¿Se celebra la Navidad en Cuba?

Por: padre Ariel Suárez

Navidad

Hace dos años, unos muchachos interesados en el periodismo y la sociología salieron con una cámara de video y micrófono en mano a preguntar, en el parque del Curita de La Habana, qué era la Navidad y cómo la celebraban los cubanos.
La mayoría de los encuestados dijo que la Navidad era la fiesta de fin de año, donde se comía puerco asado, congrí, yuca, manzanas, y se tomaba cerveza y vino. Una señora mayor dijo que era una fiesta que se celebraba en familia el 24 de diciembre, pero no supo aclarar cuál era el contenido de la festividad. Una adolescente dijo que era el momento en que se encendía el arbolito de Navidad y todos en su casa se hacían intercambios de regalos. Un joven dijo que, propiamente hablando, en Cuba no había Navidad y refirió lo que él veía en televisoras y películas de otros países sobre calles engalanadas, tiendas y comercios llenos de luces, flores de Pascua, turrones y sidras. Y acotó: “¡eso sí que es Navidad!”.
Los encuestadores preguntaron también a los interpelados si ellos sabían por qué en Cuba durante años, la Navidad había sido un día laborable como otro cualquiera y por qué, desde hacía varios años ya, con la visita del Papa san Juan Pablo II, el día de Navidad (25 de diciembre) había vuelto a ser festivo. No supieron contestar a la pregunta en cuestión, pero una señora se limitó a afirmar: “es que eso de la Navidad lo inventó un Papa”.
Las últimas preguntas se refirieron a los Reyes Magos y a Papá Noel. Las respuestas vincularon estos personajes con los regalos a los niños, pero con una gran ambigüedad e incluso contradicciones en lo que afirmaban unos y otros.
En el muestreo aleatorio que nos ofrecieron estos indagadores eché de menos la presencia de algún cristiano, católico o de otra denominación. Probablemente, la respuesta de un cristiano hubiera sido más precisa y nos hubiera dado una visión más global y completa del panorama religioso de nuestro pueblo. Sin embargo, los cristianos no somos la mayoría de la población cubana y las respuestas anteriormente aludidas representan un porcentaje para nada despreciable, de lo que los cubanos piensan e imaginan sobre la Navidad.

El contenido esencial de la Navidad
La Navidad es la fiesta cristiana que celebra el acon-tecimiento central de la historia: Dios se ha hecho hombre y se ha vinculado así a todo hombre, de todo tiempo y lugar, para siempre. Sabemos por la Biblia que Dios Padre ha enviado a su Hijo eterno al mundo y por obra del Espíritu Santo, ese Hijo eterno de Dios, Dios como su Padre y como el Espíritu Santo, ha asumido la condición humana en el seno de una mujer: la Santísima Virgen María.
El hijo de María Virgen es también el Hijo eterno de Dios. En un pueblo de Palestina llamado Belén, cercano a la ciudad de Jerusalén, María Virgen dio a luz a su hijo. La acompañaba José, su esposo, quien se ocuparía de aquel Niño como un verdadero papá. Y por los relatos bíblicos, conocemos también que unos pastores que cuidaban sus rebaños próximos al lugar del alumbramiento, fueron los primeros destinatarios de esa Buena Noticia, y corrieron a visitar al Niño en aquella primera Navidad. La Biblia nos habla igualmente de unos magos venidos del Oriente que, siguiendo una estrella, llegaron hasta el Niño, y le ofrecieron regalos: oro, incienso y mirra. En los pastores, que eran cercanos, y los sabios del Oriente, que venían de lejos, la Escritura Santa quiere decirnos que ese Niño que contemplamos en el pesebre de Belén junto a su madre, había venido a salvar a todos los hombres y mujeres, de todos los pueblos, de todas las culturas, de todas las razas. En efecto, ese Niño Dios se llamó entre nosotros Jesús, nombre que significa “Dios que salva” o “Salvador”.
El Nacimiento de Jesús, el Salvador, es el verdadero contenido de la Navidad. Y esta fiesta produce en nosotros sentimientos de gratitud, de adoración, de alabanza, de paz. En efecto, si Dios se ha hecho hombre, entonces ser hombre o mujer es lo más importante del mundo, tanto, ¡que hasta Dios ha querido serlo!
Navidad sorprende y conmueve, porque antes de este acontecimiento los hombres y mujeres debían afrontar la búsqueda, a veces fatigosa, de Dios. En cambio, Navidad nos viene a decir que es Dios quien busca a los hombres. Y nos busca en la figura frágil y tierna de un niño, enseñándonos así que el hombre no debe asustarse de Dios, de su grandeza o majestad. Porque la verdadera grandeza de Dios es la inmensidad de Su Amor por nosotros. En efecto, Dios asume nuestra humanidad y nos dona su divinidad. Dios toma la vida humana y nos dona su vida divina, eterna. Acoger esta presencia de Cristo en el corazón es la verdadera celebración de la Navidad.
El tiempo de Navidad comienza en la noche del 24 de diciembre que llamamos Nochebuena y donde tradicionalmente se celebra la “Misa del Gallo” o Misa de Medianoche. El 25 de diciembre es el día de Navidad. Las festividades navideñas se prolongan hasta el 6 de enero, día de los Magos del Oriente o de la Manifestación de Dios a todas las naciones, para concluir el domingo siguiente al 6 de enero con la fiesta del Bautismo del Señor.

Los signos externos de la Navidad
Hemos ya aclarado que la verdadera Navidad se produce en los corazones, en la transformación de la vida. Pero no es menos cierto que el ser humano, lo que vive en su interior, lo traduce y comunica a través de signos externos, palpables. Es difícil decirle a alguien que lo queremos, por ejemplo, o apreciamos su amistad, sin hacerle una llamadita por teléfono, o buscar el tiempo para una comida o un paseo juntos. Lo mismo nos pasa con la Navidad.
Entre los signos externos de la Navidad sobresalen dos fundamentalmente: el Nacimiento y el árbol de Navidad.
El primero que “inventó” el Nacimiento, por así decirlo, fue san Francisco de Asís, un santo del siglo xiii que se destacó por su profundo amor a Cristo, por su pobreza, humildad, amor a la creación y a la alegría de vivir como hermanos. En la Navidad de 1223, Francisco, que estaba tan impactado de la pobreza y sencillez de Jesús en Belén, quiso reproducir la Misa de Nochebuena en una gruta que le recordara la cueva donde el Señor había nacido. Buscó ovejas, un buey, una mula, otros animalitos y preparó un pesebre. Allí, en medio de aquel espectáculo sobrecogedor, rodeado de pastores y de gente sencilla de su pueblo, celebraron la Misa con enorme gozo y emoción. Con el tiempo, aquello se hizo famoso y empezaron los cristianos a elaborar figuras de yeso, de madera o de otro material, que representaran a los personajes que la Biblia pone en la escena del Nacimiento de Jesús. Y todas esas figuras se colocan en las casas, templos, incluso plazas o lugares públicos como la plaza de la Catedral acá en La Habana, durante los días del tiempo de Navidad.
El árbol de Navidad es una tradición que nos llega de la cultura alemana. Cristo es representado como un árbol, fuente de vida. El color verde de sus ramas ha simbolizado tradicionalmente la esperanza. Y como quien está unido a Cristo, produce frutos de bondad, de amor, de justicia y de paz… hemos añadido luces y bolas de colores al árbol, para indicar que nuestra vida se hace fecunda y bella cuando estamos unidos a Cristo.
Es hermoso ver que, en muchas casas cubanas, las personas colocan en estas fechas su árbol de Navidad y sus Nacimientos. En la mayoría de las parroquias católicas de Cuba se ofrecen Nacimientos a precios modestos para poder colocar en nuestros hogares. Y también postales, donde nos felicitamos y nos deseamos bendiciones de Jesús para estos días santos y para el Nuevo Año, que llega hasta nosotros en medio del tiempo navideño.
También es bello que, en torno al 6 de enero, Día de los Reyes Magos, hagamos algún regalo a los niños, aunque sea modesto. Hacemos memoria de aquellos sabios del Oriente que trajeron regalos al Niño Dios y sobre todo, enseñamos a nuestros niños que en estos días, recordamos que Dios ha dado el mejor regalo a los hombres, al enviarnos a Su Hijo eterno como Salvador.

El arbolito navideño a la cubana

En Cuba hoy
Retomando un poco la historia y las inquietudes suscitadas en el parque del Curita, tenemos que confesar que los cristianos cubanos, durante todas las épocas, hemos celebrado la Navidad en nuestras casas y en nuestros templos. Habitualmente las familias cristianas han hecho una cena “especial” el 24 de diciembre y luego, han participado en la Misa del Gallo. En torno al 25 de diciembre, además de las misas especiales o cultos que hay en las distintas iglesias, siempre hemos podido realizar obras de teatro alegóricas a la Navidad o conciertos con los cantos natalicios también llamados “villancicos”. Desde hace varios años, el concierto de Navidad que se realiza en la Catedral de La Habana y el mensaje de felicitación del arzobispo habanero, se transmite por la televisión nacional. Igualmente se transmite el concierto que, con la misma finalidad, organiza el Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba.
En la década de 1960 se suprimieron los días festivos de la Navidad en Cuba, aludiéndose motivos económicos, siempre vinculados, en lo fundamental, a la campaña azucarera. En diciembre de 1997 se declaró excepcionalmente feriado el 25 de diciembre como homenaje a la visita de Juan Pablo II para enero de 1998. Después de dicha visita, el Parlamento cubano acordó que el día de Navidad fuera siempre festivo y no laborable. Todo esto ha contribuido a crear un ambiente más favorable a la celebración navideña. Sin embargo, como revelaba la encuesta mencionada, un decreto parlamentario no suprime de golpe la ignorancia, la confusión y sobre todo, la ausencia de experiencias humanas que se viven desde pequeños en familia y que justo por eso, quedan como valores y adquisiciones para toda la existencia.
En Cuba extrañamos la ausencia de signos navideños en espacios públicos. Los muy tímidos que han aparecido en los últimos tiempos se reducen a hoteles o comercios. En el mundo de la iniciativa privada y en el ámbito de diversas familias también los vemos. Si bien esos signos no son ni mucho menos lo más importante, pueden ayudar a visibilizar un momento festivo y alegre, pueden enviar un mensaje de esperanza, de luz y de belleza que nuestro pueblo necesita y anhela. Con todo, no lo olvidemos, la verdadera Luz de Navidad es Jesucristo, que llegó pobre y olvidado, modestamente acogido por los hombres de su tiempo y de todos los tiempos. Él vuelve a recordarnos, en esta Navidad, cuánto nos quiere, cuánto nos busca, cuánto le interesamos. Y si le abrimos nuestro corazón y nuestra vida a la fuerza transformadora de su amor, nos convertiremos en mejores seres humanos, más solidarios, más fraternos, más preocupados los unos por los otros, más servidores, más humildes y esperanzados, en una palabra, más llenos de Cristo Jesús. Y como decía aquel joven del parque: “¡ESTO SÍ QUE ES NAVIDAD!”. Ω

377 Comments

  1. Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! «But O the truth, the truth. The many eyes That look on it The diverse things they see.» by George Meredith.

  2. Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any tips and hints for rookie blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  3. I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I’ll learn lots of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

  4. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I?¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂

  5. I’m typically to running a blog and i really admire your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and hold checking for brand new information.

  6. of course like your web site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I’ll surely come again again.

  7. I precisely desired to thank you very much once again. I am not sure what I would’ve followed without the entire hints revealed by you concerning my question. It truly was a frightful issue in my view, but discovering a new specialized strategy you processed it took me to cry for joy. Now i am happy for the advice and even expect you realize what a great job your are doing training many others thru your webblog. I am sure you’ve never come across any of us.

  8. Throughout this grand design of things you actually receive a B- for hard work. Where exactly you actually confused everybody was on your particulars. As they say, details make or break the argument.. And that couldn’t be much more correct in this article. Having said that, permit me tell you precisely what did deliver the results. The article (parts of it) can be quite powerful and that is possibly the reason why I am taking the effort to comment. I do not make it a regular habit of doing that. Next, even though I can see a jumps in reason you come up with, I am not necessarily confident of how you appear to unite your ideas which produce the conclusion. For right now I shall subscribe to your issue however trust in the near future you actually connect the facts much better.

  9. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read something like this before. So good to search out any individual with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thanks for beginning this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the internet, someone with a little originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!

  10. whoah this weblog is great i love reading your articles. Stay up the good paintings! You understand, lots of people are searching around for this information, you can help them greatly.

  11. Thank you for any other magnificent post. Where else could anyone get that type of information in such a perfect approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am at the search for such information.

  12. hey there and thanks to your information – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did on the other hand expertise several technical points the usage of this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site many occasions prior to I may get it to load correctly. I have been thinking about if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, however slow loading circumstances times will sometimes have an effect on your placement in google and could injury your high quality ranking if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am including this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot extra of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again very soon..

  13. I haven?¦t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  14. Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

  15. I just want to tell you that I am just all new to weblog and certainly savored this web-site. Very likely I’m planning to bookmark your site . You amazingly have impressive article content. Cheers for sharing with us your web-site.

  16. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.

    I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will come back in the future.
    I want to encourage continue your great posts, have a nice afternoon!

  17. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!

  18. I truly wanted to write a brief note so as to say thanks to you for the stunning secrets you are sharing here. My extensive internet investigation has at the end of the day been paid with pleasant suggestions to share with my friends and family. I would repeat that we readers actually are unequivocally blessed to live in a very good network with many brilliant individuals with very helpful techniques. I feel somewhat grateful to have encountered your entire webpages and look forward to some more pleasurable minutes reading here. Thank you once more for everything.

  19. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of space .
    Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site.
    Reading this information So i’m satisfied to show that I’ve a very
    good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed.
    I most definitely will make certain to don?t put out of your
    mind this web site and provides it a look on a continuing basis.

  20. Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using?
    I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult
    time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.

    The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and
    I’m looking for something completely unique.
    P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

  21. Hey very nice blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds
    also? I am happy to seek out a lot of useful information here within the publish, we need work out more strategies
    on this regard, thank you for sharing. .
    . . . .

  22. Thanks for another magnificent article. Where else could anyone get that kind of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.

  23. Thank you for every other informative blog. The place else may just I am getting that kind of information written in such
    a perfect way? I have a mission that I’m simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.

  24. It as nearly impossible to find well-informed people in this particular subject, however, you sound like you know what you are talking about! Thanks|

  25. Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you ave got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.

  26. Wow! This could be one particular of the most helpful blogs We ave ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.

  27. I simply want to mention I’m new to blogging and site-building and actually enjoyed you’re web-site. Almost certainly I’m planning to bookmark your site . You certainly come with superb posts. Thank you for revealing your blog site.

  28. I enjoy you because of your whole labor on this site. Gloria enjoys doing internet research and it’s really simple to grasp why. All of us hear all concerning the powerful form you convey great secrets through the web blog and in addition strongly encourage participation from some other people on the content and my daughter is actually understanding a great deal. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You are performing a really great job.

  29. I think other website proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, let alone the content. You are an expert in this topic!

  30. Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

  31. Thanks for another great article. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I ave a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.

  32. whoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your articles. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are hunting around for this info, you could aid them greatly.

  33. Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site?
    I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers
    and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
    I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a
    good platform.

  34. I’а†ve read some good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you set to create one of these excellent informative site.

  35. I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade content from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own website now 😉

  36. Your style is really unique compared to other folks I ave read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you ave got the opportunity, Guess I all just bookmark this web site.

  37. In my country we don at get much of this type of thing. Got to search around the entire world for such up to date pieces. I appreciate your energy. How do I find your other articles?!

  38. wonderful issues altogether, you just received a emblem new reader. What could you recommend in regards to your put up that you simply made some days ago? Any certain?

  39. It as really a nice as well as useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this kind of useful information with us. Please retain us informed such as this. Thanks with regard to sharing.

  40. This particular blog is obviously entertaining and besides informative. I have discovered helluva interesting stuff out of this blog. I ad love to return over and over again. Thanks a bunch!

  41. Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  42. Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is important and all. However think about if you
    added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, «pop»!
    Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this site could definitely be one of the best
    in its field. Awesome blog! natalielise plenty of fish

  43. I do believe all the ideas you have introduced on your
    post. They’re very convincing and can certainly work.
    Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for novices.
    Could you please extend them a bit from next time?
    Thanks for the post. natalielise pof

  44. Hello I am so thrilled I found your web site, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Nonetheless
    I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a marvelous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all
    at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included
    your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic
    work.

  45. I know this if off topic but I’m looking
    into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up?

    I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% sure. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Many thanks

  46. I simply want to mention I’m new to blogs and truly liked you’re web site. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You actually have impressive well written articles. With thanks for sharing your web page.

  47. Greate pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your page.
    Im really impressed by it.
    Hello there, You’ve performed an incredible job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally
    suggest to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this
    site.

  48. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog.
    Is this a paid theme or did you modify it
    yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing,
    it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

  49. Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4
    year old daughter and said «You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.» She placed
    the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it
    pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off
    topic but I had to tell someone!

  50. I blog quite often and I really appreciate your information. The article
    has really peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of your website and keep checking for new information about
    once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.

  51. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this blog.
    I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts from you in the future as well.
    In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own,
    personal blog now 😉

  52. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us
    something enlightening to read?

  53. Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly.
    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same
    results.

  54. I?аАТ’аЂа†ll right away snatch your rss as I can at to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me understand in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  55. There are actually numerous details like that to take into consideration. That could be a great point to carry up. I offer the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you carry up where crucial factor can be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round issues like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Each boys and girls really feel the impression of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

Deje un comentario

Tu dirección de correo no será publicada.


*