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Latin American Culture: Facts, Food & Traditions

In this lesson, learn about one of the most colorful and diverse regions of the world: Latin America! Explore some relevant aspects of its culture, its delicious and diverse gastronomy, as well as some of their most important traditions.

Latin America Latin America is a large region extending from Mexico in the north to southern Argentina. It's full of diversity, culture and traditions and is known for the hospitality and happiness of its people. Latins are also famous for the sexiness of their dancing, for their varied and tasteful dishes, and their beautiful tropical landscapes.

A beach in Yucatan, Mexico

Until the 19th-century, most Latin-American countries were colonies of Spain and Portugal. This European inuence was very important and contributed to the language and religion, as well as the culture and food. Latin America is a combination of European and aboriginal customs and practices, as well as traditions brought by Africans to the continent during colonial times.

Quick facts about Latin America

The region has a population of over 600 million people.

Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, but Spanish is the main language in most Latin countries. However, dierent accents, words and phrases create local adaptations and identities.

Latin population is a mixture of dierent ethnicities. The majority identify themselves as mestizos, a mixture of European, African and Indigenous ancestors. https://study.com/academy/lesson/latin-american-culture-facts-food-traditions.html 1/5 4/1/2018 Latin American Culture: Facts, Food & Traditions | Study.com

Chile and Argentina are large wine producers.

Brazil is the worlds largest coee, and sugar, producer.

Colombia produces about 90% of the world's emeralds.

Venezuelan women have won more beauty titles than any other country.

Soccer is really popular in the region, and there is strong, passionate support for the local and national teams.

Latin-American Culture With so many dierent inuences and local variations, the many traditions, food and cultural elements of the entire region can be overwhelming. Therefore, an overview of some important aspects will help in better understanding Latin-America.

Religion Catholicism is the main religion in Latin America. The religion, brought by the Spanish conquerors, was combined with native and African beliefs, giving origin to a diversity of religious festivals. Religion is an important part of life, and individuals often pray and light candles to specic religious gures in order to obtain specic favors.

Catholic Procession during Holy Week

Family The Latin family is usually large, and it is very common for family groups to include uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents, who come together, very often, and help raise and educate the younger members. Machismo is common, based on a traditional perception of the role of men and women in society, and a strong religious inuence. It has made it dicult for women and sexually diverse minorities to be treated as equals, although younger generations seem to be getting over the old ideas. https://study.com/academy/lesson/latin-american-culture-facts-food-traditions.html 2/5 4/1/2018 Latin American Culture: Facts, Food & Traditions | Study.com

A Latin Family

Food Latin food is varied, tasty and colorful, with delicious ingredients as diverse as the culture itself. Each country has many famous dishes; some relevant examples are:

Mexican food is probably the best-known worldwide, with delicious classics like tacos and burritos. Authentic Mexican food is really spicy and chillies are a popular ingredient.

In Central America, the pupusas are very popular. They are thick tortillas lled with cheese, pork belly or beans, usually eaten for breakfast.

The bandeja paisa is a typical Colombian dish that contains pork belly, ground meat, eggs, avocado, rice, sausage and beans.

Bandeja Paisa

Venezuela is famous for the arepas, a round, at corn patty, usually grilled or fried, and served with a variety of llings.

The ceviche is a famous Peruvian food made from raw sh, cured in a mix of lemon, onions, and spices.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/latin-american-culture-facts-food-traditions.html 3/5 4/1/2018 Latin American Culture: Facts, Food & Traditions | Study.com

Peruvian Ceviche

Argentina and Chile are known for their empanadas, hot patties made out of our which baked and lled with meat, cheese or beans.

Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil eat plenty of grilled meat and are famous for their sausages and many meat products. Brazilian churrascarias are becoming famous worldwide.

Music and Movies Latin America is known for its Caribbean rhythms like Salsa', Bachata and Merengue, which combine hip movements with quick steps and spins. Famous artists of these rhythms are Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Celia Cruz, just to name a few. Brazil is famous for the Samba, the cheerful dance characteristic of Carnival. Tango is another Latin dance, that originated in Argentina.

The Latin lm industry has had its highs and lows but has always been an important part of the local culture, and internationally-acclaimed productions are often regarded as a matter of national pride. Famous Hollywood stars have Latin roots, like Soa Vergara and Edgar Ramirez.

Literature Literature in Latin America is very rich, and great books have been written since colonial times. Among the big Latin writers are Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Pablo Neruda, and Octavio Paz; all Nobel Prize winners.

Traditions and festivals Many of the dierent traditions and festivals in Latin America have religious origins. Throughout the year, many religious holidays are observed and processions are common. Some well-known festivals are the Holy Week, celebrated in the entire region, the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the largest street festival in the world; the Day of the Dead in Mexico, a colorful festival to honor the deceased family members; the Dancer Devils of Corpus Christi in Venezuela, to celebrate the

https://study.com/academy/lesson/latin-american-culture-facts-food-traditions.html 4/5 4/1/2018 Latin American Culture: Facts, Food & Traditions | Study.com presence of Christ; and the Day of the Little Candles in Colombia, when the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary is honored, and candles burn with the wishes of the faithful. There are many other traditions and each town has its own festival to honor their local saint or virgin.

The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro

Lesson Summary Latin America is a region full of diversity, culture and traditions and is known for the hospitality of its people and their joy for life. Its culture is the result of a combination of European, Indigenous and African inuences. Spanish is the main language in most of the region.

Large family groups are common, including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Catholicism is the main religion and many holidays and traditions are inuenced by religion. Some important festivals and traditions include the Carnival, Day of the Dead, and many celebrations devoted to dierent saints and virgins. Latin gastronomy is full of tasty dishes, like the Venezuelan arepas, the Colombian bandeja paisa, the Central American pupusas, or the Peruvian ceviche, just to name a few. Caribbean rhythms are popular, as well as local dances specic to each area.

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