Miami is buzzing this holiday season with the charming story of Glinda and Elphaba, two baby pigs who recently received public pardons from Daniella Levine Cava, the mayor of Miami-Dade County. The event, held Friday, reflects the unique Cuban-American holiday traditions celebrated throughout South Florida, especially during Nochebuena, when families typically gather to enjoy roast pork, or lechon asado.
The two piglets, named after the witches from the beloved musical “Wicked,” are not just regular farm animals; they have become local celebrities thanks to their symbolic pardons. Glinda and Elphaba, who are only four months old, will now live out their natural lives at an animal sanctuary south of Miami, free from the grim fate of becoming holiday dinner.
Surrounded by onlookers outside the Latin Cafe 2000, the pair of tan-and-black piglets seemed unfazed by the ceremony. Instead, they focused on the delicious apple and orange slices offered to them, perhaps indifferent to the crowd’s excitement. Their harmless antics, such as nibbling on the plastic grass lining their enclosure, brought smiles to attendees' faces.
While speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Levine Cava joked, “The holidays are definitely the favorite part of the year for me and for so many. It’s a time of gratitude. A time when we reunite with our families and our loved ones. And of course, good food, right? So important — but not a very good time to be a pig in Miami.” Her light-hearted remarks highlight the culinary traditions woven deeply within the culture, especially as they relate to the festivities of Nochebuena.
According to Eric Castellanos, the owner of Latin Cafe 2000, the event originally started as an amusing idea among staff members after seeing reports about the Presidential Thanksgiving turkey pardons, modified for their local reality—because, as Castellanos summarized, “we really don’t eat turkey here in Miami. We eat pork.”
“So we looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, someone should do this,’” he said, reflecting how the community warmth and humor breathe life to local traditions and celebrations.
The excitement around the pardons also drew curious spectators, including Abbi Erkes, who moved to Miami just four months ago. Having recently embraced her new life, she expressed, “I’m from the Midwest, so I have been to my fair share of farms and seen a variety of different types of pigs, but these are cute ones.” Her comments underline the distinctiveness of this Miami experience as she learns more about the vibrant Cuban culture.
The piglets Glinda and Elphaba are the 12th and 13th to receive such pardons since the ceremony's inception. Their future at the sanctuary is now assured, unmarred by the holiday preparations taking place all around South Florida. This year, many families will enjoy their lechon asado, but Glinda and Elphaba will remain safe and sound, highlighting the spirit of compassion and community embodied within Miami.
After the ceremony concluded, the two pigs were whisked away to their new home, perhaps thinking little of the day’s festivities but leaving behind their undeniable mark on the local traditions. This funny yet touching event has not only spotlighted how communities can come together to celebrate the holidays but also reminded everyone about the preciousness of life and the joys of cultural heritage.
