By Osmel Almaguer
HAVANA TIMES – Before Pope John Paul II’s visit to Havana in 1996, there were only four official holidays in Cuba, three of which were tied to the government and its “liberation struggles.” The other was International Workers’ Day, which was also highly politicized.
The arrival of the Holy Pontiff to the Cuban capital and other provinces not only marked a sort of religious tolerance pact on the island and the end of decades of religious repression but also paved the way for the celebration of holidays such as Good Friday and Christmas.
Although Christmas has not been officially reinstated this year, at least on December 25th, according to my memory, people don’t work.
Brazil has more public holidays than Cuba, many of which also have political and religious significance. Brazilians celebrate Universal Brotherhood on January 1st, Tiradentes Day on April 21st, Independence Day on September 7th, Our Lady of Aparecida on October 12th, All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, and Christmas on December 25th.
Additionally, the constitution designates election days as holidays, and there are three others not officially recognized nationwide but widely celebrated locally: Carnival, Good Friday, and Corpus Christi.
This year, November 20th also saw the introduction of National Zumbi and Black Consciousness Day. Zumbi was a prominent leader among enslaved people in northeastern Brazil and is known for being the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares (quilombo means “palenque”), a self-sufficient community that, according to accounts, was as large as Portugal.
Tiradentes, on the other hand, was a precursor of Brazilian independence. He was a dentist, soldier, miner, merchant, and political activist during colonial times. His nickname (Tiradentes) came from his profession as a dentist, which literally translates to “tooth-puller” in Spanish.
In Brazil, most companies and businesses close on holidays. The average Brazilian dedicates the day to churrasco (barbecue) and drinks. However, most supermarkets continue operating.
In the case of the Condor chain, based on my personal experience, they mislead and pressure their employees, who are unaware of their right not to work on holidays or, at the very least, to receive double pay.
The company I currently work for also does not suspend services on most holidays, except December 25th and January 1st. However, they provide double pay or compensate employees with a day off within the same month.
In any case, the two years I’ve lived in this country have been spent working in supermarkets. That’s why I’ve gotten used to working while others enjoy themselves.
Read more from the diary of Osmel Almaguer.
