Central America and Mexico

A Cultural Overview

Emilie, Clare, Jill and Owais

Customs and Traditions

Many holidays center around religion and the importance of family

The most important holiday in villages is the day of their patron saint

Independence Day (varies by country)Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are

national holidaysChristmas and Easter, and associated

holidays, are very important

Language

Spanish is spoken by the majority of people, however, it is not always the official language

In Mexico, 2% of the population speak Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Indians

Language and dialects vary throughout the region, including English and Amerindian

Food

Common Foods Corn or flour tortillas Different versions of

tamales Rice and beans, together

or separately Vegetables- corn, chili

peppers, tomatoes Fruits- bananas,

mangoes, papayas, oranges, coconuts, melons, pineapples

Coffee

Other Food Facts The biggest meal of the

day is the one eaten at midday

During meals, both hands, but not elbows, should be kept above or on the table

Food, if not eaten with utensils, is eaten with the hands, or using a tortilla as a scoop

Family

Family is very importantIn rural settings, extended family live

togetherIn more urban areas, nuclear families live

togetherMainly patriarchalMany children live at home before

marriage, sometimes after as well

Art

Combination of Aztec art and Spanish crafts

Art embraces culture, history, and folk themes

Photographic art is gaining popularity

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion It also has significant political power Other religions include Protestant, Episcopalian,

Evangelical, Mormon, Methodist, Baptist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventist, and a variety of indigenous religions

There are small amounts of Jewish and Muslim faiths, and very small groups of Quakers, Amish, and Mennonites

Education

Education is generally only required for primary school (age 5-7 to age 12-15)

In many areas, however, families are too poor to send their kids to school at all

Very few go on to secondary school or university There is usually a choice between a university or

a vocational school In (most) rural areas, and some urban ones,

schools lack supplies, space, and money.

Government

Mexico-federal republic Costa Rica-democratic republic El Salvador-republic Guatemala-democratic constitutional republic Honduras-democratic constitutional republic Nicaragua-republic Panama-constitutional democracy Independence day is the national holiday, varies by

country Costa Rica’s stable government makes it the most

popular tourist destination in Central America.

Economy

Tourism is a very big industry Many were mainly agricultural, but are becoming more

industrialized Common exports include food, clothing/textiles, some oil,

and electronics. Coffee is a major industry. Most exports are sold to the US or to other countries in

Central America Poverty is mostly in rural areas CACM = Central American Common Market. Because

of wars and poverty, it has suffered setbacks Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the western

hemisphere

Technology/Transportation

Many formerly traditional countries are rapidly modernizing.

Most have telephone/cell phone service and computers in urban areas

Rural areas are farther behindHighways help connect once isolated

areas, improving the economy

Ethnic Groups

Mexico- 60% mestizo, 30% Amerindian, 9% white, 1% other

Guatemala- 59.4% mestizo/ladino and European, 40.5% various indigenous groups, .1% other

El Salvador- 90% mestizo, 9% white, 1% Amerindian Honduras- 90% mestizo, 7% Amerindian, 2% black, 1%

white Nicaragua- 69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black, 5%

Amerindian Costa Rica- 94% white, 3% black, 1% Amerindian, 1%

white, 1% other Panama- 70% mestizo, 14% mixed Amerindian, 10%

white, 6% Amerindian