21-gun salutes began on Monday (Nov. 28) in Havana’s Plaza de la Revolucion in honor of Fidel Castro, who passed away on Black Friday. Although he had many critics from around the globe, thousands of supporters have flooded to Havana’s Revolution Plaza to pay homage to the late Cuban revolutionary.
The two-day recognition is set to last 13 hours on the first day and continue again the next day. Virtually all schools and the government are closed for this event in commemoration of Castro’s political legacy. This is just the beginning of several funeral ceremonies set to end Dec. 4.
From Monday 9 a.m. until Tuesday 12 p.m. people will be able to visit his memorial located in the same location that “El Comandante” used to deliver countless speeches as President of Cuba. According to Fox News Latino, the presidents of Cuba’s allied countries are expected to attend the ceremony as well (Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega, and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa).
On Nov. 30, Castro’s ashes will make a trip around the island so that his Cuban supporters can give their last farewell. The trip will follow the “Caravan of Freedom” route, which rebels of Sierra Maestra crossed the country from Santiago de Cuba when the Cuban Revolution triumphed in 1959. Santa Ifigenia Cemetery of Havana will host the burial ceremony of his ashes on Dec. 3 and will be followed by a massive tribute to Fidel.