(Prensa Latina) Havana, Cuba - Spontaneity and lack of inhibition were two key elements clearly visible in the popular balls the Cubans organized to celebrate the opening of 2005 and the 46th anniversary of the victory of their Revolution.

Cuba strengthened as a musical island with the best representatives of son, rumba, bolero and timba, in a gigantic show taking place at the main squares of the country.

The traditional cannon shot at 9 pm, during the colony times a signal to announce the city walls were closing, transmuted its meaning to open the New Year celebrations, releasing the positive energy of songs and rhythms defying the surprising rainy clouds arriving.

In Old Havana’s Amphitheater, the legendary Septeto Habanero made the families gathered there dance to the exhaustion and awakened the admiration of a group of tourists, ‘infected’ by the virus of raucous joy of those who intoned old immortal melodies.

Meanwhile, at the Antimperialist Tribune facing the US Interest Section, the youth drained the night out of music until the wee small hours with a mega-concert by Buena Fe, David Blanco, Los Van Van and La Charanga Habanera, including other popular bands.

The main coliseums in Havana also opened for a program including the dancers of the famous Tropicana cabaret, at the National Theater; the Boleros de Oro (Golden Boleros), at the Mella Theater; and the revival of the play “Tibor Galarraga,” in El Sotano Hall.

Summing up, January 1st was a day brimming over with the love Cubans feel for the best of their popular culture.

[Photo; los Van Van].