Cubans inculcated Catholicism with African religions that were brought over by slaves, which resulted in Afro-Cuban equivalent gods for the major Catholic saints - and the occasional animal sacrifice. But exuberant, loud forms of dancing are not all the country is known for, in fact, it has a strong and healthy tradition of ballet which is still very popular and can be admired almost daily in the countries capital, Havana. Secondly, there simply were not very many priests in the rural areas. Meaning: Some things take a long time to be completed. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; Facts about Cuban Culture 10: the most consumed foods. Download ourFree Toolbarwith Internet Radio! Despite this, there is still said to be around half of its population that consider themselves to be practicing Catholics. Inc.  All rights reserved. Neolithic cultures, like Cayo Redondo and Guayabo Blanco, utilised ground stone and shell tools and ornaments, including the dagger-like gladiolitos , which are believed to have had a ceremonial role. google_color_url = "008000"; The population is also well educated: Grade school is mandatory for every child in Cuba between the ages of 6 and 15. Cricket Cuba has a lot of natural resources, including cobalt, nickel, salt, silica and petroleum. British troops invaded Cuba in 1762 and occupied Havana for 11 months, importing more slaves and expanded Cuba's trade links. Cuban culture has managed to preserve the past while still maintaining forward movement. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes launched Cuba's First War of Independence in 1868, which resulted in many deaths. People still have time for each other and for their guests. Cuba: History and Culture: Digital Collections. Olive oil and garlic marinades are used as sauces on most dishes. All Rights Reserved They decided to keep a close eye on Cuba, so in 1903, they built a naval base at Guantanamo Bay which is still in operation today with Afghanistan prisoners today. Football (Soccer) autoPad: true The culture of Cuba is celebrated around the world, especially its music. Here you will find resources on the history and culture of Cuba. Typical desserts are guava marmalade with yellow cheese slices and yucca crullers in anise-flavoured syrup, but don’t worry about eating too much because meals are usually followed by lively dancing all night long. New Links | Meat, rice, and black beans are some popular Cuban foods. However, nowadays there is much greater leniency towards religion, and as such, festivities such as Christmas are widely celebrated. tr: { radius: 10 }, myBoxObject.applyCornersToAll(); }. The country also has a 99.8% literacy rate, which is one of the highest in the world. It was the first and last Spanish colony established in the region. google_color_text = "000000"; //-->, CaribbeanChoice.com - Your Gateway to the Caribbean For more assistance, the Librarian for the Latin American and Iberian collections is available for consultation and provides advanced reference services to students, faculty and visitors by appointment. United States felt during that the time was ripe to launch their attack on Cuba, which resulted in the Spanish-American war in 1898. Announcements & What's New,