A Cuban resident in the United States became a topic of conversation on TikTok after sharing a video in which she explains why she organized a graduation party for her son's classmates, bringing a deeply rooted tradition from the island to the American context.
The creator, identified as @yanirisdiaz_, published the video and has since garnered over 292,600 views and 19,200 likes, along with hundreds of comments from individuals of various nationalities who praised the initiative.
In the video, the author explains that some might criticize her for "transferring Cuban customs to the yuma," but she does not apologize: "here is a mindful mother who knows that these types of activities strengthen friendship ties from childhood."
The tradition described is not an official school act, but rather a community and informal practice: at the end of the year, Cuban parents would come together collectively to celebrate with all the children in the group in outdoor spaces.
"In Cuba, when the school year ended, parents would come together like Captain Planet and throw an end-of-year party for all the children," she recounts. "Where was the party held? At the beach, by a river, or in the yard of the most enthusiastic mom."
Yanirisdiaz_ formed a group with other mothers from her son's school in the United States to coordinate the celebration and plan joint outings during the summer vacation.
The message of the video goes beyond cultural nostalgia: the author frames it as a reflection on mindful parenting and the dangers of excessive screen time.
"We are mindful, responsible mothers, and we know that we are in a beautiful country where there is everything, but many times children have no one to share it with," she points out.
For her, the happy faces of children "sweaty and red from running around" are worth much more than "a child who tells you, 'Mom, I'm bored' in front of the TV with a thousand movies and a shelf full of toys but without a little friend to share them with."
It also expresses a long-term aspiration: "I hope that when my son reaches my age, he can welcome his childhood friends as I did with my friend, and those bonds are strengthened and nurtured from an early age."
The response in the comments was overwhelmingly positive and came from multiple countries. A Venezuelan pediatrician wrote: "I have never been to the U.S., but I understand that interpersonal relationships in children are essential." Another user, identified as Barbarella, summed up the feelings of many: "Keep moving forward, because our customs with respect and adaptation are what matter."
This case adds to a documented trend among Cuban emigrants who defend their cultural customs against criticism on social media, from cooking on a wood stove in a trailer to maintaining a yard with chickens and Cuban plants in Florida.
The pattern repeats itself: the Cuban emigrant practices a custom from the island, receives criticism—sometimes from other Cubans—and responds by asserting it as an expression of identity, not as a sign of backwardness.
The author summarizes it with a phrase that became the heart of the video: "the good customs of a country also travel."
Filed under: