Culture in Middle/South America

1. Culture in Middle/South America Honors World Geography

2. Mexico Culture • Primary 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)

3. Mexico Culture continued • Day 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

7. Mexico Culture continued • Cinco de Mayo (3) • National holiday that remembers the Mexican victory over French troops in 1862 • Became a symbol ofthe Mexican struggle to end European control in Mexico • Celebrated more in the U.S. to emphasize Mexican heritage • Sometimes misrepresented as Mexican Independence Day

8. Mexican Culture Continued • Food • Tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, and chalupas • Most popular sport is soccer • Bullfighting is the national sport of Mexico

9. 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

10. Haiti • Creole is spoken throughout the Caribbean • Creole: blend of European, African and Caribbean language • Strongly influenced by African traditions • Voodoo • Haitian version of traditional African beliefs that are blended w/ elements of Christianity • Followers believe good/evil spirits play a role in daily life

11. Jamaica Background • Strongly influenced by African traditions • Much of population descendants of slaves • English is the official language • Last colonized by Great Britain • Majority Religion: Christianity

12. Jamaica Rastafarianism • Important 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”

13. Jamaica Rastafarianism continued • Rastafarians believe in principles of a balanced lifestyle • Long hair locked in its natural, uncombed state (Dreadlocks) • Dressedin the colors of red, green, gold, andblack • symbolize the life force of blood, herbs, royalty, and being African • Natural vegetarian diet • All-night drumming ceremonies • Start of Reggae

16. Jamaica Reggae • Originated 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

22. South American Culture • Most countries speak Spanish • Brazil speaks Portuguese • Most of citiesarelocatedonthecoastnearseaports • Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro

23. South America Culture Continued • Religion: most are Roman Catholic • Hindu temples and Islamic mosques located in areas with South Asian and Indonesian immigrants • Originsof the samba&tango

25. South American Culture • Gauchos-Argentineancowboys • Popular in literature and culture • much of population meat eaters • http://www.fogodechao.com/