Neither the heat nor the curious gazes of passersby prevented a group of Cuban families living in Montevideo from celebrating the New Year with one of the most deeply rooted traditions in their culture: roast pork on a spit.
The celebration took place at the intersection of Agraciada and Freire streets in the Belvedere neighborhood, where Cubans set up an outdoor kitchen and constructed a makeshift system to rotate a pig weighing over 60 kilograms over the glowing coals.
“This pig weighs 62 kilos. And it takes at least eight hours,” explained one of the participants, responsible for the cooking, while watching over the fire and the browning of the animal, to Telemundo.
"Once it releases all the fat, it won't burn. We are grilling with charcoal, but you can do it the same way with firewood, turning it around. Eight hours and it comes out crispy and cooked down to the bone, like a strawberry," he added with pride.
The images of the barbecue quickly circulated on social media, where they sparked mixed opinions. Some users criticized the initiative, viewing it as a sign of a lack of civic responsibility, while others defended the gesture as a legitimate way to preserve the customs of the Caribbean nation.
The Cuban YouTuber Frank el Máquina, who lives in Uruguay, remarked that barbecues in public spaces are not an uncommon practice, especially during New Year's celebrations, although the size of the pig and the method used attracted the attention of neighbors and onlookers.
For the Cubans present, the day was an opportunity to relive a piece of their homeland far from home and keep alive a tradition that, despite the controversy, symbolizes family unity and the hope for better times.
Filed under:
