World famous are the carnivals traditionally held in July in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba. The roots are in the colonial era with religious processions in honor of the patron saint who gave his name to the homonymous city.
So the residents of the village founded by Diego Velázquez, roamed the main streets and circled around the church Cathedral, until today a privileged and where he was allegedly buried the seasoned Spanish conquistador position at his request.
The celebration of St. James' Day, July 25, was set by councils and binges that catchy choruses sang, while mamarrachos attracted young and old with the peculiar masking and a multicolored costumes.
These processions with the passage of time spread to other dates marked in the month as Santa Cristina, Santa Ana and San Joaquin, enriched with the contribution of Franco-Haitian cultures and, in particular, traditional costumes, dances and music of their ancestors.
With the triumph of the Revolution carnivals were institutionalized as an expression of Cuban culture and, of course, they enriched with the ingenuity of artists and the people.
Highly anticipated are the parades of dance groups in the case of the groups of African origin, the drumbeats, Chinese bugle, fifth, bell and other instruments, which dragged behind an impressive crowd predominate.
The popular preference are San Pedrito, San Agustin, Paso Franco, Alto Pino, El Guayabito and, in particular, of Los Hoyos, the most outstanding of all.
On the contrary, the rides bring their striking costumes, colorful and uniformity of the choreography as in La Placita, La Textilera, Heredia and Dream.
Undoubtedly, such revelry become the most anticipated by Santiago festivities, whose dwellings are home to fellow countrymen from every corner of the island also willing to enjoy the music and the overwhelming joy that appropriates streets, neighborhoods, parks and squares for almost a week .