And when one thinks that the Cuban regime has reached the peak of the cult of Fidel Castro's personality, another initiative emerges that raises questions about the limits: mobilizing military troops to plant one hundred cedars that, as they grow, will form the word “FIDEL” visible from the air, is the new tribute.
The symbolic planting, carried out in Artemisa and Matanzas, is part of the political tributes leading up to the centenary of the dictator's birth in 2026.
According to a report from the Cuban News Channel, fighters from the Special Troops Mobile Brigade, Antonio Maceo Order, led the planting in Artemisa.
Lieutenant Pedro Jesús Pérez Pino stated that "the one hundred trees form the name of FIDEL, the name of our beloved commander-in-chief," adding that "we will always keep him in our memory."
The reporter referenced the words of the government journalist Katyushka Blanco, who praised the cedar as a symbol of “strength, greatness, dignity, courage, and nobility.” She even claimed that its wood “is the same that formed the spirit, the soul, and the body of Fidel Castro,” a comparison that elevates botany to the levels of political liturgy.
Major Yosel Leiva Méndez, head of the youth section of the political directorate of the FAR, emphasized that "Fidel bequeathed to us the philosophy of struggle, the irrevocable path of socialism, and the values of revolutionary fighters."
During the ceremony, several soldiers received their Communist Party membership cards, while First Lieutenant Julio César Salgado Mir declared, “At this moment, I feel just like Fidel Castro,” a statement that highlights how closely the slogan can become intertwined with personal identity.
The plantations were not limited to Artemisa. In Matanzas, the official Tania Guevara, a graduate of the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School, celebrated on Facebook the planting of another hundred cedars in the Military Region together with young individuals in uniform.
In his post, he described the tree as "strong, resilient, and enormous," and even made biblical references to it: "Yes, FIDEL embodies all the characteristics of cedar trees: strong, resilient, enormous, wonderful, and was sent by Olofi (for many) to bring order and happiness to Cuba."
In another message, Guevara described the planting as a “lovely gesture” and assured that the trees “will grow with the same strength and resilience that characterized the invincible FIDEL.”
He also expressed "pride" in the olive green youth, whom he described as "continuators of the historical legacy who will show the empire that they will never stop defending their homeland."
The regime plans to expand these crops to other units of the FAR throughout the country as part of the political campaign leading up to the centenary of Fidel Castro, reinforcing a cult of his figure that, rather than diminishing, multiplies through increasingly extravagant symbolic gestures.
As part of the propaganda campaign to commemorate Fidel Castro's 99th birthday and the approach to the centenary of that date, the regime presented community dining facilities with a capacity for only ten people in Guantánamo, a gesture that, rather than addressing food insecurity, highlights the contradiction between the propaganda of social justice and the profound crisis the country is experiencing.
The political machinery was also activated in Birán, where Raúl Castro appeared alongside Díaz-Canel at the main event for the anniversary.
There, a national program was introduced under the slogan "One Hundred Years with Fidel," designed to indoctrinate children and young people through activities aimed at keeping the figure of the dictator alive as an ideological guide, in contrast to a youth that dreams of emigrating and openly criticizes the system.
From the Palace of the Revolution, Miguel Díaz-Canel asserted that Fidel is “in the fullness of survival”, in a speech filled with slogans where he described him as “constant, guide, and challenge,” ignoring the discontent of millions of Cubans facing hunger, blackouts, and a lack of medications.
The cultural apparatus joined the campaign with the inauguration at the José Martí Memorial of a photographic exhibition by Alex Castro, the son of the dictator.
The exhibit, presented as an intimate portrait, is part of a broader program of events that will continue until the centenary in 2026, reinforcing the cult of personality as the country faces one of its worst economic crises.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cuban Regime's Tribute to Fidel Castro
Why did the Cuban regime decide to plant a hundred cedars in tribute to Fidel Castro?
The Cuban regime decided to plant one hundred cedars to spell the name "Fidel" as part of the political tributes leading up to the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth in 2026. This initiative took place in Artemisa and Matanzas and aims to reinforce the cult of Castro's personality, despite the criticisms and the context of a multi-systemic crisis in the country.
What does the cedar symbolize in the tribute to Fidel Castro?
The cedar has been exalted by the official journalist Katyushka Blanco as a symbol of "strength, greatness, dignity, courage, and nobility." She even claimed that "its wood is the same that formed the spirit, the soul, and the body of Fidel Castro." This symbolism seeks to link the characteristics of the tree with the qualities attributed to the dictator.
What criticisms does the Cuban regime face for this type of tribute to Fidel Castro?
The Cuban regime faces criticism for its obsession with the cult of personality surrounding Fidel Castro, especially in the context of an economic and social crisis. While they promote symbolic and propagandistic acts, such as planting cedars, the Cuban population endures daily blackouts, inflation, shortages, and poverty. These tributes are viewed as attempts to divert attention from real issues and perpetuate Castro's ideology.
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