As I went to take a photograph of the Christmas Tree in the Lonja de Comercio —the building where I work and supposedly the proprietor of Cuba’s tallest Christmas tree— I heard a loud “pst-pst!” It was a building security guard who was built like a Judo instructor and hissed at me in the way Cubans sometimes do to get each other’s attention. “Compañero,” he said gravely. “No photos of the tree.” In my time in Cuba, I have been told not to take photos of military installations, airports, hospitals and government ministries. This was the first time though that I had been told that I couldn’t take a photo of a Christmas Tree.
Was it because up until only two decades ago, Cubans weren’t allowed to openly celebrate Christmas? Was it to keep out the hordes of tourists although Old Havana feels pretty empty these days? Why would one erect a large fake tree with brightly colored lights and then not let anyone take photos of it? “It’s the policy of the building,” the security guard helpfully explained. That reason was good enough for him, it apparently should have been good enough for me.
Since I am a person who asks questions for a living, I checked with the building management, who clarified that, yes, while the general public was prohibited from the photographing the tree, I, as a tenant, was exempt. “Whenever you like,” they wrote me, “You are free to do so.” Thus it is truly my special privilege to both be able to take and share this photo with you all. Happy holidays everyone.
