Traditions of South America. New Year and Christmas traditions in different countries. Latin America A famous holiday in Latin America

South America is a continent that is crossed by the equator, most of which is located in the Southern Hemisphere.The Portuguese conquerors brought their religion, customs, architecture, and language to America.

Portuguese cultural traditions influenced the formation of Brazilian music, literature, etc. The traditions of South America (Brazil) are, first of all, a fusion of Indian, African and Portuguese elements. At present, 2 tendencies are observed in its development. The first of these is the conservation of local traditions and customs of South America. The second tendency is strictly aimed at replacing them with cultural national traditions.

The Brazilians adopted from the Indians the tradition of weaving household utensils - hammocks, rugs and bedding. One-story houses, most often built of clay, are covered with vines or palm leaves tied in a special way. Villagers sometimes hang crossed knives over the entrance to the house, thereby protecting the house from evil spirits. The interior decoration of the house is extremely simple - wooden or wicker chairs, tables and often hammocks that replace a bed. Pottery is used in everyday life. In the sculpting technique, the locals use the centuries-old traditions of the Indians

Now most of the country's population does not even know where they got such customs, which they try to pass on from generation to generation.

The traditions of the peoples of South America include rituals. For example, a marriage must necessarily be consecrated by the church, but a "sorcerer" is also invited to the holiday, who protects the young from the evil eye.

Legends and the famous "cycle of songs of the Indians", in particular myths about the king of snakes and dances, were widely spread.

Holidays, carnivals are the favorite entertainment of the Brazilians.

Almost the entire population of South America is involved in them, and the influence of common cultural traditions is especially noticeable in them.

Many borrowed African rituals and beliefs have become quite tenacious. Among them, the most popular and persistent among Blacks in Brazil is Candomblé, a fetishist Afro-Brazilian cult.

Brazilians are pretty musical. A huge number of circles have been opened in the country that study and tell everyone about folk musical creativity.

Radio and television play an important role in the development of local residents, which serve as the only sources of information for them, because approximately 20% of the population is illiterate. Popular sports in Brazil include basketball and football. Brazil is one of the largest footballing countries in the world. The leading football teams are Cruzeiro, Santos and others. Young people are fond of surfing.Argentina is another, but more developed state in South America, which has formed its own special culture. There are quite a few people from Germany, the British Isles, as well as Slavic countries, but there are almost no Indians, only small groups of them live in the extreme south and north of the country.

Despite the economic disasters in Lately, which greatly influenced the living standards of the inhabitants of this once prosperous country in South America, the Argentines still remain who they have always been - an independent and proud people who preserve their history and traditions.

Argentines are known for their Latin temperament, common to both women and men. At the same time, the attitude towards people is very caring. Politeness is a custom here. Moreover, this is not just a show, but a completely natural behavior of people. And if you meet well-known people, then mutual compliments and smiles are innumerable.

When they meet, Argentines kiss each other on the cheek, and unfamiliar people shake hands. Everyone is literally obsessed with football and politics, as well as what they think of them and what impression they will leave on their interlocutor. Argentines speak only Spanish with various jargons and slangs, such as "Lunfardo" or Buenos Aires.

In Venezuela, the main traditions are dance festivals and holidays that fill the entire calendar.

In the state in the northeast of South America, Guyana, such sports as rafting and kayaking are developed.

In general, all the traditions of the population of South America are similar in all countries. It is always very interesting to learn something new. If you are touched by information, go to South America, you will be welcomed there, and you will plunge into the mysterious life of this continent.

The rooms are filled with flowers, the smell of copal and other incense wafts through the corridors, and delicacies are prepared in the kitchens for donation. This is preparation for the Day of the Dead, Santolo in Nahuatl. The tradition of its celebration comes from the culture of the nomadic Huastec tribes who inhabited Tamaulipas and the surrounding Atlantic regions. Deceased relatives are commemorated from October 28 to November 2.

According to the beliefs of the Huastecs, the souls of the dead in these autumn days must return to the world of the living and visit their homes by entering through the windows. Those returning from another world must be greeted with special honors and tributes. Preparation for the solemn days begins long ago, even in the summer, when planting and joint watering of fields with marigolds - ritual flowers begins. Another task is the purchase of turkeys, chickens and piglets for fattening. In addition, women are beginning to embroider tablecloths and napkins, which will be used to decorate furniture in houses and special altars.

Flowers, candles, photographs and foodstuffs, which the deceased loved very much during his lifetime, are placed on the altars for the commemoration of the dead. There are several types of altars:

• two-level altars representing heaven and earth - the fruits of agriculture and such gifts from heaven as rainwater;
• three-level altars, including Catholic religious ideas about heaven, earth and the underworld, as well as elements of the Holy Trinity;
• seven-level altars, the most traditional in the region and having a connection with the Aztec worldviews and their concepts of the seven deadly sins and the spirit world.

On the first public holiday, October 28, family members get together to grind cocoa and prepare ritual drinks. These moments are announced by church bells - a sign that the dead are going to the world of the living, and for them cups of hot cocoa filled with airy marshmallows and dark chocolate crumbs, chocolate with whipped cream and several varieties of ritual atole made from rice flour with milk, nuts are already smoking and cinnamon.

Sugar Skulls

By October 30, they make their last purchases - they stock up on oranges, tangerines, chili, peanuts, as well as traditional sweets - pastries and candies in the form of candied skulls. Flower arches are added to the altars, which are made from sugarcane stalks. They are decorated with marigolds, and next to them on the table are placed baskets with cookies, nuts, sugar skulls and fruits, cups of drinks and belongings of the deceased with candles.

Dead children are commemorated on October 31st. Soup, sweet tamali, pastries with chocolate are prepared for the commemoration - that is, everything that children love so much. Adult relatives are remembered the next day, and for it the festive menu changes and includes spicy food, meat stews, beer, liqueurs. On the same day, November 1, the road from the cemetery to the house is laid out with marigolds so that the soul of a relative does not get lost and returns to his home along the path marked with flowers. On the streets, mass festivities are held, with music of violins and dances - dansas de los huees - dancing of the old. Ancient Indian shamans performed such dances in order for widows to find husbands who died in battles, and only men dressed in black clothes, wooden masks, colored scarves, hats with ribbons and gloves were allowed to perform them. Now women can also take part in the performance of the dance. They dress in bright dresses with short sleeves, decorated with ribbons. The action is accompanied by joy and laughter, so that each of the souls of the departed can feel the warmth of a welcome in the world of the living.

At dawn last day everyone goes to the cemetery, carrying sacrificial food with them in order to be with their relatives for the last time and share the joyful moments. In the afternoon, fireworks start to go off, and the bell chimes are heard around the neighborhood again, meaning that the dead have found peace and returned to their world before next day Dead.

Uruguayans - rules of communication, traditions and way of life

Uruguay cannot be called a modern country; locals rather prefer stability. Do not be surprised if you see old signs in stores that were made in the early eighties of the last century, and Uruguayans drive mainly cars that are no less than ten or fifteen years old. The design of multi-apartment buildings in the country is interesting, almost all of them were built taking into account the fact that a servant will work in each apartment. In multi-storey buildings there is a special separate elevator for the housekeeper, and in each apartment there is a separate half for her, which even has a separate toilet. According to the idea, the housekeeper takes the elevator, which goes to her part of the apartment and starts her work.

It may seem strange that in large cities of the country and even in the capital, locals barbecue right on the street, they just make a small fire on the road next to the sidewalk and prepare food. Uruguayans also have unusual tradition- before the onset of the New Year, they throw out the calendars of the outgoing year or their individual leaves from their windows. Thus, the streets at this time are simply strewn with calendar sheets.

Almost all modern residents of Uruguay are descendants of immigrants from southern Europe, primarily Italy and Spain, and this is reflected in the country's traditions. Uruguayans are very calm people, they are educated and polite people with whom you can have a pleasant chat over a cup of mate, which is a favorite daily ritual for locals. In Uruguay, people are addressed either by their last name or by their professional title. Doctors, as well as people with a PhD (Philosophie Doctor) - doctors of sciences, are addressed as "doctor", lawyers are called "abogado" (abogado), teachers - "professor", architects - "arcitecto", and engineers - "engineering" ... Those who do not have a professional title are referred to as "senior", "senior", and to young girls - "senorita". The official language of Uruguay is Spanish, most people speak in it, with the exception of areas that border Brazil. Their locals speak the border dialect - "fronte-riso", there are many Portuguese words in it.

It is customary for Uruguayan men to greet with a strong handshake, as for greeting women, it is customary for them, as in most Latin American countries, to pat on the right shoulder. In case these are close friends, then they can say hello by kissing each other on the cheek. If a man wants to kiss a woman's hand, then he must wait until she holds it out, especially when it comes to newcomers. Uruguayans communicate at a very close distance, but with foreign guests they try to keep the same distance from the interlocutor as Europeans or North Americans. It is worth paying attention to the gestures of your Uruguayan interlocutor, because they can tell a lot. For example, the fact that a person twists his fingers into a circle in such a way that they touch thumb, speaks of doubt. While in Uruguay, one should not forget about good manners. Therefore, never put your feet on the table, do not yawn in the company of people, do not cross your legs, instead you can cross your legs at the ankles.

Safety and health

Uruguay can be called one of the safest Latin American countries. But you should not relax too much, because on the territory of a foreign country you still need to adhere to basic safety rules, not look for trouble for yourself, be polite. Remember a few simple rules: do not walk in areas with a small number of people, do not walk the streets when it is already dark, and do not take expensive jewelry, equipment and large amounts of money with you. Never agree to an offer from locals when it comes to paperwork. There is no official ban on smoking in public places in the country. When entering Uruguay, vaccinations are not required, however, given that the country has paid medical services, it is better to purchase a medical insurance policy in advance.

Mexico... It is a southern country with a very rich and ancient culture. Since in ancient times many peoples lived on the territory of modern Mexico, the traditions of this country are very diverse. The Maya, Aztecs, Toltecs contributed to the culture of Mexico, and the American way of life and Spanish culture made modern trends.

Appearance cities reflects the culture and artistic traditions of antiquity. The buildings are decorated with colorful murals and contain many galleries. Almost everywhere you can find a symbolic image of the sun.

Mexicans, like most southerners, are very hospitable and friendly people. They cannot imagine their life without dancing and are happy to demonstrate their talents to tourists. And if you also love dancing, then start dancing with the locals, they will be very happy about it!

Carnival.

The whole world knows the carnivals that are held in Mexico. Carnival week is an incredible sight and an event that will be annoying to miss. Before the Great Catholic Lent, the inhabitants of Mexico have fun and dance for a whole week. A noisy crowd in bright costumes with songs and dances is walking along the central streets of the city, and this is a real parade! The participants of the holiday put on masks, which, according to ancient legends, are capable of scaring away evil spirits.

Highly beautiful carnivals are set up in coastal cities such as Matsatlan. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to take part in the colorful procession, and the carnival ranks third in the world after Nvoorleans and Brazilian. A very interesting part of the festive week is the Festival of Discouraged Husbands. For twenty-three hours, husbands offended by their wives can afford to relax and do whatever they want! And at the end of the carnival week, the elections of the king and queen take place!

The day of the Dead.

For each of us, the word "death" evokes fear and dislike. But in Mexico they learned to take it with a smile and even organized a holiday called "Day of the Dead". It involves both believers and atheists. People want to show their superiority over inevitability. The holiday takes place in autumn on two days, during which, according to ancient legends, the souls of the departed come to earth to communicate with loved ones. These days, cemeteries are decorated with flowers and ribbons, and even some houses look like tombs. Skull-shaped cookies, paper skeletons, coffee-scented bread - all these are attributes of the Day of the Dead. Mexicans walk all night, periodically ringing small bells, which, in their opinion, summons the souls of the dead.

Mexicans are kind, cheerful and cheerful, they love to talk and listen to gossip. They are hospitable towards foreigners, although they are wary of the American style of communication and the Spanish. Ardent patriots, they love holidays very much and arrange them for a variety of reasons.

Good nature in communication is manifested at least in the fact that the inhabitants of Mexico are accustomed to accompany almost any conversation with a wide smile. It is also necessary (especially in provincial areas) to greet everyone, even strangers, for example, entering public transport.

In Mexico, there is true freedom of speech. And residents communicate with each other without any special restrictions. However, with unfamiliar people or newcomers, Mexicans are very polite and follow all the rules of etiquette.

Most of the country's inhabitants are very clean. It is believed that clothes should be neat, new and always clean. It is customary to wear a tie for business meetings.

Abortion is either forbidden or strongly discouraged here. Therefore, in many families, three or more children are the norm. There is a special attitude towards children, they are pampered in every possible way and are allowed a lot. In addition, there is a cult of motherhood in Mexico, mother is a sacred concept for a Mexican. Mother's Day is widely celebrated on May 10.

In general, a Mexican woman has a status that is not equal to that of a man. Thus, there are few women in business, although there is a tendency for their influence to grow. The family is also headed by a man.

IN free time Mexicans go to the movies, take their children to the circus, or play golf, football, horse riding, hunting, diving, etc. Only tourist centers are famous for their cheerful nightlife.

It is usually not customary to show off your material wealth, but a Mexican's car must be expensive. In business, the people of Mexico value punctuality, but in informal communication, time is not of great importance.

When acquaintance is most often used an intermediary in the form of a mutual acquaintance. You should introduce yourself in detail, after which a hug is laid. Widespread Business Cards... When addressing, titles (senior) and the polite pronoun "you" are often used. If communication between companions takes place on "you", then those accompanying them also talk to each other.

There are two types of addresses to women: senora - "married woman" and senorita - "girl". If the marital status of a woman is unknown, it would be more polite to refer to her as a senorita. A woman has the right to expect that a door will be opened in front of her, a cigarette will be lit, etc., this is quite natural.

The greeting is done in the form of a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. When greeting a woman in informal communication, they do both at the same time. Communication is open, with frequent pats on the shoulder, etc.

Excessive compliments are considered a common courtesy in Mexico, and impolite behavior can be very offensive. Gratitude is also usually expressed at length and excessively. Mexicans don't like harsh denials or rejections.

The Mexicans are supposed to discuss extraneous topics for a long time during a conversation (both direct and telephone) before moving on to the main thing.

Alcoholic drinks residents of the country consume very moderately, especially in cities. It is undesirable to appear drunk in a public place. However, smoking is usually not restricted in any way.

When visiting, you need to remember that in Mexican houses one does not take off his shoes, regardless of the weather outside. Gifts are frequent, and quite rich, but not at the first meeting. Flowers as a gift are always welcome, but the bouquet should be large, no less than a dozen flowers.

At the table, Mexicans behave in a very civilized manner, observe etiquette requirements. The right to wine tasting is provided to the guest. It is better to pronounce toasts in Spanish, this will endear the hosts to the guest. Foods such as tacos or tortillas are eaten by hand, and trying to use cutlery would be considered snobbish.

The photographer showed what sacrifices parents make for a worthy holiday for their daughters.

Quinceañera (Spanish Quinceañera) - one of the most important family holidays in Latin America. It is celebrated by girls on the day of their fifteenth birthday, if before that day they are considered teenagers, then after they are already adult women. The celebration must be attended by a girl in a princess dress, pyrotechnics, dances, a huge number of delicious dishes and a big cake. All this, of course, costs a lot of money. Many families have been saving money for years, working overtime and even going into debt.

Fascinated by this tradition, photographer Delphine Blast traveled to Colombia to learn more about it.

Blast photographs young girls dressed in their fabulous dresses in their everyday surroundings. And he hopes to show the discrepancy between the extravagance of the Quinceaniere holiday with the life and income of these families. As Blast herself says, she wanted to know what this holiday really represents for girls and their families. I wanted to understand how Colombian women manage to combine modernity and tradition, and how important it is for them.

Liana Catalia Yasbladey:

Parents have been saving money for this holiday for over 15 years. They arranged for their only daughter a quinceanera that she deserves.

Melanie Forero:

It was important for Melanie to celebrate kinseanera with her family. She invited 90 guests. Melanie held a symbolic shoe change ceremony. The girl sat on the throne, and her father took off her flat shoes and put on high-heeled shoes instead.

Luna Valentina Arias Beltran:

Luna dreams of becoming an actress. Laura's father is a shoemaker, her parents could not afford the quinceañera celebration, but they still managed to save enough money to invite 80 people.

Laura Christina Zarta:

Laura's father is a fruit seller, and her mother does not work. Laura herself plays football and has been part of the Colombian youth team since 2015. Wants to become a criminologist. Her parents saved money for six months for her quinceanera, which was attended by 200 people.

When it comes to Latin American holidays, then many people only hear Brazilian Carnival... But on the territory of the continent, there are other events that are sometimes so unusual that guests from other countries hardly understand what such a massive celebration is about.

One of the most unusual holidays in Latin America can be considered the "Celebration of Fight" or "Tinku", which is held in Bolivia. At the same time, the first surprise here can be considered the fact that the holiday takes place not in one of the large Bolivian cities, but in the territory of a small local village of Acazio. The festivities, if I can call what is happening here, are as follows: the priest, having finished his Mass, gives the signal to the participants for the beginning of the battle dedicated to the harvest. After this signal, the Indians begin to beat each other with fierceness, demonstrating their strength and joy over how much corn has been grown this year. Surprisingly, both men and women beat each other. At the same time, there are no restrictions in the fight. You can hit anywhere and with anything. Sometimes it can go down to the lethal outcome of one of the participants in the battle. The Bolivian authorities do not prohibit the holiday, if only because this tradition is already several hundred years old. Tens of thousands of tourists and participants in Indian MMA come to the strange action in Acazio.

Among the unusual holidays in Latin America the Mexican holiday of laughter stands apart. We celebrate it on April 1, but the people of Mexico - December 28. At the same time, the origins of the holiday have nothing to do with humor, because its official name is the Day of Innocent Babies of Bethlehem. And this holiday is connected with the killing of babies by King Herod. Indeed - at first glance, it is not at all funny. However, on this day, every Mexican considers it his mission to deceive his comrade, a passer-by, a merchant. Why? Yes, everything is that when the Virgin Mary was carrying Jesus, Herod's guards stood on her way, who wanted to take the baby away from her. But the Mother of God offered up a prayer to heaven and instead of a baby, the soldiers saw a bouquet of roses in the bundle. They had to let Maria go. It was this story that gave rise to general Mexican joy. On this day, even shopkeepers need to keep their ears open so that an overly cheerful city dweller does not take a parcel of cheese or other products out of the store without paying. However, on this day in Mexico, even the thief will be treated with understanding.

To unusual holidays in Latin America is a holiday dedicated to voodoo shamans in Jamaica. On this holiday, several hundred voodoo shamans gather in one of the coastal cities of the island, who compete in their paranormal abilities... They say that at this holiday you can witness levitation, reincarnation and other unknown phenomena. At the same time, the holiday of shamanism is accompanied by frequent sacrifices, which an ordinary person will look at unpleasantly. The inhabitants of Jamaica itself are enthusiastic when a shaman pierces himself through with a red-hot metal rod, stopping the blood with one touch of the little finger.

Latin American Holidays, as we already understood, do not always represent the processions and mass festivities that are familiar to us.

Also see:

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Colorful colors of Latin American carnivals

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