South America has a dynamic and exclusive mix of culture and tradition. Food, music, religion and architecture deflects the diversity of the nation. Therefore, making it a captivating part of the world to visit. Since, number of cultural and traditional events takes place all through the year. South America is home to many cultures and traditions. Among this diversity, seventy five percent of the residents in South America are Roman Catholics. Therefore, the rest twenty five percent of them are Hindus and Muslims. However, half of the nation speaks Portuguese.
source- britannica.com
Culture
Music and dance have always dominated almost all the parts of Latin America. Therefore, it varies from popular native folk genres to the new era rock and pop. Every region has their unique style of music which is differentiated on the basis of rhythm and beats. Brazil has Samba and Columbia has a dance form named Cumbia. Whereas, Argentina and Uruguay gave us partner dance music, Tango.
Annual carnivals, celebrating these different genres of music and dance forms, takes place all round the year. The biggest and the most famous carnival is Carnival of Brazil. The celebration of this carnival majorly takes place in the capital of Brazil – Rio de Janeiro. Different samba schools organize masquerades and colorful floats that precedes each event. Argentina celebrates Murga, a type of carnival that incorporates song within the theatre musical. As, the songs had designed in a way that reflects the preceding year celebration. In Mendoza, Argentina, celebration of the Grape Harvest Festival takes place. Moreover, the celebration of this festival symbolizes a strong religious connection, as at the start of the festival, the divine blessing on the fruit is asked.
Inti Raymi gets celebrated in Mexico Halfway through the year. Inti Raymi means, Festival of God. Therefore, this auspicious ceremony celebrates the God Inti. The festival became very famous for the hand woven Aya Huma Mask., with lots of good food and traditional music. A Spanish festival, Festival of Flower, takes place in Medellin, Columbia, every year. Regarded widely in the world for the world’s biggest flower display.
After that, people of South America share a unifying and dividing passion for football (soccer). Once upon a time, in Peru and Columbia, Bullfights and Cockfights, respectively, were very popular. Although, most people have lost their interest in these over the decades.
source- culturalsurviving.org
Tradition
Beliefs and behavior passed down from generation to generation which share symbolic significance about our past. Therefore, these beliefs and behaviors, after generations, become Traditions. As a community, we come together and celebrate the traditions passed down on us from our ancestors. Since South America has so much diversity, different communities follow different traditions. And with such diversity, all the different communities come together and celebrate as one. Hence, the events and carnivals goes on all year!
For instance, during the Iemanjá Festival, the Brazilians wear all white and go to the beach to offer flowers to the Goddess of Water. Whereas, the people of Argentina have a tradition to spend New Year’s eve on the beach. Relaxing, having barbeques and enjoying the lakes and rivers. among all of this, Chile has the most unusual way of celebrating the new year. The people spend their New Year’s eve with their dear ones that left us, in the cemetery.
The Spanish Festival of Flowers, sends the message of the end of the slavery. The celebrates also features parades, beauty pageants and various concerts. While the Inti Raymi summons the God Inti for Good luck. In Mexico, a very strange yet beautiful tradition is practiced, known as “shoe ceremony”. The father of the girl, on her fifteenth birthday changes her shoes. He changes the flats/ballerinas to high heels. it symbolizes the transition of the girl into a woman.
Ethnicity
Source – https://in.pinterest.com/
European, African and Amerindian descent, or a mix of these, forms the most of the Latin America’s ethnicity. In Latin America there are seven major ethnic groups. For example- Amerindians, also known as the first people to live in this part of the world. Though now part of the minority, they can found in majority in Bolivia and Guatemala. Spanish and Portuguese travelers came to be known as the Whites. After Japan, most numbers of Japanese outside Japan, lives in Brazil. Whereas, Peru has the most number of Chinese population, after China. Brought to the South America as slave trading, Blacks have a strong influence on the Latin dance and music. However, Suh America has more number of Mulattoes, descendants of European and African, than Black.
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