National Holidays in Cuba

On par with the United States, which has ten national holidays, Cuba has nine official public holidays, according to VisitarCuba.org.

Travel Cuba notes that a majority of these holidays celebrate the 1959 revolution. Below are the different holidays in detail.

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Liberation Day & New Year’s
Celebrated on the first of January, Liberation Day is also called “Triunfo de la Revolucion.” This day celebrates the removal of dictator Batista from power and the start of Fidel Castro’s power, according to Havana-Guide.com

Victory of the Armed Forces
This is celebrated January 2 and is another holiday commemorating its revolution’s history.

Good Friday
Good Friday became a national holiday following the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The first Good Friday recognized as a holiday was in 2014, according to Granma, the Official Body Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

International Labour Day
Called “Dia de los Trabajadores,” the Cuban Labor Day is celebrated May 1. Havana-Guide.com noted there are many celebrations this holiday, including “speeches on the ‘Plaza de la Revolucion’ celebrating the work force and the Communist party.”

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Commemmoration of the Assault to Moncada/National Rebellion Day
This three-day long holiday from July 25-27 remembers the 1953 capture and exile of Fidel Castro, according to VisitarCuba. This happened near Santiago in the Moncada army barracks.

However, this week is also celebrated widely with carnivals in Santiago as the saint day of St. James (Santiago), MyCubaVisit.com reports.

Independence Day, “Dia de la Independencia”
Independence Day celebrates the early independence of Cuba in 1868, when Carlos Manuel Cespedes freed his slaves and began the War of Independence against Spain, according to Travel Cuba. This is celebrated October 10.

Christmas, “Natividad”
A majority of Cuban citizens are Catholic. Christmas is celebrated on December 25.

However, Travel Cuba reports this has only recently been re-established as a holiday due to Pope John Paul’s visit in 1998.

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