CUBA: Santa & Guano

Much can be said of Fidel Castro's wild schemes, but no one can accuse him of lacking imagination. In the high name of the revolution last week Castro nationalized 1) Cuba's bat guano caves, 2) every chicken egg in Havana province and 3) Santa Claus, who has gradually become the symbol of Christmas through much of Latin America.

Santa, ruled Castro's director of culture, Vicentina Antuña, is out because he is "a recent importation [from the U.S.] and foreign to our culture." From now on Cuban children will expect presents from the...

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