Culture in Middle/South AmericaHonors World Geography

Mexico CulturePrimary language: Spanish

Major Religion: Roman Catholic◦Imp. Holidays: Christmas, Lent,

Easter

Other holidays include:◦Day of the Dead (1)◦Quinceanera (2)◦Cinco de Mayo (3)

Mexico Culture continuedDay of the Dead (1)

◦ Day of honoring dead loved ones & accepting death In rural areas, families clean relatives’ graves and place

candles, flowers, and the favorite foods of the deceased on the gravesite

In cities, people celebrate in the street and eat breads and candies in the shapes of skulls and skeletons

Quinceanera (2)◦Girl’s 15th birthday◦Marks end of her childhood◦May date back from Aztec tradition to

stress a young woman’s role in society

Mexico Culture continuedCinco de Mayo (3)

◦National holiday that remembers the Mexican victory over French troops in 1862 Became a symbol of the Mexican struggle

to end European control in Mexico

◦Celebrated more in the U.S. to emphasize Mexican heritage Sometimes misrepresented as Mexican

Independence Day

Mexican Culture ContinuedFood

◦Tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, and chalupas

Most popular sport is soccer

Bullfighting is the national sport of Mexico

Caribbean Culture Background

Official language of Caribbean country depends on what European country colonized it◦ Spanish: Cuba, Dominican Republic, and

Puerto Rico◦ French: Haiti

Main religion in Caribbean:◦ most Spanish/French speaking countries are

Roman Catholic◦ English/Dutch speaking countries: Protestant

Many people in the Caribbean are mulattoes◦ Mulattoes: people of African & European

descent

HaitiCreole is spoken throughout the

Caribbean◦ Creole: blend of European, African and

Caribbean languageStrongly influenced by African

traditionsVoodoo

◦ Haitian version of traditional African beliefs that are blended w/ elements of Christianity

◦ Followers believe good/evil spirits play a role in daily life

Jamaica BackgroundStrongly influenced by African

traditions◦Much of population descendants of

slaves

English is the official language

Last colonized by Great Britain

Majority Religion: Christianity

Jamaica RastafarianismImportant religious and cultural

movement in Jamaica since the 1950s

◦ Popular in underprivileged communities

They believe that they are being tested by Jah through slavery, the existence of economic injustice & racial “downpression”

Jamaica Rastafarianism continuedRastafarians believe in principles of a

balanced lifestyle◦ Long hair locked in its natural, uncombed state

(Dreadlocks)

◦ Dressed in the colors of red, green, gold, and black symbolize the life force of blood, herbs, royalty,

and being African

◦ Natural vegetarian diet

◦ All-night drumming ceremonies◦ Start of Reggae

Jamaica ReggaeOriginated in 1960’s

◦ Became popular in United States in 1970’s

Consists of drum, bass guitar, and electric guitar

Became extremely popular by Bob Marley◦ Still used in music today

South American CultureMost countries speak Spanish

◦Brazil speaks Portuguese

Most of cities are located on the coast near seaports◦Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro

South America Culture ContinuedReligion: most are Roman

Catholic

Hindu temples and Islamic mosques located in areas with South Asian and Indonesian immigrants

Origins of the samba & tango

South American Culture

Gauchos- Argentinean cowboys

◦Popular in literature and culture

much of population meat eaters

http://www.fogodechao.com/