When Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba in the 1960s, he declared Cuba an atheist nation.
Along with this, he also removed religious holidays from Cuban calendars and banned their public celebrations.
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and other religious holidays were no longer observed publicly.
There were places, though, where Castro still allowed decorations for these religious holidays.
In hotels and places where tourists frequent, owners of the establishments were allowed to put up decorations.
In other parts of the country, the said holidays would just pass quietly by.
The Catholic Church and other religious organizations have not stopped talking to the government to allow the devotees to celebrate religious holidays publicly.
In 1997, Fidel Castro decided to ease down on the restrictions on these holidays.
Pope John Paul was visiting Cuba the following year, January 1998, and Castro removed the ban on the celebration of religious holidays in honor of the Pope's visit.
From then on, Christians in Cuba were allowed to celebrate their holidays in public.
Christmas is once again restored as the nation's biggest holiday.
People can go and hear mass, and prepare something special for the Christmas celebration at home.
Now, every Christmas, a big mass is held in Havana at the Revolution Square.
Church bells are sounded to signify the coming of Christmas Eve.
Epiphany, Lent, Easter and other Christian holidays are celebrated throughout Cuba.
From an atheist nation, Castro unofficially moved away from the label and considered Cuba a secular nation.
Today, religion and the Cuban flag can stand alongside each other without conflict or fear of any sanction.