—Wenceslao Gálvez (Cubano)
Chapter Footnotes:
[1] daba gusto, it was pleasant; it was a pleasure.
[2] el santo del patrono de un pueblo. It was customary to give towns and villages the names of saints, called thereafter their patronos. The anniversary of that particular saint is set apart in the local calendar for celebration.
[3] si a mano viene, if thought desirable; if desired.
[4] monedas en cintas o en cartulinas. Refers to the old custom of distributing specially stamped souvenir medals of gold or silver, among the guests at a child’s baptismal feast.
[5] un día grande, a great occasion; a red letter day. VARIANT: Un día de días.
[6] para convertirse en cristiano. It is a common saying that the child is a Jew before being baptized, and a Christian after the ceremony has been performed.
[7] el pecado original, original sin; the sin of Adam.
[8] entre tanta faja, in many (innumerable) wrappings.