AMERICA/CUBA - The Pontifical Mission Societies distribute 350,000 pictures of the Infant Jesus to foster a more religious celebration of Christmas

Tuesday, 20 December 2005

Havana (Fides Service) - The Advent wreath with four candles one for each of the four weeks leading up to the great annual feast of the nativity is part of traditional preparation for Christmas in Cuba. Families gather to light one, two, three and then all four candles as the feast approaches. Cuban Catholics are also very devoted to the Saints whose feast days occur during Advent: 4 December Saint Barbara; 8 December the feast of the Immaculate Conception known traditionally in Cuba "Little Christmas Vigil”; 13 December Saint Lucy; 17 December Saint Lazarus. Advent is also a time for retreats and penitential celebrations says Fr Raúl Rodríguez, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Cuba.
Christmas begins on the 24 December. “There is a gradual return of the old Hispanic tradition of Christmas Eve Supper and Midnight Mass. You see more Christmas decorations in homes nowadays although the figure of the Infant Jesus, at the heart of Christmas and what is all about, is rarely present sad to say” said Fr. Raúl. In view of this the Germany based Catholic aid agency Aid to the Church in Need sent 350,000 small pictures of the Christ Child to the national Pontifical Mission Societies office and a few days before Christmas Holy Childhood children and adolescents will go from home to home to wish families a Blessed Christmas and leave an image of the Baby Jesus so he is present in every home. The Christmas season closes with the feast of the Epiphany on 6 January. It is a Hispanic tradition for children to write letters to the Three Kings who come from afar to adore the Christ Child and put their little shoes under the tree hoping to find them filled with presents. This old tradition is being brought back in many Cuban families. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2005, righe 21, parole 305)


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