Las Parrandas de Remedios

A man lets go of a rocket during Las Parrandas de Remedios in Remedios, Cuba, December 24, 2013. Las Parrandas de Remedios is an all-night Christmas Eve tradition in Remedios, Cuba, that began when a priest became concerned that people were not attending Midnight Mass. He encouraged children to make noise with whistles and horns to make sure people were awake. The festival features vendors selling roasted pork, fireworks, and large, lit floats with competitions between two neighborhoods.