Two fortunate piglets escaped their fate on a Cuban-American family's Christmas dinner table in Miami-Dade, thanks to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. This event echoes the White House tradition of pardoning turkeys on Thanksgiving. The lucky piglets, named Glinda and Elphaba after characters from the musical "Wicked," will now enjoy their lives—spanning 12 to 15 years—at an animal sanctuary in South Miami.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that piglets in Miami have been spared from becoming the main course at Cuban families' Christmas feasts in South Florida, where roast pork is a holiday staple. "I'm thrilled to announce the stars of the 7th Annual Pig Pardon Ceremony by Latin Cafe! Thanks to this act of clemency, the adorable Glinda and Elphaba will dodge the roasting rack and instead dance their days away in their new sanctuary home," the mayor shared on her social media account.
"The holiday season is undoubtedly my favorite time of year, as it is for many others. It's a time for gratitude, gathering with loved ones, and, of course, enjoying good food. However, it's not a great time to be a pig in Miami," she joked, holding up the proclamation granting Glinda and Elphaba a lifelong pardon.
The ceremony took place in a makeshift pen outside the Latin Café 2000, the restaurant behind this charming initiative that celebrates the influence of Cuban culture in Miami. The café's owner, Eric Castellanos, explained that the idea started as a joke among his staff after seeing a news story about the Thanksgiving turkey pardon, saying, "We don't really eat turkey here in Miami. We eat pork."
"We looked at each other and said, 'Hey, someone should do this.' The rest, as they say, is history," Castellanos told the Associated Press. His children, Rico and Alessandra, were responsible for naming the piglets.
Understanding Miami's Unique Christmas Tradition
What is the significance of the pig pardon in Miami?
The pig pardon is a playful nod to the White House turkey pardon, adapted to reflect Miami's Cuban cultural traditions where roast pork is a holiday staple.
Who initiated the pig pardon tradition in Miami?
The tradition was initiated by Eric Castellanos, owner of Latin Café 2000, after a humorous suggestion by his staff inspired by the Thanksgiving turkey pardon.
Where will the pardoned piglets live?
The piglets, Glinda and Elphaba, will live out their natural lives at an animal sanctuary in South Miami.