CubaPLUS Magazine

Although almost everyone knows that December 28, for cultures of  Hispanic origin,(April Fools' Day for English-speaking countries),  is a celebration that has been largely forgotten, in the way it was once enjoyed: playing pranks, mostly harmless and in good taste, with friends and acquaintances to later blurt out that &You fell for being innocent", and everyone ends up laughing.

Perhaps it is because now the broadcasts of the so-called hidden camera pranks are preferred, which are often broadcast on television humorous programs or God knows why, in the end, time changes everything. Yes, there are people who love this tradition, which cannot be said to be extinct here on the Island, although not with the abundance of jokes of yesteryear.

Connoisseurs affirm that this holiday is of Christian origin -although it should not be confused with the Day of the Innocent Saints-, it was born for a very serious and sad reason: to honor the babies murdered in Bethlehem on that date, by order of the great kingHerod of Judea, in his desire  to prevent baby Jesus of Nazareth, announced as the Messiah by prophets, from living.

The historical veracity of the crimes attributed to Herod regarding children has not been verified and scholars believe that it is a myth that reached our days as part of a black legend or a morbidity that attracts many.However, there are ecclesiastical celebrations that honor the little innocents on the day.

In Cuba, we repeat, Latin cultures always prevailed, making this day appropriate for jokes and joy, in which it was frowned upon for some to get out of hand, as sometimes also happened, and this affected health or the good state of an affectionate relationship. You could not lose the nobility and the festive spirit, nor hide vengeful acts in it. The change from the tragic and very religious version of the festivity to a party where jokes and fun predominated occurred in a process, according to some ethnologists, it began because long ago it was probably associated with the so-called Festival of Fools.

This was a kind of carnival, with abundant noise, loud parades and libations organized by the young priests on a day between Christmas and January 6, the arrival of the Magi from the East in Bethlehem. One learns amazing things in this life!