With an overly triumphant tone, the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba, hosted a collective quinceañera celebration. "With the joy and enthusiasm of our youth, the 15 Collectives are celebrated at the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School in Contramaestre," stated the Eastern Army on its official Facebook page. "Congratulations to all the students, families, and the team that made this wonderful celebration possible," they added.
The official Facebook page of the Ministry of the Armed Forces also praised what it described as a "beautiful tradition." "At the Camilo Cienfuegos Military Schools, there is a beautiful tradition: 'the collective fifteens.' Undoubtedly, it is a special day at each of these schools; recently, the EMCC in Contramaestre was the scene of this event."
The gallery showcased young women in quinceañera gowns alongside military cadets, showing how even these celebrations are turned into ideological events, deeply intruding into the personal sphere of individuals.
This kind of "tradition" is often displayed by official pages in an attempt to humanize the young individuals who will eventually join the various repressive bodies of the Cuban regime. In 2023, a group of young people celebrated their 15th birthday in a collective party at the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School in Ciego de Ávila.
Local official media outlets described this as a "beautiful tradition," where more than 30 quinceañeras participated in a waltz, merging the traditional gala of "entering adulthood" with a political-ideological component, taking place in a school where future Cuban military personnel are trained.
That same year, a total of 45 pairs of students from the Camilo Cienfuegos military school in Villa Clara held a collective quinceañera celebration in honor of guerrilla fighter Ernesto (Che) Guevara. In a triumphant tone, the local newspaper Vanguardia de Cuba announced on Facebook that the youth—apparently 90, comprising 45 pairs—"went in a caravan to pay tribute to the Heroic Guerrilla Fighter, Commander Ernesto Guevara and his reinforcement detachment, with the commitment that the youth will not fail our Revolution."
The Impact of Collective Quinceañera Celebrations in Cuba
What is the purpose of the collective quinceañera celebrations at military schools in Cuba?
These celebrations are designed to blend traditional cultural events with political and ideological elements, reinforcing the values and commitments expected from future members of the Cuban military.
How are these events portrayed by official media in Cuba?
Official media often depict these events as beautiful traditions, emphasizing the joy and enthusiasm of the youth while subtly promoting the ideological values of the regime.
Why do these celebrations take place in military schools?
They occur in military schools to integrate the cultural rite of passage with the political indoctrination and training of future military personnel, ensuring alignment with the regime's values.