The Feast Day of Santiago Apóstol in the City of Santiago de Cuba from 1800 to 1868

Abstract

In Santiago de Cuba the feast of St. James, patron of the city was the most important employer in the nineteenth century. This joined both elements of religious worship as lúdicos. In the religious sphere unified demonstrations of devotion of the population towards the pattern. However between the years 1800-1868 for socioeconomic reasons, contrary to what happened with the official ceremonies in honor of Santiago, the patron secular amusements program became more popular and became independent party that originated them. Thus the day of Santiago ceased to be important from the point of spiritual and identity-view, and went on to become the perfect place to take to the streets and celebrate with joy their secular amusements gradually were becoming expected pretext carnivals.