Croatian Chilean

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Croatia Croat-Chilean Chile
chileno-croata
Baldo Prokurica Prokurica.jpg
Martín-Cárcamo.jpg
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Total population
560,000 [1][2]
equivalent to 5.0% of Chile's population as of 2012 Census
Regions with significant populations
Punta Arenas, Santiago, Antofagasta, Iquique
Languages

Chilean Spanish, Croatian
Religion

Christianity, mainly Roman Catholic
others, Secular
Related ethnic groups

Croatian diaspora, Croats
Part of a series of articles on
Croats
Croatia, Historic Coat of Arms, first red square.svg

Chileno-Croats (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃiˈleno kɾoˈata]; Hrvati: čileanski Hrvati; English: Croatian Chilean) are an important ethnic group in Chile; they are citizens of Chile who were either born in Europe or are Chileans of Croatian descent deriving their Croatian ethnicity from one or both parents. Chile has one of the largest communities of ethnic Croats outside the Balkan Peninsula and it is one of the most significant Croatian communities – second only to Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are one of the main examples of successful assimilation of an originally non-Spanish-speaking European ethnic group into Chilean society. Many successful entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and prominent politicians holding the highest offices in the country have been of Croatian descent.

Contents

[edit] History

19th Century ad-poster of Croatian ship ready to travel to South America.
See also: Tierra del Fuego Gold Rush

The oppression of the Croatian people and the denial of an internationally recognised nation was the principal factor leading them to embark on a constant migration to Chile. At first they were recognised and officially registered as former citizens of the countries or empires from which they had fled. For example, until 1915 they were recognised as Austrians, and since then to 1990 as Yugoslavians. Since 1990, and in accordance to the establishment of the new internationally recognised Republic of Croatia, Chilean Croats have reasserted their cultural and ethnic identity.[3]

The Croatian community first established itself in two provinces situated in the extreme ends of Chile: Antofagasta, in the Atacama desert of the north and Punta Arenas in the Patagonian region in the south. The arrival of Croats in Chile began in 1864 and the migration grew steadily until 1956 – reaching a top of 58,000. In the early part of this 1864-1956 era more Croats settled in Argentina than in Chile. For example, in Argentina the number reached 120,000, but only about 57% of these Croats remained in Argentina. Some of these returned to Europe or moved and settled in Brazil or Chile where Croats had a more rapid and successful assimilation, which lead to a significant increase in the Chilean-Croat population in periods when there was no migration of Croats from Europe to the Americas.[4]

Some estimates puts that there are up to 380,000 Chileans of Croatian descent.[1][2]

[edit] Dalmatian-Croatian in Chile

The first issue of the publication Sloboda was published in March 1902, in Antofagasta. It was the first newspaper of the Croatian immigrants in Latin America. The Croatian immigrants in Chile conducted extensive journalistic work since 1902, which includes more than 50 newspapers, publications and newsletters.

The Dalmatian coast, with its thousands of islands of white rock covered with vineyards, pine forests and olive trees, is similar to the geographical conditions of Chile. Most families have a relative or descendant in Chile. Chile's name, unlike other parts of the world where it is almost unknown, is loved and admired by many Dalmatians as a second home.[5]

[edit] Croatians in Punta Arenas

See also: Tierra del Fuego gold rush

Punta Arenas is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile. It has a population of over 146,000 inhabitants (2008). The city has its roots among the population origin of the European colonists (Croatian and Spanish) that populated the area in the mid-nineteenth century. There are also descendants of people from other countries (i.e. German, English, Italian, Swiss and others).

Croatian immigration in Punta Arenas was a crucial development in the region of Magallanes and the city in particular. Currently, it is possible to see this influence in the names of shops and many buildings. According to some references, 50% of the population of Punta Arenas are descendants of Croats.[6]

[edit] Notable Chilean Croats

[edit] Political figures

[edit] Clergymen

[edit] Academic and scientists

[edit] Fine arts

[edit] Writers

[edit] Sportspeople

[edit] Television/Media personalities

[edit] Business people

[edit] Other notable Chilean croats

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Croatian Chilean.
  2. ^ a b Splitski osnovnoškolci rođeni u Čileu.
  3. ^ "Immigración croata en Chile (1864-1930): Reafirmando una identidad croata.". hrvatskimigracije.es.tl. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009. 
  4. ^ "Croacia y Chile: DUBROVNIK, EL ÚLTIMO BALUARTE". hrvatskimigracije.es.tl. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2009. 
  5. ^ (Spanish) Brač una isla "chilena" en la costa Dálmata
  6. ^ Congreso Mundial Croata: Los croatas de Chile.

[edit] External links

Croatian diaspora
Europe
Americas
Oceania
 
Araucanian
Others
 
European
Others
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