Tom Gibb reports from Havana

The party used the entire front page of Cuba's only daily newspaper, Granma, to recommend that "from this year on," 25 December should be a holiday in Cuba

The party warned that an additional holiday "meant sacrificing tens of millions of pesos in salaries and goods and services," but added that "anything that contributes to the unity of our people reinforces the revolution."

Pope visited Cuba in January

The Cuban Council of State, headed by President Fidel Castro, is expected to ratify the proposal by the party politburo to recognise Christmas Day as a national holiday for Christian believers and non-believers alike.

In 1997 - prior to a visit by Pope John Paul - Cuban workers were given a day off at Christmas as an "exceptional measure".

Cuba's bishops then asked authorities to make the holiday a permanent one, a request reiterated by a number of visitors.

During the Pope's visit, President Castro - who was himself educated at a Jesuit school - promised greater freedom of worship on the island.

Sugar harvest more important

Cuba abolished the Christmas holiday in 1970, arguing that it interfered with the mobilisation of manpower for the sugar cane harvest.

December is a prime period of economic activity in the Caribbean, especially in the agricultural sector.

"The need to mobilise hundreds of thousands of workers in December to cut by hand all the sugar cane no longer exists. Cutters and machines do much of the harvesting," the party declaration now explained.

Improving ties with churches

The declaration insisted that the abolition was not inspired by any anti-religious sentiment.

However, the government at the time was avowedly atheist and Christians were barred from being members of the Communist Party or of holding many sensitive jobs.

Christmas trees were strongly discouraged.

In recent years, the government has declared itself secular rather than atheist.

It has dropped restrictions on Christians and moved to improve ties with Cuba's churches and other religions.