Parrandas de Remedios, Cuba

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What are the Parrandas de Remedios?

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The Parrandas de Remedios are one of the most important popular celebrations in Cuba, they are celebrated every December in the province of Villa Clara.

The festival is based on a competition between two neighborhoods, El Carmen and San Salvador. These neighborhoods compete with different cultural elements to be proclaimed as winners of the festivities. The elements or manifestations taken into consideration during the parrandas are thepiazza works with the decorations, ambientation and núsica, the decorated floats and the fireworks show. The competitions in both neighborhoods do not have an established jury, so both sides declare themselves winners of the parradas.

 

 

Neighborhoods begin preparations a fewweeks before the festivity, looking for the elements and professionals to carry out the festivities and start the decoration work or construction of the floats. Also, the decoration of the squares formally begins a week before.

Also, the day of the festivities the neighborhoods are transformed into a large stage of lights and colors that illuminate the sky of the island along with the fireworks show that is organized at the end of the celebration. The congas and changüíes are heard everywhere and the people celebrate with dances and songs the parrandas of Remedios.

 

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When are the Parrandas de Remedios?

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The Parrandas de Remedios are celebratedevery year on December 24 until the early morning of the 25th. Preparations for the festivities begin a few weeks or days before, along with the arrangements of the plaza and floats.

 

 

History of the Parrandas de Remedios

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The beginning of the parrandas dates back to the early nineteenth century, when Padre Francisco de Quiñones, the priest of the city, noticed that parishioners do not attend Misa del Gallo, a ceremony that takes placebefore midnight on Christmas Eve. That is why the priest colluded with local youths to wake up the locals, using different mechanisms such as whistles, bells or cans to wake up the locals. Likewise, the different neighborhoods of the town began to participate in the raucous celebration, which would give way to the parrandas in a more organized way.

In 1835, people began to complain about all the commotion that took place during the early hours of the morning, which is why a proclamation was created to prohibit this type of events during the morning. In this way, groups began to emerge that performed serenades accompanied by instruments. Later, this gave way to music more strident, which would originate in the future the traditional chimes..

In the middle of the century, the two large groups of parranda rivals that compete with each other to this day were formed, El Carmen and San Salvador. Thus, the skeleton of what would come to be the parrandas began for the first time, even without the feeling of competition. Both groups had musical groups and went out to cheer up the streets during the Christmas season.

It was from 1870 onwards that this type of event began to take place in a more organized way, when the locals would start theparties at midnight and would walk the streets playing music and singing. Today the traditions of the carrozas, music and fireworks are still as alive as the first time they were celebrated.

 

Where are the Parrandas de Remedios

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The celebration of the parrandas de Remedios takes place in thelocality of Remedios, province of Villa Clara, Cuba..

 

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How are the Parrandas de Remedios celebrated?

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Remedios is divided in two during the celebration of the parrandas:El Carmen takes on the figure of the Gavilan to identify itself, while San Salvador takes on the figure of the Gallo. The parrandas are carried out with a great celebration that lasts all day from December 24 until the early morning of the 25th. However, during the day a small parade is held commemorating certain historic figures who were part of the parrandas.

Likewise, the day begins to gain more strength during the afternoon, when people begin to prepare for the big festivities. The streets begin to hold small musical performances and fireworks, to celebrate the Christmas Eve Mass when midnight arrives.

Once the mass is over, the streets of the town rumble with the chimes of the bands that give life to the dances and festivities in the streets. Also, the big floats full of lights and colors that light up the sky of the entire island, then end the festivities with a fireworks show.

 

Tips to go to the Parrandas de Remedios

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If you wish to attend the Parrandas de Remedios, we advise you to plan your trip in advance, make a travel itinerary and book your accommodation in the establishment of your choice.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Events in the Parrandas de Remedios

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The street begins to prepare for the festivities during the afternoon, when a few small musical performances and fireworks shows are held. Once night falls, the celebrations begin with some music and the entrance of the bandos.

 

 

At midnight the Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated, the streets go into absolute silence during the celebration of the mass. Once finished, the party resumes the streets with afireworks show and ringing of bands and musical challenges until dawn; moment in which the floats take the streets that illuminate and hypnotize the streets of the city.

The festivities continue until dawn cwith music and fireworks, while each side declares itself the winner.

 

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Parades of in Parrandas de Remedios

 

The celebrations are held inside the Plaza De San Juan De Los Remedios where people congregate to celebrate, dance, listen to music and watch the large, colorful floats full of lights.

 

Parade route

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The congregation takes place in the Plaza De San Juan De Los Remedios, where the floats and floats make an appearance in the early morning hours.

 

 

What to eat in the Parrandas of Remedios?

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During the dates it is common to eat arroz congrí, a rice dish with seasoned red beans. Also, you can try the tostones, fried plantain chips.

Some of the options the city gives you to eat out are: El Louvre, Restaurante La Estancia and La Pirámide.

 

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Parrandas de Remedios?

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You can go to the plaza during the afternoon to party with the locals who dance to the rhythm of the bands. You can also attend the mass that takes place at midnight and continue the festivities until the entrance of the carrozas in the early hours of the morning, along with the fireworks show.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of the Parrandas de Remedios

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Some of the attractions in the city of Remedios are:

 

San Juan Bautista Church of Remedios

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It is one of the main attractions of the region. It has several gold-plated altars. The structure is of colony type near the plaza De San Juan De Los Remedios.

 

Museum of the Parrandas Remedianas

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It is a museum located in a building dating from the nineteenth century. Within its facilities are pieces and exhibits that tell the history of the Parrandas de Remedios.

 

Sugar Agroindustry Museum

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It is a museum that tells the history of the island’s sugar industry. Also, within its facilities there is also an exhibition of locomotives.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety in the Parrandas of Remedios

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The city of Remedios is quite safe. You just need to put into practice the same precautions you would take in your hometown or hometown. Also, we recommend the following products to store your belongings safely:

 

 

Climate in the Parrandas de Remedios

 

During the parrandas of Remedios, the weather is pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 19 to 27 degrees Celsius.

 

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How to get to the Parrandas de Remedios

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to the city of Remedios is the Abel Santamaría International Airport, which receives a good number ofinternational flights. Once you are there, use the different means of transportation to get to the city.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From Havana take a train from Estación La Coubre to Santa Clara. Once there, take a cab to Remedios.

 

How to get there by bus

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From Havana you can take a bus to Caibarién, on the route Havana-Santa Clara-Caibarién. Once there, take a cab or private vehicle to Remedios. The trip takes 6 hours.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport take the Circuito Norte. The trip takes 40 minutes.

In Havana you can take the Autopista National Highway, which takes 4 hours.

 

Where to stay in the Parrandas de Remedios

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Near the town you will find some hostels where you can stay.

 

Booking.com

 

Hostal Buen Viaje

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Hotel 150 meters from the city center. Rooms have TV, private bathroom and entrance to the courtyard and garden. Facilities offer bar.

 

Hostal Colonial Alelusa

Hostel 100 meters from the city center. All rooms include bathroom with shower and hairdryer. The hostel offers a bar.

 

The Oasis

Hostel 450 meters from the center. The hostel has free wifi, bar, garden and terrace.

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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