Postcards from Havana

My birthday was this week, and a friend sent me this terrific gift through the mail: a 1920s-vintage, unused postcard from the Oriental Park Racetrack in Havana.

Earlier this year, I found the following vintage postcard featuring Havana's jai-alai fronton.

Jai alai is the fastest, most dangerous ball game in the world ... now notice that unlike today, there's no chain-link fence protecting spectators from the ball (players didn't wear helmets back then, either).

Ok great ... but the 1920s happened a long time ago.

What's been happening on the other side of the fence recently?

Here's some excerpts from the 2008 International Religious Freedom Report:

Some sources estimate that as much as 80 percent of the population consults with practitioners of religions with West African roots, such as Santeria or Yoruba.

The Government requires religious groups to register with the provincial Registry of Associations within the Ministry of Justice to obtain official recognition.

The law allows for the construction of new houses of worship once the required permits are obtained; however, the Government rarely authorizes new construction permits. 

House churches are subject to numerous regulations, many of which address location and hours of worship. Directive 43 and Resolution 46 require house churches to register with the Government. The vast majority of house churches were unregistered and thus technically illegal; however, most registered religious groups were able to hold services in private homes. 

Christian Solidarity Worldwide estimates that there are at least 10,000 house churches nationwide. Their numbers have increased in recent years, which religious leaders attributed to the Government not authorizing construction of new churches.

Catholic Church officials estimate that 10 percent of baptized Catholics attend Mass regularly. Membership in Protestant churches increased and was estimated at 550,000 persons. The Baptists, represented in four different conventions, are possibly the largest Protestant denomination, followed closely by the Pentecostal churches, particularly the Assembly of God. The number of Pentecostals is believed to be rising sharply.

Government officials continued to harass, threaten, and fine unregistered religious groups, and state security forces continued to subject officially sanctioned and unregistered house churches to surveillance.

Learn more about Cuban House Churches here.