A Cuban resident in the United States, identified as Lily (@lilietfuentesdela), has launched a strong critique against the trend of some Cubans on the island imitating American customs, from gender reveal parties and Halloween to using English names for businesses and children.
In a video of more than eight minutes published on TikTok, the woman, who claims to have lived 30 years in Cuba, questions what she sees as an obsession with adopting traditions from the United States without necessarily knowing their origin or meaning.
According to Lily, among many Cubans there is "an urgent need to live as if they were in the United States," an attitude that, in her opinion, leads to imitating celebrations and customs without pausing to consider their meaning.
One of the examples that caught his attention the most was a gender reveal party in a field, during which they painted a horse blue to announce that the baby would be a boy.
"I am convinced that the paint they used on the horse, they don't even know where it came from, nor if it could be added to the horse, nor if it would cause an allergy," she commented, concerned about the possible consequences for the animal.
It was then that he delivered one of the most powerful statements of his reflection: "Don't try to imitate and do something that doesn't belong to you. That's the problem with Cubans."
The Cuban woman also referred to the contradiction that, in her opinion, exists between the anti-American rhetoric promoted for decades by the Cuban regime and the fascination many inhabitants of the island have for the customs of that country.
"The hatred they instilled in us for this country has made us end up loving it fiercely," he stated.
Another aspect he questioned was the money and effort that some families dedicate to organizing celebrations of this kind while facing the economic difficulties and blackouts affecting Cuba.
"Once the celebration of sex is over, you will still be left without energy, you will still be hungry, and everything will remain the same, even if you have written down forty-five names in English," he expressed with irony.
Her critiques also extended to the practice of using English names for children and businesses. For Lily, the issue isn't about being aware of other cultures, but rather about adopting their traditions without truly understanding them.
“They celebrate things, and sometimes they don't even know what they are celebrating because there is a culture of imitation but not a culture of education,” he stated.
The content creator also cited the example of Cubans who already reside legally in the United States and, despite living surrounded by American traditions, maintain their own customs. She particularly mentioned Thanksgiving, when many Cuban families complement the traditional turkey with pork.
Among the American celebrations that have gained popularity in Cuba is Halloween. On October 31st, Cuban youth celebrated Halloween in El Vedado, Havana, even amid prolonged power outages, with costumes and parties in private spaces.
Sex reveal parties have also made headlines with viral moments on social media. In December 2025, a Cuban couple tried to reveal the gender of their baby using a motorcycle exhaust to inflate a balloon, but the makeshift experiment ended with the balloon flying away before it popped.
Reflections on Cuban customs and identity have also found a place on TikTok. Months ago, the trend "I failed as a Cuban" sparked a discussion about what it means to be Cuban and which traditions truly define that identity, both inside and outside the island.
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