The San Juan arrived again it is an unique opportunity to enjoy the incomparable rhythm of the conga and the camagüeyana procession, also of the parties in streets and squares, although the biggest attractiveness, when saying of many continues being the parade.

The celebration dates from the XVIII century, and it was one of the so many customs that the Spaniards brought to the island when they colonized it. But as the authenticity characterizes the Cubans, the Creoles didn’t take a lot in adapting the celebration to their reality and idiosyncrasy.

This way, what began like a magic-religious ceremony, to offer more force to the sun before the arrival of the summer, ended being carnivalesque festival that tries to maintain alive its traditions for more than a hundred years.

The opening  

As every year, in the first minute of June 24th, from one of the balconies of the headquarters of the Municipal Assembly of the Popular Power the reading of the Decree that left inaugurated the San Juan camagüeyano 2019, rich celebration in traditions, of great popular roots and very prospective for the villagers.

When reading the document, it was summoned to the camagüeyanos to maintain the order and the discipline, with the purpose of guaranteeing the good development of the parties, in the areas and characterized spaces.

The San Juan is a very old cultural fact that we should maintain and preserve, to be part of the identity values of this city, with singular Cuban shades.

The parade

Before the agreed hour the sidewalks begin to be crowded of people of all ages, the children are the ones that await with anxiety, but I should stick out that old men with canes, crutches and others with a bank by hand to rest, don’t allow to pass the occasion to enjoy the show.

In the invitation they highlight the presence of congas, coaches and processions, all with attractive suits and of better presence, big doll groupings,  people with costumes representing old monkeys, covered with a sheets, skaters, the motorcycles parade with couples of young people and other varieties and initiatives.

The coaches as the main attractiveness of the walk show beautiful decorations and the dancers are young and beautiful, although the music and the rhythms are not still to tone, with the characteristics that should prevail in a party of the popular culture.

It lacks to narrow the step between groupings and to achieve better uniformity in the parade, but the followers always continue with their dancing steps to the rhythm of the camagüeyana conga, which has an unique sound when being born of the cowbells and drums of The Commands that invites to the most serious person to follow the dancing step.

Trnaslated by: Alberto Gavira Estevez