Culture of Nicaragua: Difference between revisions
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==Costa Rica relationship== |
==Costa Rica relationship== |
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In comparison to the economies of the Americas in general, the Nicaraguan economy is weak |
In comparison to the economies of the Americas in general, the Nicaraguan economy is really weak. The Nicaraguans seem to have a more "rushed" culture than nearby wealthier nations, and felony crime rate is increasing due to the extreme poverty. Nevertheless, as scores migrate to Costa Rica for employment, Costa Ricans often react negatively to their arrival in large numbers and willingness to accept low-wage work, and there can at times exist a tension between the two nations though costa rica has the right to do or say as they please because it is their country. In Costa Rica, many newspapers report the "Nicaraguan criminals" who like many newspapers say just go to costa rica to steal and make problems, while in Nicaragua, many extortionists and abusive people leave to go to CR. |
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{{Nicaragua-stub}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 02:14, 7 February 2007
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 American countries. The people of western Nicaragua are mostly mestizos, and Spanish is invariably their first language. They are prone to refer to themselves as Nicas.
Culture
Pacific Coast
The country has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by Iberian Peninsula culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavours. Nicaragua has historically been an important source of poetry in the Hispanic world, with internationally renowned contributors such as Rubén Darío.
Education is free for all Nicaraguans. Elementary education is free and compulsory, and communities located on the Atlantic Coast have access to education in their native language. Higher education has financial, organic and administrative autonomy, according to the law. Also, freedom of subjects is recognized. Nicaraguan culture can further be defined in several distinct strands. The west of the country was colonized by Spain and its people are mostly Mestizos and European in composition; Spanish is invariably their first language.
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. Both languages are taught in schools. 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 mestizos 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 African 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 European 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, and Rama peoples still use their original languages, and also usually speak English and/or Spanish. The small Garifuna people speak their own Garifuna language in addition to English and/or Spanish.
Language and Religion
Spanish is spoken by about 90% of the country's population; Nicaraguans speak standard Latinamerican Spanish with similarities to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Argentina among others in their use of voseo. The black population of the east coast region has English as its first language. Several indigenous peoples of the east still use their original languages, the main ones being the Miskito, Sumo, and Rama indigenous groups. Nicaraguan Sign Language 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: Roman Catholic 58,5%, Evangelical 21,6, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 0,9%, other 1.6%, none 15,7%[1].
90% of Nicaraguans live in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent interior highlands. The population is 54% urban. An estimated 1.4 million Nicaraguans live outside of Nicaragua, mainly in neighbouring Costa Rica and in the United States.
Atlantic coast
The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, was once a British protectorate. English is still the first language of most people in this region, and its culture is more similar to Caribbean nations. There is a large population of people of African descent, as well as a smaller Garifuna population.
Of the cultures that were present before European 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 Sumos and Ramas people still use their original languages.
Legends
Nicaraguans legends are probably a heritage of Native-American ancestry.
There is a good, white cadejo and an evil, black cadejo. Both are spirits that appear at night to travellers: the white to protect them from harm during their journey, the black (sometimes an incarnation of the devil), to kill them. They usually appear in the form of a large (up to the size of a cow), shaggy dog with burning red eyes and a goat's hooves, although in some areas they have more bull-like characteristics; According to the stories, many have tried to kill the black cadejo but have failed and perished.
Also called Sihuanaba, Segua is probably a romanization of the nahuatl "Sihua" which means woman. The legend of Sihuanaba says that the woman, originally called Sihuehuet ("beautiful woman"), had a romance with god Tlaloc's son, which resulted in her pregnancy. She was a bad mother, leaving her son alone to meet her lover. When Tlaloc found out about this, he cursed Sihuehuet to be now called Sihuanaba ("hideous woman"): she would be beautiful at first sight, but when men approached her, she would turn into a horrible abomination.
La Llorona Sometimes called the Woman in White or the Weeping Woman is the ghost of a woman crying for her dead children. Her appearances are sometimes held to presage death.
Poetry
Traditionally, Nicaraguans have a particularly close relationship to poetry, as Ruben Dario, one of the most famous writers in Spanish language, is considered the nation's greatest son.
Costa Rica relationship
In comparison to the economies of the Americas in general, the Nicaraguan economy is really weak. The Nicaraguans seem to have a more "rushed" culture than nearby wealthier nations, and felony crime rate is increasing due to the extreme poverty. Nevertheless, as scores migrate to Costa Rica for employment, Costa Ricans often react negatively to their arrival in large numbers and willingness to accept low-wage work, and there can at times exist a tension between the two nations though costa rica has the right to do or say as they please because it is their country. In Costa Rica, many newspapers report the "Nicaraguan criminals" who like many newspapers say just go to costa rica to steal and make problems, while in Nicaragua, many extortionists and abusive people leave to go to CR.