Havana, Cuba, November 2025
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 30 August 2026
Posted as part of One Word Sunday
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I wonder what special occasion she dressed up for.
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She is an initiate in Santeria and wears white for the first year I believe.
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Fun looking at everyone’s posts!
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Here is my entry for ‘white’
https://wp.me/p3RE1e-p0Q
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I love the juxtaposition.
Mine: https://whatrhymeswithstanza.com/2026/08/30/one-word-sunday-white/
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Yes, she really strikes a contrast with her surroundings
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I love street photography. It always amazes me how white and clean school uniforms are in Mexico!!
https://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2026/08/white.html
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Their school uniforms are immaculate. I marvel at it too. But you don’t see them so much now as schools re often closed due to lack of both power and teachers 😢
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Cuban street scenes always have an individual character. I have posted something different, hope you like :- https://davidoakes-images.com/2026/08/30/one-word-sunday-challenge-white/
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Yes, all of life is on the streets. It is too hot and dark inside – so they live their lives outside in air and light
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Love this – Stand-out white! Cuba 2025 keeps giving! Here’s mine, the very white Locorotondo in Puglia : https://suejudd.com/2026/08/30/white-3/
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Yes, it was a great trip for photos. I have no idea what will happen to Cuba next, but it was great to see them coping in 2025.
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Their reserves in terms of determination and positivity are considerable but not endless…Given the hurďles they have to overcome, I do worry for them
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So do I, Sue. I can’t see any good change coming their way. The people are frightened and they are weakened by their communist upbringing. I’m not saying they believe in it but they just don’t understand how the rest of the world works – they cannot understand why they have to pay for things. Plus, they don’t have money to afford to buy the basics. Even last year the ration shops were almost empty – they still have ration cards but apart from bread the items remain on the card not in their hands and tummies. 😢
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Quite dreadful times, and they are being bullied heavily by the White House
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She (or her mamma) knows how to do the washing!
Sorry for my ramblings in my post. Definitely more than one word. I prepared the post. Almost forgot about it. Saw it again, wrote the explanation, then realised that it was One-Day-Sunday and thought I leave it in: https://picturesimperfectblog.com/2026/08/30/raise-a-white-sail/
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Indeed! It is very common to see these Santeria outfits and they are always spotless. How they keep them clean on dirty streets with little water available, I just don’t know.
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I remember in Botswana, big dustbowl that it is, that many people walked around in spotless white outfits (not white shoes, though).
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https://sillarit.com/2026/08/30/white-2/
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That is a street photography at it’s best, a moment captured
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Yes, the Santeria initiates tend to avoid the camera, so I was pleased to catch her as part of a group where the story wasn’t all about her.
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I wonder, is that some kind of communion dress?
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Yes, it’s a sort of long communion. Initiates into the Santeria religion wear all white for their first year. It’s common to see people dressed in white as you walk around Havana. Santeria also uses colours to represent different aspects and deities in their religion, so you will see people wearing chains of beads for the god they are most attached to, and in churches each Christian saint will have beads or other items of colour that link each Santeria god to a Christian saint. It is a fascinating mix of African religion and Catholicism, going back to African slaves and Spanish rule and conversion.
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Wow, that is fascinating. How long were you there? Have you visited more than once?
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I’ve been twice now – 2016 and 2025. On my recent trip I booked a tour with a couple in Regla where Afro Cuban religion is very common. The woman’s father is a Santeria priest. The Afro Cuban mix of religion is fascinating, and I was amazed at the strength of religion despite being pretty much banned in the stronger days of communism.
If the situation improves I will definitely return. But at the moment there are virtually no international flights and there is virtually no health care, which I think too risky for me.
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Yes, I agree, but so happy you are sharing your experiences. I find it fascinating and your images beautiful.
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