Viral letter about New Year's in Cuba: Pork at 1,500 pesos per pound and the family via video call

As 2024 comes to a close, a letter from the character Uncle Matt "The Traveler" from the puppet series Fraggle Rock has gone viral on social media. In the letter, he humorously and nostalgically describes the challenges of preparing a traditional Cuban dinner to bid farewell to the year.

The profile Kuba King shared a supposed letter from the iconic character on Facebook, who in the television series embarked on discovery journeys around the world with his nephew.

In this instance, Uncle Matt is addressing his nephew Kuba, using irony to portray the shortages, high prices, and fragmentation of Cuban families, reflecting a Cuba that is very different from the one he left behind when he emigrated.

The letter begins with a nostalgic tone: “I remember, nephew, when we could still gather the whole family together, such beautiful moments. But this has been dwindling, you know. It is very sad to see how many families will only be able to see each other through a mobile camera this year-end, but well, unfortunately, that’s all we can do.”

From there, Uncle Matt recounts the odyssey he faced in trying to uphold the tradition of preparing a dinner to bid farewell to the year.

With a sarcastic tone, he recounts his visit to the market, where he faced exorbitant prices: “I went to the butcher and asked him the price for a pound of lean meat. He told me it was 1,500 pesos. It wasn't enough for him to stab the pig; he wanted to stab me too. Thank God I had taken my blood pressure medication early that day, otherwise, they would have had to pick me up stiffer than the pig on the counter.”

Finally, he managed to buy two pounds of meat and the pig's tail for a congrí, although his joy was short-lived when he realized that there were still other essential products missing.

As he continued his walk through the market, he encountered even more outrageous prices: “I went to the guy selling rice and beans. My God, everything is so expensive! I think that stuff must have been imported, probably from India. With all my determination, I had to buy it, you know. When I left the rice stand, I realized I only had 1,000 pesos left in my wallet, and I still hadn't bought any seasoning or root vegetables.”

The image accompanying the viral post shows Uncle Matt proudly holding a pack of hot dogs, describing it as "a bright spot in all that darkness," in reference to the effort and frustration involved in obtaining it amidst high prices and scarcity.

Uncle Matt's LetterThe TravelerIt looks like the text you intended to share did not come through. Could you please provide the text you would like me to translate?

Dear Nephew Kuba:

I'm writing these lines to share the beginning of my odyssey in preparing the Famous New Year's meal, a dish that becomes increasingly impossible to execute perfectly each year.

I remember, nephew, when the whole family could still gather together. Those were beautiful moments, but that has been dwindling, you know?

It's very sad to see how this New Year many families will only be able to connect through a mobile camera, but unfortunately, that's all that can be done.

To continue with this letter, I want to share that I left a few weeks before the end-of-year rush, because otherwise, I won’t be able to buy even a pack of hot dogs.

I woke up early on Sunday and headed to the nearest fair with a little savings I had been setting aside for months.

Upon arriving at the fair, I went straight for the big prize, which was, of course, the pork.

I arrived where the butcher was and asked him the price for a pound of clean meat. He told me it was 1,500; it wasn't enough for him to stab the pig, he also wanted to stab me with the price.

Thank God I had taken my blood pressure medication early that day; otherwise, they would have had to pick me up stiffer than the pig that was on the counter.

Well, I made the effort and bought 2 pounds, and I took the pig's tail for the beans to make a good congrís (I'm getting to that story).

I leave the butcher and head over to the guy selling rice and beans… My God, everything is so expensive; I think that stuff must have been imported all the way from India at least.

Well, yes, with all the money I've saved up, I had to buy it, you know?

As I left the rice stand, I noticed that I only had 1,000 pesos left in my wallet, and I still hadn’t bought any seasonings or groceries for the following week.

Oh my God, how long until Yakelin's 15th birthday?

I went to the produce stand and bought a few pounds of sweet potatoes because I had already taken care of the most important things for the end of the year.

What a NEW YEAR'S EVE, nephew!

I went to the stall of the guy who sells spices, and there it's really tough. I didn't even ask him why everything is so expensive, just in case he told me it was because of the blockade, and then I would have lost it, seriously.

I ended up buying Goya seasoning, you know, it's what's working these days, there’s nothing else. I still had 400 pesos left, and incredibly, I found a microenterprise selling packs of hot dogs for 350, a real beacon in all that darkness. That phrase reminds me of something.

THAT'S HISTORY, I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU.

Dear nephew, I'm attaching a photo of my triumphant pack of puppies.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Economic and Social Situation in Cuba at Year-End