misa del Gallo took place on December 24. The slave owners or owners of the different workers of the locality gave them the day off to dance and celebrate near the church. Thus, the first traces of the celebrations began to emerge.
The competition or rivalry also had its beginnings from the time, at that time the groups of the slaves and Creoles and the sympathizers of the crown were divided. Likewise, the groups were called “La Musicanga” (La Ceiba de Plata) and “Los Malayos” (La Espina de Oro). The rivalry of these groups was and is such that the construction and planning of the floats are carried out under secrecy to prevent information about the themes from being leaked.
After the establishment of the revolution, the floats began to emerge, whose themes were directed to the different events of the country or international and worked to build as light as possible for their transfers. Today, there are large structures of up to 20 meters, full of lights and various decorations.
Where are the Charangas of Bejucal?
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The celebrations are held in Bejucal, a town located in theMayabeque province, Cuba.
People congregate in the square to admire the music and light show of the floats in the Charangas de Bejucal
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How are the Charangas de Bejucal celebrated?
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The celebration takes place on December 24 in the town square. From the early hours of the morning, the sides are positioned on the battlefield with their particular insignias; blue color with the scorpion for La Ceiba de Plata and red color with the rooster for La Espina de Oro.
Each of the sides begins its shows full of colors, dance and traditional music accompanied by fireworks. Also, the streets are full of people and you can distinguish the main characters of the carnivals as the Macorina and the Mojiganga..
The climax of the festival is the revealing of the floats of both sides, usually large structures full of lights and colors.
Tips for going to the Charangas de Bejucal
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If you want to visit the Charangas de Bejucal, we recommend you plan your trip in advance, make an itinerary of activities and book your accommodation in advance.
Also, we recommend that you refrain from talking about politics, as for some people it is a difficult subject to discuss, especially with the locals.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.
Events in the Charangas de Bejucal
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On the day of the celebration, very early in the morningthey begin the challenge of the sides with their floats. Each side is positioned in the corners of the square and they present and reveal their repertoire for the event, among dances, music and comparsas.
Finally, it’s time to present the floats of each side, getting closer and closer to the meeting point, exposing their large structures up to 20 meters high and decorated with brilliant colors, flowers, bright and flashing lights.
La Ceiba de Plata is one of the bands that compete in the Charangas de Bejucal
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Parades of the Charangas de Bejucal
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The mackerel or parade takes place in the main square, where each group establishes its perimeter marked by its colors and animals. Thedemonstrations and musical presentations, dances and fireworks begin, giving way to the stars of the day: the floats.
People congregate in the streets to be part of the festivities anddance to the rhythm of the conga, while the lights of the floats and the fireworks light up the streets and the sky of Bejucal.
Parade route
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Floats light up the streets and the sky during the Charangas de Bejucal
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The celebration takes place in the town’s main square, where both sides meet to carry out their presentations and unveiling of the floats.
The mojito is one of the best known drinks in Cuba
What to eat at the Charangas de Bejucal
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One of the typical meals of the region is Picadillo a la criolla, a meat stew with chili bell pepper and tomato sauce that is accompanied by congrí. In addition, you can also try the mojito, a typical Cuban drink made with white rum, mint and sugar. The latter is one of the best-known drinks in Cuba and has acquired special notoriety around the world.
You can also go out to eat at some of the local eateries near the town. Some of these are: El Cacique, Los Amigos and Chicken Little.
Picadillo a la criolla es un plato típico de la isla de cuba
Travel Insurance
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What to see and do inside the Charangas de Bejucal
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Inside the Charangas de Bejucal you canattend and participate in the challenge that takes place between both rival bands. Likewise, you can dance to the music that is available in the square and finally, you can witness the exhibition of both floats.
What to see and do outside of Bejucal Charangas
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In the vicinity of the town, you can visit some of the tourist attractions available. Some of these are:
Escaleras de Jaruco
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Within its vicinity are some caves that are part of the whole attraction. The area has a large amount of flora and fauna unique to the region.
Jibacoa Beach
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It is a somewhat isolated tourist area. Its waters are crystal clear and warm, with fine area and clean surroundings.
Hershey Gardens
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They were founded in 1984 and comprise a variety of gardens. Within the gardens, a variety of flora and fauna can be located.
Safety in the Charangas of Bejucal
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The town of Bejucal is safe. However, we advise you to maintain the same precautions you would have in your hometown. Also, we recommend the following products to safely store your items:
Climate in the Charangas of Bejucal
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During the celebration of the Charangas, the town has a pleasant climate, with temperatures ranging between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius.
The main attraction of the Charangas of Bejucal are the imposing bright floats
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How to get to the Charangas de Bejucal
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How to get there by plane
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The closest airport to the town of Bejucal, is the José Martí International Airport which receives a large number of national and international flights. Once you are here, you can use the different means of transportation to get to the city.
How to get there by train
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From Havana you can take a train from Tulipán Station to El Rincón using train 71. Once there take a vehicle or cab to Bejucal.
How to get there bus
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From Havana you can take a bus line P12 to Parque Santiago. Once there, you can take a cab or private vehicle to Bejucal.
How to get there by car
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From the airport, take Calle 13 to the town. The drive is 30 minutes.
From Havana you can take Calle 13 to Bejucal. The trip takes 40 minutes.
Where to stay in the Charangas de Bejucal
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Lodging in Bejucal is somewhat scarce, so we recommend some hotels in its vicinity.
Hotel Gran Jimenoa
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4-star hotel 13 km from the village. Rooms have balconies and satellite TV. Facilities include 3 swimming pools, free wifi and parking, restaurant and bar.
Hotel Jaraba
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Hotel 13 km from the village. Rooms have cable TV and private bathroom. Facilities include free wifi and free parking.
Jarabacoa River Club & Resort
Hotel 13 kilometers from town. Rooms have cable TV, terrace and private bathroom. Facilities include swimming pool, wifi and private parking, bar and restaurant.
We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
Thank you for reading
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