The Country

The Republic of Cuba is constitutionally defined as a socialist republic, although it is more commonly known as a communist state. Located in the Caribbean, it is a mere 90 miles south of Key West, Florida and counts the Bahamas as its closest neighbor.

The island nation, populated by over 11 million citizens, has an approximate land mass of over 40,000 square miles. The demographics of the country have long been a source of debate, as reports from the Cuban government’s census and independent observers varies wildly. However, it is generally accepted that the white descendants of the Spanish immigrants constitutes the majority of the population, while the mulattos (people of mixed European and African ancestry) and mestizos (European and Amerindian ancestry) makes up the minority.

The country is ruled by an elected 609-member National Assembly of People Power, who in turn elects the President of Cuba. The current president of the country is Raul Castro, the younger brother of the iconic Fidel Castro.

Relationship With A Cuban Woman

The economic embargo, the social class system, the long stretches of white sand on blue beaches, the exotic and steamy nights of the Caribbean, the mysticism of voodoo; these are among the multitude of factors that conspire to create the Cubanita; the flirty, sensuous, mysterious and strong Cuban woman.

The Cubanitas’ convivial manner coupled with their inherent passion for life is infectious, and many men have fallen under the charm of these women.

However, be warned; they do not suffer fools gladly as can be evidenced by the fact that the divorce rate in this tiny nation is probably the highest in the world, averaging at 70%!

Marriage

The potpourri of European, African, Caribbean and Latin American traditions have surprisingly made little impression on the local customs and traditions of the Cuban society. In fact, one could safely conclude that their political foe, the United States, has in fact been the most prominent cultural influence on the Cuban society.

This can clearly be observed from the approach taken during socially significant events such as marriage. Marrying a Cuban woman basically entails the traditional proposal (on bended knee preferably, arthritis notwithstanding), the civil ceremony, the cake, the rings and the dancing – but with a major difference.

During the ceremony, male guest are expected to dance with the bride AND pin money on her. While some of us may have plenty of experience with this ‘tradition’, it is worth noting that to the Cubans the ‘money dance’, is simply the act of easing the financial burden of the couple for the festivities that will ensue right after.

Regulation

The Cuban government’s regulations for marriage with foreigners are regularly subjected to revision and there are minimal information provided by the Cuban authorities on public forums. However, a few constants among the regulations are

• An applicant who was previously married will need to provide a certified copy of either their divorce paper or the death certificate of the spouse.
• Wedding registrations can only be conducted during weekdays and the process will take approximately two weeks. Appointment of a resident legal counsel is highly advisable to ensure that local decorum is adhered to, strictly.