16. Provinces of Cuba - Matanzas

PROVINCE OF MATANZAS

The Province of Matanzas is located in central Cuba, between La Habana and Las Villas, has an extension area of 3, 378 square miles in size, and is only larger than the Province of La Habana. Originally the great Indian chief, or cacique Abana integrated Matanzas as part of the area of La Habana, but later they were separated and the province capital, Matanzas City, was founded in the year 1690. Matanzas contains one of the most beautiful valleys in Cuba, Valle De Yumurí, and the beautiful caves known as Cuevas of Bellamar, also the north coast is the site of the most beautiful beach of the (world?) island, Varadero, also known as "Playa Azul".

MATANZAS

1. ¿Por qué será que Matanzas
Se conserva en la memoria
Como el velo de una Novia,
Sin dejarnos ver su cara?
¿Será que acaso extraña
Los que de ella partimos,
O si en su seno nacimos
Y luego nos fuimos lejos,
Quedando como un reflejo
El que tal vez la perdimos?

2. Pero yo siento infinito
Deseo de verla de nuevo,
Visitar todos sus pueblos,
De Bolondrón a Perico,
Los Arabos y Manguito,
Cárdenas y Jagüey Grande,
Cabezas y Alacranes,
De Bellamar ver las cuevas
Y poder gozar en ellas,
Las de belleza tan grande.

3. Del Yumurí ver el valle,
Pictórico cual ninguno
He conocido en el mundo
Sin olvidar un detalle;
Y quizá luego yo halle
Cómo llegar a las costas
Para ver maravillosas
Blancas y finas arenas,
Que a Varadero la cuentan
Entre todas las hermosas.

4. Tonalidades del verde
Con el azul se confunden
Y parece que se funden
En árboles que se yerguen.
El cielo y el mar parecen
Una cortina encantada
Que va a esconder a Matanzas
Dejando solo recuerdos
Por los cuales yo me muero

Si mis sueños no me alcanzan.

copyright 2009

15. Provinces of Cuba - Las Villas

PROVINCE OF LAS VILLAS

The province of Las Villas is located in the center of the island, has an area of 8, 564 square miles, the third most large Cuban province, only surpassed by Oriente and Camaguey. Originally it was called "Cinco Villas" and contains one of the most modern Cuban cities, Cienfuegos, founded in the year 1817. On the north coast there are two ports, Sagua la Grande and Caibarien,well known for its shellfish, two points of interest are the spectacular waterfall called Salto del Hanabanilla and the majestic Valle de Santa Clara. The province of Las Villas produce sugar, tobacco, coffee, rice, potatoes and fruit.

LAS VILLAS

1. Dicen que el centro del orbe
En Santa Clara se encuentra
Porque si vas dando vueltas
Y sin nada que te estorbe,
Entre los cedros y robles
(Si vas viniendo de Oriente,
O quizá del Occidente)
Tú tendrás conocimiento
De que estuviste en el centro
De todos los continentes.

2. Ceibas, caobas y palmas
Hallas en Sagua la Grande,
O si te sumas a un viaje
Con destino a Encrucijada.
Desde Cienfuegos a Lajas,
De Manacas a Palmira,
Escuchas lindas guajiras,
Chachachá y son montuno,
Porque el sabor al terruño
Está por todas Las Villas.

3. Allí está el Hanabanilla
Con su salto majestuoso,
Allí está ese valle hermoso
Que en Santa Clara se admira,
Donde diez mil avecillas
Que yo traigo en mi memoria
Cantan sonetos de historia,
Entre mil fragantes flores
Que regalan sus colores
A esta provincia de gloria.

4. Aguada de Pasajeros
Se me antoja tan cercana
Que veo desde mi ventana
Rancho Veloz y Remedios,
Sancti-Spiritus lo siento
Al mirar el infinito,
Y en este azul tan bonito
A Trinidad y su cielo…
Siempre a Las Villas recuerdo
Y a ti lo mismo te pido.

copyright 2009

14. Provinces of Cuba - Camaguey

PROVINCE OF CAMAGUEY

The Province of Camaguey is located between Oriente and Las Villas, has an area of 10, 538 square miles and is the second largest of the provinces of Cuba, smaller only than the Province of Oriente. In the year 1513 the area was conquered by Panfilo de Narvaez, who founded their capital in the north coast, now occupied by the city of Nuevitas, and named it Puerto Principe, but due to numerous pirate attacks, many years later, the capital was moved to its current location. In 1899 they changed the name to Camaguey, in honor of the great Indian chief, or cacique Camaguey. Major products of agriculture in Camaguey are livestock, corn, tobacco, pineapple and sugar cane.

CAMAGUEY

1. Camagüey, llena de encantos
(Como el Edén fue creada)
Tierra de frutas doradas
Hoy te dedico mi canto.
Siempre mostrando tus campos
Donde el verde es más hermoso,
Para el viajero reposo,
Para el ganado un santuario,
En ti encontramos a diario
Perpetua fuente de gozo.

2. Tus playas son mas azules
Con tan blancos arenales
Y arrecifes de corales
De los cuales tú presumes.
Veo encenderse la lumbre
En tus islotes y cayos,
Veo aguaceros en Mayo
Hacer desbordar tus ríos
Y de tus potros el brío
Con que trotan sin desmayo.

3. También veo los adoquines
Con que formaron tus calles,
Veo tus pueblos y ciudades
Con los cuales te defines.
Te trazan ferrocarriles,
Carreteras y caminos;
Danzan al viento molinos
Y el humo de tus centrales
Pinta los cañaverales
Con alegres remolinos.

4. Y es que yo veo en la distancia
La tierra con la que sueño,
El Edén al que yo quiero
Como cuna de mi infancia,
A ese pedazo de patria
Que ha quedado tan lejano
Y al mismo tiempo cercano
Al corazón y la mente;
Y por eso, con mi gente,
A Camagüey recordamos.

copyright 2009

13. Provinces of Cuba - Oriente

PROVINCE OF ORIENTE

The province of Oriente is located at the east end of the island of Cuba. It has an area of 14, 641 square miles and covers approximately one third of the island, is the largest of the provinces of Cuba. Conquistador Diego Velázquez founded its capital, Santiago de Cuba, in 1514, other major cities are Bayamo, Holguin, Las Tunas, Guantanamo and Manzanillo. The most notable area is Sierra Maestra, crowned by the famous Pico Turquino (6, 480 ft), the highest point in Cuba. Some interesting places are Santuario del Cobre, Puerto Boniato, Rio Cauto, Puerto Padre and Port of Manatee. Some important products of agriculture in Oriente are sugar cane and coffee, followed by cocoa, bananas, plantains and some mineral sources.

ORIENTE CUBANO

1. Yo tengo en el corazón
Un dolor que me tortura,
Que me llena de amargura
Y me nubla la razón,
Es porque siento pasión
Por el Oriente cubano
Que allá quedó tan lejano,
Y en las noches me desvelo,
Pensando pisar tu suelo
“tierra caliente” que amo.

2. Será hermoso algún día
Poder regresar de un salto
Con la frente bien en alto
Al llano y la cerrería,
Donde disfrutar podría
Otra vez de la certeza
Del monte con su belleza,
El pueblo, el campo y el río,
Las playas y el lomerío
De la gran Sierra Maestra.

3. ¿Qué decir de la Gran Piedra
Que está plantada en el filo
Del majestuoso Turquino
Que es de Oriente la grandeza?
¿O si ves de las mesetas
Los frondosos cafetales
Crecer entre los frutales
Que puedes tomar a mano,
Mientras contemplas del llano
Los verdes cañaverales?

4. La Farola es un sinfín
De tantas curvas que matan
Cuando en busca de malangas
Tú a Baracoa quieres ir.
Hay pinos en Mayarí,
Está Guantánamo y Palma,
Bayamo, Tunas, Chaparra,
Puerto Padre y Manatí,
El Caney, Santiago, Holguín
Y los altos de Gibara.

5. Extraño el marabú,
La palma, la ceiba, el mango,
Del Río Cauto ver el fango,
O el Cerro de Caisimú.
Disfrutar de un buen fufú
O de un plato de tamales,
Con la brisa en los portales,
Símbolo de libertad
Del guajiro y la bondad
De todos los orientales.

copyright 2009

12. Religion in Cuba

There are many religions in Cuba but no one predominates, from Christianity to Santeria, with some hints of Buddhist rituals and some Afro Cuban ... for instance, we have only to look at the Virgin of Charity of the El Cobre, adored and worshiped inside and outside the island, for ones is the Holy Mother of Jesus, for others the Orisha Ochun, goddess of love, and for most, Cachita, La Virgen de la Caridad, the patron of Cuba.

Christianity is the religion most practiced, but only about 44 percent of the population adhere to it. Approximately 25 percent of the populations follow different Santeria religions, and a lot have no religion.

They say that Cuba is traditionally a Catholic country, but there are a number of Protestant religions that have their Churches in good condition of conservation, have outreach to the community, and their ranks are growing every day, such as Adventist Church, Baptist Church, Episcopal Church, Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches, and many other Protestant Denominations.

Here are some interesting links to churches in Cuba:

http://www.tagnet.org/iasdsc/

http://www.cuba.anglican.org/

http://www.virgendelacaridaddelcobre.org/

http://www.palabranueva.net/

copyright 2009

11. Cuban Music History

CUBAN MUSIC

More than 500 years ago, Cuban Tainos, indigenous people who lived in Cuba, used maracas and guiro, among the musical instruments of areito (music and dance ceremony), which today provide the distinctive percussion that characterizes many sounds and mixes of Cuban music.

Cuba has developed a wide range of creoles musical styles, on the basis of our cultural origins in Europe and Africa. Since the nineteenth century our music has been very popular and influential around the world. Has perhaps been the most popular form of music in the world since the introduction of recording technology.

Cuban music, including instruments and dances, is mostly from Europe (Spain) and African origin. Most forms today are fusions and mixtures of these two great sources. Almost nothing remains of the Indian traditions, except maracas and guiros and some places' names.

Not much is known about the popular music of Cuba before the year 1800. Manuel Saumell (born 1817) wrote some piano pieces of dance that paved the way for the concert of classical music in Cuba. Some notable Cuban composers of the twentieth century classics include composer Ernesto Lecuona (born 1896), Argeliers Leon (born 1918), who was also an ethnomusicologist, Aurelio de la Vega (born 1925) and many others.

Today, Cuban popular music and dance styles are salsa, son, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha, among others. The instruments used are the claves, maracas, guiro, piano and guitars, as well as various drums, including bongos.

copyright 2009