Parrandas

Parrandas are a traditional carnival-like street party with origins date back to the 18th century. They take place in northern and central cities of the former Las Villas province (now divided into Villa Clara, Sancti-Spiritus and Ciego de Avila provinces) in Cuba. Most famous parrandas are celebrated in Remedios colonial city where these festivities were originated. Second most popular are celebrated in Camajuani, followed in popularity by Vueltas, Zulueta, Chambas, Guayos, El Santo, Taguayabon, Buenavista, Calabazar, Zaza del Medio, Falcon and many more small town of this central region of Cuba. In Puerto Rico, parrandas or asaltos are musical festivities in the Christmas season holidays.

Origins and History

Parrandas were born in the 18th century when Father Francisco Vigil de Quiñones, the priest of the Grand Cathedral of Remedios in order to get the people to come to midnight masses the week before Christmas had the idea to put together groups of children and provide them with jars, plates and spoons so they could run around the village making noise and singing verses. The idea persisted over the years and with time it gain complexity ending in the street party that has remained till these days.