Cuban Culture

Words: 1474
Pages: 6

Republic of Cuba

The Republic of Cuba, officially named República de Cuba, is a small island nation located just south of Florida in the Caribbean Sea. It enjoys nice tropical weather with sandy beaches and exotic produce. It has a distinctive culture that’s has changed due to the impact by many different events in recent years. Its culture has gone through many changes in the last 100 years due to its government reforms, religious oppressions, international conflicts, severe weather and economic distress. What once was and still has the potential to be a tropical paradise, is anything but today. Even with these hardships the Cuban culture continues to be vibrant and flourish.
Cuba is a small nation but its name can be recognized
…show more content…
None are more known than the successful revolution against the dictator Fulgencio Batista from 1956-1959 that ended with Fidel Castro as the new head of state for Cuba. Castro’s decisions on public law and government reforms started to change the Cuban culture. Two of the biggest changes to the Cuban culture came when he changed the government into a communist nation and declared Cuba an atheist republic. In 1961 he dismantled the Catholic school system, seized church properties and exiled priests and nuns. The communist ideals of Castro created opposite U.S.-Cuban interests which resulted in the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba that is still in effect today. Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba hit a high point in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, what many believed would be the start of the third world war. These and other smaller conflicts left Cuba further separated from the western …show more content…
Many of the customs and traditions continue to be celebrated by the Cuban people today. Thankfully, in part to the government policies and limited resources, their life style heavily revolves around the concept of socialization and family gathering. In fact, due to those same circumstances, many new families are unable to rent or buy their own homes and end up staying with extended family in multifamily homes. It is common to have unplanned visits in the daytime from friends or family and are always welcome. Friends will socialize wherever they meet, on the street, market or home visits. Closeness like carries throughout the community and develops a family style culture.
It is with no doubt that Cuba and its citizens have been through many changes, some of which have forever changed the country and its culture. From an oppressive and communist government, to an infrastructure in dire need of modernization, economic restraints, the risk of severe weather, and the many other constraints on the people, none of these have caused the Cuban culture to dissipate. Looking pass its history and current state, this small Caribbean nation has the ingredients to be a prime hub for culture with its beautiful scenery, tropical climate and humble