| Culture Of Nicaragua |
Article Index for Culture Of |
Website Links For Culture |
Information AboutCulture Of Nicaragua |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CULTURE OF NICARAGUA | |
| nicaraguan culture | |
|
Nicaraguan culture has several distinct strands. The west of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish -speaking Latin America n countries. The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, was once a British Protectorate and their culture is similar to that of Caribbean nations that were or are British possessions. The people of Nicaragua are mostly Mestizo s, and Spanish is invariably their first language. Nicaraguans are prone to refer to themselves as ''Nicas'', ''Nicoyas'' & ''Pinoleros''. CULTURE Nicaragua has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by European culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavors. The west of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish -speaking Latin America n countries. The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, was once a British Protectorate . English is still predominant in this region and spoken domestically along with Spanish and indigenous languages. Its culture is similar to that of Caribbean nations that were or are British possessions, such as Jamaica , Belize , The Cayman Islands , etc. Although recent immigration by Mestizo s has largely influenced younger generations and an increasing number of people are either bilingual at home or speak Spanish only. There is a relatively large population of people of mixed Africa n descent, as well as a smaller Garifuna population. Due to the African influence, in the East Coast, there is a different kind of music. It is the popular dance music called ' Palo De Mayo ', or Maypole, which is celebrated during the Maypole Festival, during the month of May. The music is sensual with intense rhythms. The celebration is derived from the British Maypole for May Day celebration, as adapted and transformed by the Afro-Nicaraguans on the Caribbean or Mosquito Coast . Of the cultures that were present before Europe an Colonization , the Nahuatl -speaking peoples who populated the west of the country have essentially been assimilated into the Latino culture. In the east, however, several indigenous groups have maintained a distinct identity. The Miskito , Sumo , Garifuna , and Rama People still use their original languages, and also usually speak English and/or Spanish. LANGUAGE AND RELIGION Spanish is spoken by 90% of the country's population. In Nicaragua the is of particular interest to Linguists . Roman Catholicism is the major religion, but Evangelical Protestant groups have grown recently, and there are strong Anglican and Moravian communities on the Caribbean coast. The 2005 census shows religious affiliation as follows:
MUSIC See Also: Music of Nicaragua Modern Nicaragua n music is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish , influences. Musical instruments include the Marimba and others common across Central America . The marimba of Nicaragua is uniquely played by a sitting performer holding the instrument on his knees. He is usually accompanied by a bass Fiddle , Guitar and guitarrilla (a small guitar like a Mandolin ). This music is played at social functions as a sort of background music. The marimba is made with hardwood plates, placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths. It is played with two or four Hammer s. The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is known for a lively, sensual form of Dance Music that is especially loud and celebrated during the May Palo De Mayo festival. The Garifuna community exists in Nicaragua and is known for its popular music called Punta . Also, Soca Music , Reggaeton and Reggae is popular throughout the country. EDUCATION See Also: Education in Nicaragua Education in Nicaragua is free for all Nicaragua ns. Elementary education is free and compulsory although this is not strictly enforced and many children are not able to attend due to their families need to have them work. Communities located on the Atlantic Coast have access to education in their native languages. Higher education has financial, organic and administrative autonomy, according to the law. Also, freedom of subjects is recognized. Nicaragua's President, Daniel Ortega to enforce free education LITERATURE See Also: Literature of Nicaragua Nicaragua has historically been an important source of Literature in the Spanish-speaking world with many internationally renowned contributors. The most notable is Rubén Darío , who is one of the most famous writers in the Spanish language, he is considered the nation's greatest son. Other notable writers include Ernesto Cardenal , Sergio Ramirez Mercado , Gioconda Belli , Jose Coronel Urtecho , Lizandro Chavez Alfaro , Salomon De La Selva , Azarías H. Pallais , Alfonso Cortes , and Pablo Antonio Cuadra . . ]] El Güegüense See Also: El Güegüense El Güegüense is a ( Carazo department) from January 17 to the 27th. The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th Century , making it one of the oldest indigenous theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere .http://www.nmai.si.edu/calendar/index.asp?month=10&year=2006&day=22 It was passed down orally for many centuries until it was finally written down and published into a book in 1942.http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/21-el-gueguense-macho-raton.html El Güegüense represents folklore of Nicaragua, therefore, .http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/masterpiece.php?id=1&lg=en LEGENDS Nicaraguans legends are similar to legends found in other Latin American countries. Some popular legends include:
REFERENCES SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|