San Juan de los Remedios: 500 Years

The history, culture and traditions of San Juan de los Remedios, the eighth city founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, was recreated at an artistic gala on Tuesday night to celebrate the city´s 500th anniversary.

The show is scheduled to be staged in front of the city’s Main Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, where important national and local performers took part.The musical suite, as organizers have called it, recreated legends and passages of the history of Remedios, and pay tribute to great Cuban musician, Alejandro García Caturla, born in the city.

Performers included renowned Cuban singer, Beatriz Márquez; soprano Bárbara Llanes; singer Teté García Caturla; the Municipal Concert Band; the band Aceituna sin hueso; the trio Trovarroco; the Symphony of Villa Clara and the Provincial Choir, plus talented actors from the Puppet Theater Company of Remedios and the Samuel Feijóo Professional Art School. When the gala was over, the local legend of the capture of El Güije de la Bajada, plus the burning of the traditional little houses of San Juan took place.

Remedios is the venue of one of Cuba's most important popular parties: “Las Parrandas de Remedios”. The popular fiesta was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Cuban Nation two years ago on the occasion of the 498th anniversary of the city, the 8th urban settlement founded by the Spaniards in Cuba. The coveted award for the important and deeply-rooted popular traditional party was conferred upon it by the National Heritage Commission.  “Las Parrandas of Remedios” or Folk Parties of Remedios began in the central city of Remedios in 1820 and later extended to another 17 cities and towns on the island. The declaration took place in the framework of a solemn assembly at the San Juan Bautista Church.  The party, which is also known as “San Juan Remediano” or “San Juan de Remedios,” is characterized by the participation of people and the quality of its floats and fireworks.

Source: http://www.radiohc.cu