I think I have already dealt with the subject that I will talk about today in some other articles, but I am sure you will agree with me that it is something that catches our attention, and also, on repeated occasions we need the services they provide: I street vendors and their cries.

Who has not needed garlic, chili pepper, an onion, a pumpkin or another product of the many that are sold on the streets, not only today, but since time immemorial?

Picturesque examples

Well, yes, every day we hear the most dissimilar and picturesque street cries anywhere, and we even stop what we are doing to pay attention about the product they are selling; Well, sometimes we don’t even understand what they are selling because of the speed with which they cry.

And precisely of the latter I have an example that I would like to share with you; It is about the man who walks all over the city selling escobas, haraganes, recogedores etc., and when he cries it is as if he said: “are are”, instead of haraganes, and then he says: “… are are and there are plenty …!” nice right?, and the one that sells anonillos, but what you hear is: “… ancillo dulceeee …”.

And in the late nineties and early 2000s, I remember two very funny too, this one sold sweet cookies that had a strawberry or chocolate cream in the center and cried: “… hee hee hee , ji jimagua …” and another who sold oil, but did not say that it was that, and cried it like this: “… coming through, coming through, then don’t be lamenting, when you’re cooking … .”

 Historical legacy

Friends, as a musical theme would say: “… how times change …” right?; there have always been these characters who are inviting you to buy something of what they bring, but each epoch and historical moment has its peculiarities and of course, these people too.

Those protagonists of my writing have changed their ways of doing that, their trade. And, of course, they also remain in the popular imagination and even become legends of a people that become part of its heritage. That is why I am sure that, in the future, the next generations will remember these and many other examples of street cries that will emerge over the years to stay and become one of the many stories of Camagüey.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García