The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ...

Gabriel García Márquez (b. 1927), Colombian author, winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature

The culture of Colombia lies at the crossroads of Latin America. Thanks partly to geography, Colombian culture has been heavily fragmented into five major cultural regions. Rural to urban migration and globalization have changed how many Colombians live and express themselves as large cities become melting pots of people (many of whom are refugees) from the various provinces. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Nobel Prizes (Swedish: ) are awarded for Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Physiology or Medicine. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Divine Infant Jesus Divine Infant Jesus (Divino Niño Jesús in Spanish) is a famous statue of infant Jesus located in the Divine Infant Jesus Church in Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. ... Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Latin American culture is the formal or informal expression of the peoples of Latin America, and includes both high culture (literature, high art) and popular culture (music, folk art and dance) as well as religion and other customary practices. ... Fragmentation is a term that occurs in several fields and describes a process of something breaking or being divided into pieces (fragments). ... Rural-urban migration is the migration of people from rural areas into cities. ... A KFC franchise in Kuwait. ... Alternate meaning: crucible (science) The melting pot is a metaphor for the way in which heterogenous societies develop, in which the ingredients in the pot (iron, tin; people of different backgrounds and religions, etc. ...

According to a study in late 2004 by the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Colombians are one of the happiest people in the world.[1]; this despite its four-decade long armed conflict involving the government, paramilitaries, druglords, corruption and guerrillas like the FARC and ELN. Colombians are sometimes called locombians for this paradox and for their joie de vivre. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Erasmus University Rotterdam is a university in the Netherlands, located in Rotterdam. ... Nickname: Motto: Sterker door strijd (Stronger through Struggle) Location of Rotterdam Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province South Holland Government  - Mayor Ivo Opstelten  - Aldermen Jeannette Baljeu Hamit Karakus Orhan Kaya Lucas Bolsius Jantine Kriens Dominic Schrijer Roelf de Boer Leonard Geluk Area [1]  - City 319 km²  (123. ... For other uses, see World (disambiguation). ... Colombian Armed Conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current low intensity conflict in Colombia that has been in existence since approximately 1964, which was when the FARC was founded and subsequently started its guerrilla insurgency against successive Colombian government administrations. ... Paramilitarism in Colombia refers to the origin and development of paramilitary groups in Colombia during the 20th century. ... The FARC-EPs flag The Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – Peoples Army, or FARC-EP) is a militant and revolutionary guerrilla group established in 1964-1966 as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party, and is Colombias... Ejército de Liberación Nacional (usually abbreviated to ELN), or National Liberation Army, is a revolutionary, Marxist, insurgent guerrilla group that has been operating in several regions of Colombia since 1964. ... one translation being; enjoyment of life. ...

Development of Colombian culture

See also: History of Colombia

Many aspects of Colombian culture can be traced back to the culture of Spain of the sixteenth century and its collision with Colombia's native civilizations (see: Muisca, Tayrona). The Spanish brought Catholicism, African slaves, the feudal encomienda system, and a caste system that favored European-born whites. After independence from Spain, the criollos struggled to establish a pluralistic political system between conservative and liberal ideals. The conservatives supported the involvement of the Catholic church in the state while liberals favored the separation of these. The conservatives managed to outsource public education to the catholic church and for many years the church controlled the country's education system. Both parties engaged in multiple civil wars resulting in a slow development of the country and the isolation of regions until the end of the 19th Century. // Main article: Indigenous peoples in Colombia The Zipa used to cover his body in gold and, from his raft, he offered treasures to the Guatavita goddess in the middle of the sacred lake. ... Spain is a largely mountainous country in the southwest of Europe, consisting of various geographically diverse regions and known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Zipa used to cover his body in gold and, from his raft, he offered treasures to the Guatavita godess in the middle of the sacred lake. ... The Tairona were a precolumbian civilization in the region of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the present-day Magdalena and La Guajira Departments of Colombia, South America which goes back to the 1st century AD and showed documented growth around in the 11th century. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      As a Christian ecclesiastical... Slavery is any of a number of related conditions involving control of a person against his or her will, enforced by violence or other clear forms of coercion. ... The encomienda system was a trusteeship labor system used during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. ... Look up Casta in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Criollo, in the Spanish colonial Casta system (caste system) of Latin America, was a person born in the Spanish colonies deemed to have purity of blood in respect to the individuals European ancestry. ...

A bull fight in Bogotá, legacy of Hispanic culture

Ethno-racial groups maintained their ancestral heritage culture: whites tried to keep themselves, despite the growing number of illegitimate children of mixed African or indigenous ancestry. These people were labeled with any number of descriptive names, derived from the casta system, such as mulato and moreno. During this time it was normal for white individuals to marry a sibling or close cousin to maintain their inheritance within the family. Blacks and indigenous people of Colombia also mixed to form zambos creating a new ethno-racial group in society. This mix also created a fusion of cultures. Carnivals for example became an opportunity for all classes and colors to congregate without prejudice. The introduction of the bill of rights of men and the abolishment of slavery (1850) eased the segregationist tensions between the races, but the dominance of the whites prevailed and prevails to some extent to this day. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 298 KB) Summary Bullfight in Bogotá, 6 February 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 298 KB) Summary Bullfight in Bogotá, 6 February 2005. ... Spanish toreo, corrida de toros or tauromaquia; Portuguese corrida de touros or tauromaquia) is a blood sport that involves, most of the times, professional performers (matadores) who execute various formal moves with the goal of appearing graceful and confident, while masterful over the bull itself; these maneuvers are performed at... The Hispanic world The term Hispanic culture pertains to cultures found in Spain and to the cultures of any country that was colonized by the early Spanish conquistadors. ... Look up Casta in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Mulato is a mild to medium dried Poblano pepper, sold dried. ... Moreno is Spanish and Portuguese for a tanned, dark or brown-skinned person, or a reference o to a persons brown or black hair color, independent of skin or eye color. ... A representation of Zambos in Pintura de Castas during the Latin American colonial period. ... The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spaniards. ...

The industrial revolution arrived relatively late at the beginning of the 20th Century with the establishment of the Republic of Colombia. Colombians had a period of almost 50 years of relative peace interrupted only by a short armed conflict with Peru over the town of Leticia in 1932. Colombia-Peru War theater of operations. ... Leticia, derived from the Latin greeting Laetitia joy, gladness, delight, name also of the goddess of fertility and abundance. ...

During the 1940s Colombia started to develop its tourist industry having as main attraction the caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta and the Magdalena river basin main towns which also had a flourishing economy and an important flow of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East due to World War II. This article is about the Colombian city. ... Map of the Magdalena River watershed. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

With the advancement of the ideas of communism around the world, Colombian radical liberal politicians and thinkers adopted these ideas an adapted to their political rhetorics. Tensions between the United States and the USSR during the cold war revived tension between local Colombian liberals and conservatives polarizing society. Radical communist guerrillas surged sponsored by the USSR while the US government aided the Colombian government. Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

The vueltiao hat, a handicraft of the Zenú people, is a national symbol

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Languages and multiculturalism

See also: Colombian Spanish, Languages of Colombia, and Demographics of Colombia

Most Colombians speak Spanish. There are several dialects of Spanish Language spoken: the Rolo dialect of Bogotá, also called cachaco ("educated" or "refined"); the related Cundiboyacense dialect, known for its archaic second person pronoun sumercé; the Paisa dialect, which is the only dialect outside Spain that preserves the voiceless apicoalveolar fricative or hissing "S” sound; and the coastal dialect, which is a form of Caribbean Spanish. The Caro y Cuervo Institute in Bogotá promotes the good use of spanish in Colombia The Colombian spanish language is the variation of Spanish language spoken in Colombia, which have some distinctive features in comparison to the Spanish spoken in Spain and in other countries of Latin America. ... // Colombian Spanish: Spanish is the official language of Colombia. ... Demographics of Colombia, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος) is a variant, or variety, of a language spoken in a certain geographical area. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Department Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ... The Spanish language has a range of pronouns that in some ways work quite differently from English ones. ... Paisa (pl. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Voiceless alveolar fricative. ... Caribbean Spanish (español caribeño) is the general name of the Spanish language dialects spoken in the Caribbean region. ...

More than eighty endangered indigenous languages, Palenquero, and English (on San Andrés y Providencia) are minority languages. Historically marginalized and isolated groups of Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Colombians have gained some cultural rights and have formed political groups like the National Movement for the Human Rights of Black Communities in Colombia (Spanish acronym CIMARRON) and the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia. Palenquero (also Palenque) is a Spanish-based Creole spoken in Colombia. ... San Andrés and Providencia (Spanish: San Andrés y Providencia) is one of the departments of Colombia. ... Afro-Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact theyve had on Colombian culture. ... The Indigenous peoples in Colombia (pueblos indígenas in Spanish) comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the countrys present territory prior to its discovery by Europeans around 1500. ... As the human rights movement has brought awareness to the needs of the individual throughout the world, the cultural rights movement has provoked attention to protect the rights of groups of people, or culture. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (Spanish: Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia or ONIC) is an organization representing the indigenous peoples of Colombia, who comprise some 800,000 people or approximately 2% of the population. ...

Map showing location of indigenous groups before the arrival of the Spanish

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Aboriginal influences

See also: Muisca and Tairona

The various cultures of the indigenous inhabitants of Colombia were decimated by the Spanish. Today, only around one percent of Colombians live and consider themselves as indigenous. Nonetheless, many elements of indigenous culture live on in Colombia's cuisine, music, folklore, and language. The Zipa used to cover his body in gold and, from his raft, he offered treasures to the Guatavita godess in the middle of the sacred lake. ... Tairona figure pendants Monument in Santa Marta depicting Taironas. ... The Indigenous peoples in Colombia (pueblos indígenas in Spanish) comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the countrys present territory prior to its discovery by Europeans around 1500. ...

Multicultural elements

See also: Afro-Colombians and Criollo (people)

The essence of Colombian culture lies in the mixing of Spanish, indigenous, and African cultures. The greatest expression of the mélange is perhaps the Carnival of Barranquilla, whose rhythm is the cumbia, and which was proclaimed by UNESCO in November of 2003 as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The culture of Spain is still very pronounced in Colombia: the layout of towns, bull fighting, holy week processions, and the "refined" dialect of Bogotá are part of its legacy. Afro-Colombians have historically been marginalized from society. Nonetheless, they have contributed greatly to Colombian culture, including its music, dance and folklore. Cumbia is said to be derivative of the cumbe dance of Equatorial Guinea. Small numbers of Roma or "gypsies" are scattered throughout the country. Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews exist in several of the larger cities; Bogotá has five synagogues.[2] Germans settled in parts of Santander, including Bucaramanga. They also brought the accordion to Valledupar, which would become a key instrument in the very popular vallenato music genre. Afro-Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact theyve had on Colombian culture. ... Criollo, in the Spanish colonial Casta system (caste system) of Latin America, was a person born in the Spanish colonies deemed to have purity of blood in respect to the individuals European ancestry. ... Native Americans redirects here. ... Afro-Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact theyve had on Colombian culture. ... Barranquillas Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla) is a carnival with traditions that date back to the XIX century. ... Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Map showing the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage by country designation as of 2005: red (countries with 4 designations), orange (3), yellow (2) and green (1). ... Spain is a largely mountainous country in the southwest of Europe, consisting of various geographically diverse regions and known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. ... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Department Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ... Afro-Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact theyve had on Colombian culture. ... Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Romani people (as a noun, singular Rom, plural Roma; sometimes Rrom, Rroma) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... In the strictest sense, a Sephardi (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew Səfardi, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Səfardim, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardîm) is a Jew original to the... Languages Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, English Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, and other Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... A synagogue (from Greek synagoge place of assembly literally meeting, assembly,) is a Jewish house of prayer and study. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Nickname: Location of the city and municipality of Bucaramanga in the Santander Department. ... This article is about the instrument as a whole. ... Nickname: City of the Holy Kings of Valledupar Location in the Department of Cesar. ... Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. ...

The Sabana de Bogotá, a fertile high plateau in the capital district of Colombia, has a mean annual temperature of 14.0°C (57°F)

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1360, 1145 KB) Summary Sabana de Bogotá en las inmediaciones del embalse del Neusa. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1360, 1145 KB) Summary Sabana de Bogotá en las inmediaciones del embalse del Neusa. ...

Geography, climate, and immigration

See also: Geography of Colombia

Most Colombians live in the Andes, high above sea level where climates range from temperate to cool (the highest parts get snow). Another important population center is the Caribbean Coast, with the cities of Santa Marta, Cartagena. and Barranquilla. The treacherousness of the terrain and sheer variety of climates made communication and travel very difficult, and helped foster intense regionalism. Shaded relief map of Colombia Flooding in Colombia, April 2004 Land use map of Colombia, 1970 Economic activity map of Colombia, 1970 Geographic coordinates: // Geographers have devised different ways to divide Colombia into regions. ... This article is about the mountain system in South America. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ... This article is about the Colombian city. ... For other places of the same name, see Cartagena Bocagrande Cartagena San Pedro Square,Old City Cartagena Cartagena, Colombia, also known as Cartagena de Indias, is a large seaport on the north coast of Colombia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Regionalism could be Regionalism (politics) Regionalism (literature) Regionalism (art) Regionalism (linguistics) Category: ...

Between the three mountain ranges or cordilleras are two large valleys whose rivers (Magdalena River, Cauca River) linked the interior to the coastal ports. These lowlands are thick with rainforests and interspersed rushing tributaries, waterfalls, and steep inclines. The Andes themselves are in parts volcanic, jagged and covered in glaciers. Other parts are more hospitible, such as the tableland of much of Cundinamarca (including Bogotá) and Boyacá (called in Spanish the Altiplano Cundiboyacense), which has a climate similar to the Argentinean pampas. Medellín is located in the Aburra valley, on the central mountain range, at a lower altitude than chilly Bogotá, which gives it an “eternal spring”-like climate. The Caribbean coast, Colombia’s gateway to the outside world before jet travel, is separated from the Andes by mosquito-filled, marshy wetlands, while the Pacific coast is pock-marked with its own marshes and is one of the wettest places on earth. The Cordillera is a massive mountain range situated in the northern central part of the Philippines. ... Map of the Magdalena River watershed. ... The Cauca River is a river in Colombia that lies between the Cordilleras Occidental and Central. ... Cundinamarca is a department of Colombia, one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. Most of Cundinamarca is in the Eastern Cordillera, just south of Boyacá, bordered by the Magdalena River on the west, reaching down into the Amazon River basin on the east, and bordering... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Department Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ... Motto: Capital Tunja Governor Area 23,189 km² Population  - Total (2003)  - Density   1,411,239 61 people/km² Adjective Boyacá is a department of Colombia, one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost entirely within the mountains of Eastern... The Altiplano Cundiboyacense is a set of highlands located on the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes between the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá. The altiplano corresponds to the ancient territory of the Muisca. ... The pampas (from Quechua for plain) are the fertile lowlands that extend across c. ... Nickname: Location of the city (urban in red) and municipality (dark gray) of Medellín in Antioquia Department. ...

Colombia did not receive substantial immigration after the period of Spanish rule. An exception is the Atlantic port city of Barranquilla. Relatively small groups of Lebanese, Italian, Dutch, German, Catalan, Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian, French, and Chinese immigrants settled in the city and played a large role in its development. Shakira, a native of Barranquilla, is of Lebanese and Italian ancestry. Bogotá received some immigrants from Europe in the period following World War II; the eccentric former mayor of Bogotá and semiotics professor Antanas Mockus is the son of Lithuanian immigrants. Most Chinese in Colombia originally came from Panamá, where they helped in the building of the railways of the Panama Canal, to help in building the train and road routes between the Pacific port of Buenaventura and the interior city of Cali. Today, in the surrounding area of the Cauca Valley, virtually every town has a chinese restaurant.[3] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the musician. ... Kinship and descent is one of the major concepts of cultural anthropology. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Semiotics, semiotic studies, or semiology is the study of signs and symbols, both individually and grouped into sign systems. ... Antanas Mockus Å ivickas (Bogotá, March 25, 1952), is a Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician. ... Panama (Spanish: Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. ... Two Panamax running the Miraflores Locks The Panama Canal (Spanish: ) is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. ... Buenaventura is the name of Spanish anarchist Buenaventura Durruti who was a hero of the Spanish Civil War an indipendent cultural center in Veneto, Italy: see Oficina di Buenaventura, Castelfranco Veneto a town in Chihuahua, Mexico: see Buenaventura, Chihuahua a town in Colombia: see Buenaventura, Colombia the Buenaventura River in... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. ... China has one of the richest culinary heritages on Earth. ...

Barranquilla shopping mall

A few Japanese families settled in Colombia, inspired by the bucolic description of the Cauca Valley in Jorge Isaacs' novel María. The heads-of-household of Japanese descent would be interred in prisons near Zipaquirá during World War II.[4] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 538 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) --- Denis Jacquerye, 2005 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 538 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) --- Denis Jacquerye, 2005 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... A portrait of Jorge Isaacs. ... María is a novel written by Colombian writer Jorge Isaacs between 1864 and 1867. ... |official_name = Zipaquirá |nickname = |image_flag = Flag of Zipaquirá.svg |image_seal = |image_map = MunsCundinamarca Zipaquira. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Foreign influences

See also: Globalization

Colombian politicians, intellectuals, and members of elite society turned to France for inspiration in the period following independence from Spain. France was perceived as the world center of progressive and republican values, as well as high culture and science, and for these reasons it became the major foreign influence on Colombian culture until the First World War. Colombian's civil code (adopted in 1887) is based on the Napoleonic Code. French architect Gastón Lelarge (1861-1934) designed many of the public edifices in Bogotá as well as the cupola of the church of Saint Peter Claver in Cartagena.[5] A KFC franchise in Kuwait. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... First page of the 1804 original edition The Napoleonic Code, or Code Napoléon (originally called the Code civil des Français) was the French civil code, established at the behest of Napoléon I. It was drafted rapidly by a commission of four eminent jurists and entered into force... Nickname: The Heroic City The Walled City The Diplomatic City The Key of the West Indies The Walled Kingdom Best Fortified City of the Americas Historical Heritage of Mankind The Stone Coral Region Caribbean Region (Colombia) Department Bolívar Department* Foundation 1533 Mayor Nicolás Francisco Curi Vergara Area    - City...

Starting in twentieth century, North American culture had increasing influence on the culture of Colombia. Shopping malls and tract housing in the style of North American suburbs are very popular and are considered status symbols. Hollywood films, American fashions, and English-language popular music are also popular. Influences from elsewhere in the Spanish speaking world are also present, especially in music and television. This article very generally discusses the customs and culture of the United States; for the culture of the United States, see arts and entertainment in the United States. ... For the traditional meaning of the word mall, see mall. ... Tract housing near Union, Kentucky. ... Illustration of the backyards of a surburban neighbourhood Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...  Countries where Spanish has official status. ...

Education

Main article: Education in Colombia

Education in Colombia. ...

Public education

Private education

Regional distinctions

Rural living patterns

Suburban living patterns

Urban living patterns

Social classes

Income disparity

Due to economic instability and high unemployment over the last century or so, Colombia has developed a huge rift between two economic classes (Low and High) with an almost nonexistent,but increasing middle class, particularly in the Bogota and Medellin areas.

Family

The family is, as it is with nearly all of Latin America, a highly important institution to Colombians as engraved by the traditional Roman Catholic church teachings. Members of the extended family are close and children rarely ever move far away from their parents. There is a deep sense of familial responsibility that stretches through many generations. ^{[citation needed]} a family of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 Family is a Western term used to denote a domestic group of people, or a number of domestic groups linked through descent (demonstrated or stipulated) from a common ancestor, marriage or adoption. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Extended family (or joint family) is a term with several distinct meanings. ...

Traditionally, men were usually the head of the household, in charge of earning most of the family's income while women were responsible for cooking, housework and raising children. However, as in most cultures around the world, the dawn of the 20th Century brought forth a great empowerment for women who were given a right to vote during the 1950s rule of dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. The Constitution of 1991 gave a wider opportunity for women and today the majority of families (regardless of economic class) have two working parents due to the need of an income to sustain a family. This article concerns how a man differs from women. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Cooking is the act of preparing food. ... A household chore is a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee, related to or used in the running of a household. ... For other uses, see Child (disambiguation). ... Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a former military dictator (1953-1957) and Colombian political figure, as well as a former 1966 and 1970 presidential candidate on behalf of the National Popular Alliance, Alianza Nacional Popular, (ANAPO). ...

At a child's baptism, the parents of the child will choose godparents, padrinos. A child's padrinos will play an important role in his life, giving advice, and when needed, financial support. The Family is very important in this culture. The typic house pet is the Colombian Gozque, also known as Porcham Terrier. Baptism in early Christian art. ... A parent is a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian // Mother This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a childs baptism. ... It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ... The Porcham Terrier is a breed of dog native of Colombia (Porcham being a Colombian Spanish acronym for “common champeta dog). ...

Divorce

Before 1974 marriage was exclusively performed by the Roman Catholic church and other religious groups until the government of Alfonso Lopez Michelsen (1974-1978) approved the civil marriage that could only be ended after a legal divorce. It was only after the Colombian Constitution of 1991 that Colombian lawmakers admitted divorces for marriages performed by the Catholic church. Alfonso López Michelsen (b. ... Marriage is a relationship that plays a key role in the definition of many people who (usually) are in a sexual relationship. ... Its the Constitution of Colombia. ...

On June 9, 2005 he Colombian congress approved the Express Divorce law in an effort to eliminate paperwork and waits. These previously took an average of 6 weeks, a judge and lawyers, with the new law the two parties had to only agree against a notary public without the need of a lawyer.[6][7] According to a study by the Universidad Externado divorce in Colombia has been constantly increasing since the 1950s. Congress (Spanish: Congreso) is the name given to Colombias bicameral national legislature. ...

LGTB

Main articles: LGBT in Colombia, LGBT rights in Colombia, and Civil unions in Colombia

The Chapinero LGBT Communitary Center LGBT Topics in Colombia: There is no complete statistical studies about the amount of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered people in Colombia. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box:      // There are no sodomy laws in Colombia. ... International recognition Civil unions and domestic partnerships Recognized in some regions Unregistered co-habitation Recognition debated Civil unions legal, same-sex marriage debated See also Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      Colombia has no laws providing for...

Work

Political attitudes

Economic outlook

Food

Main article: Colombian cuisine

There is a large variety of dishes that take into account the difference in regional climates. For example: // The first meal of the day is breakfast and is eaten upon rising. ...

• In the city of Medellín the typical dish is the bandeja paisa. Most people in Medellin don't eat it but people in other cities and countries eat it often. It includes beans, rice, ground meat or carne asada, chorizo, fried egg, arepa and chicharrón. It is usually accompanied by avocado, tomato and sauces.
• In the city of Cali, the most traditional dish is "sancocho de gallina" - a soup composed mostly of chicken, plantain, corn, coriander, yuca root, and other seasonings.
• In Bogotá and the Andean region, ajiaco is the traditional dish. It is also a type of soup made of chicken, potatoes, and flavoured with a locally grown herb called "guasca". Traditionally, cream and capers are added just before eating. Both soups are served with white rice, salads with a hint of lemon, avocado, or plantain chips, sweet or salty. For breakfast people often eat changua, a milk, scallion and egg soup.
• In the Caribbean coast, spicy cooking, with fish and lobster, is practiced. Coconut rice is a common dish along the coastal cities.
• In the Llanos, barbecued meat, such as the "ternera llanera" is common, and also typical river fishes like the "amarillo".
• In the Amazonas, the cuisine is influenced by Brazilian and Peruvian traditions.

Inland, the plates resemble the mix of cultures, inherited mainly from amerindian and European cuisine, and the produce of the land mainly agriculture, cattle, river fishing and other animals' raising. Such is the case of the sancocho soup in Valledupar, the arepas (a corn based bread like patty). Local species of animals like the guaratinaja, part of the wayuu amerindian culture. Nickname: Location of the city (urban in red) and municipality (dark gray) of Medellín in Antioquia Department. ... Bandeja paisa, also known as bandeja de arriero or bandeja montañera, is a typical dish of the Antioquian kitchen. ... Chorizo (in Spanish; IPA: [tʃoriθo] or [tʃoɹɪso]) or Chouriço (in Portuguese) is a term encompassing several types of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. ... Arepa from Venezuela filled with cheese The arepa is a corn-based bread from the northern Andes in South America, now spread to other areas in modern Latin American countries. ... Pork rinds are a snack food made from chunks (called pellets) of cured pork skin (sometimes including portions of meat as well), deep-fried and puffed into light, irregular curls, and often seasoned with chilli pepper or barbecue flavoring. ... Santiago de Cali, better known as Cali, is the main city and capital of the Valle del Cauca department in Colombia. ... Sancocho is a term used in Hispanic American countries for a soup made with beef, chicken or fish stock most often containing large pieces of solid food, i. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Species Musa × paradisiaca A big load of plantains in Masaya, Nicaragua The plantain (pronounced [ˈplænteɪn] or [ˈplæntɪn][1]) is a species of the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana (which is sometimes called the dessert banana). ... This article is about the maize plant. ... Binomial name L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Department Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ... Ajiaco is a traditional version of chicken soup from Bogotá, Colombia. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... Subfamilies and Genera Neophoberinae Acanthacaris Thymopinae Nephropsis Nephropides Thymops Thymopsis Nephropinae Homarus Nephrops Homarinus Metanephrops Eunephrops Thymopides Clawed lobsters comprise a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine crustaceans. ... A barbecue in a public park in Australia A barbecue on a trailer at a block party in Kansas City Pans on the top shelf hold hamburgers and hot dogs that were grilled earlier when the coals were hot. ... Sancocho is a term used in Hispanic American countries for a soup made with beef, chicken or fish stock most often containing large pieces of solid food, i. ... Nickname: City of the Holy Kings of Valledupar Location in the Department of Cesar. ... Arepa from Venezuela filled with cheese The arepa is a corn-based bread from the northern Andes in South America, now spread to other areas in modern Latin American countries. ... Area inhabited by the Wayuus, between Colombia and Venezuela. ...

• In the Tolima region the Tamales Tolimenses are a delicacy. These tamales are made of a corn dough and feature peas, carrots, potatoes, rice, chicken, pork and various spices. They are wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled for three to four hours.

Tolima is a department of Colombia. ...

Festivals in Colombia

Main article: Festivals in Colombia

Bogota colombia (Spanish:Carnaval de Bogotá) in August 6 for the citys centenary of Hispanic foundation, includes masquerades, krewes and dances parades at the same time or after 5 days takes place the Summer festival which is a group of activities, concerts and sports events in all the city...

Art

Main article: Colombian Art

Colombians have been producing art for thousands of years. Ornate golden figures and jewelry from millennia ago have been discovered by both ruthless conquistadors and careful archaeological digs. Estudiante Muerto by Alejandro Obregón, oil on canvas, 1956. ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... Conquistadors (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) were Spanish soldiers, explorers and adventurers who invaded and conquered much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries, starting with the 1492 settlement by Christopher Columbus in what is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. ... This July 2007 does not cite any references or sources. ...

Some Colombian artists, such as Fernando Botero, Enrique Grau,David Manzur,Luis Caballero, Santiago Martinez Delgado, Ignacio Gomez Jaramillo, Débora Arango, and have received international fame, awards and wide public acclaim. Familia (1989) Fernando Botero (born April 19, 1932) is a neo-figurative Colombian artist, self-titled the most Colombian of Colombian artists early on, coming to prominence when he won the first prize at the Salón de Artistas Colombianos in 1958. ... Enrique Grau (December 18, 1920 - April 1, 2004) was born in Panama City, Panama, and raised in Cartagena, Colombia. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Master Santiago Martinez Delgado. ... |Ignacio Gomez Jaramillo(1910-1970) Born in Antioquia, Master Gomez Jaramillo was one of Colombias most important artist of the XX century. ... Débora Arango (November 11, 1907-December 4, 2005) was a Colombian painter. ...

Religion

See also: Status of religious freedom in Colombia, Christianity in Colombia, Protestants in Colombia, Roman Catholicism in Colombia, and Islam in Colombia

Studies suggest that about 95% of Colombians are Roman Catholic. The Republic of Colombia has an area of 439,735 square miles, and its population is estimated at 46 million. ... More than 95 % of the population of Colombia are Christians. ... About 1,503,400 persons (3,5 % of the population of Colombia) are Protestants. ... The Roman Catholic Church in Columbia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... The statistics for Islam in Colombia estimate a total Muslim population of 85,908, representing 0. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...

Literature

The Colombian author, Gabriel García Márquez, won the Nobel Prize for his book Cien Años de Soledad (Spanish: One Hundred Years Of Solitude). It is the history of a Colombian family, the Buendias, and their small town, Macondo, through the 20th century. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Nobel Prizes (Swedish: ) are awarded for Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Physiology or Medicine. ... One Hundred Years of Solitude (Spanish: Cien años de soledad) is a novel by Nobel Prize winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez that was first published in Spanish in 1967 (Buenos Aires: Sudamericana), with an English translation by Gregory Rabassa released in 1970 (New York: Harper and...

Colombian theatre

Film and television

Sports

The country's most popular sport is futbol (soccer).

Baseball has become popular in recent years; it is especially popular along the coast and is strongly promoted all around the country. Edgar Rentería is an example of a famous Colombian baseball player. This article is about the sport. ... Edgar Enrique Rentería (pronounced as IPA: ) (born August 7, 1975 in Barranquilla, Colombia) is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves (as of 2006). ...

An ancient game called tejo, inherited from the Chibcha, is also played. The object of tejo is to throw a small metal disk at a gunpowder detonator in a small circular area. The winner is calculated by the number of explosions compared to number of throws. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A disk or disc may be: Look up disc, disk in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ... A detonator is a device used to trigger bombs, shaped charges and other forms of explosive material and explosive devices. ...

Fashion

Comedy

Music

Main article: Music of Colombia

Modern Colombian music is a mixture of African, native Indigenous and European (especially Spanish) influences, as well as more modern American and Caribbean musical forms, such as Trinidadian, Cuban, and Jamaican. The national music of Colombia is said to be vallenato and cumbia. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. ... The Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago is best known as the homeland of calypso music, including 1950s stars Lord Kitchener and Mighty Sparrow. ... Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ...

Cumbia is a mixture of Spanish and African music, the latter brought by slaves. The style of dance is designed to recall the shackles worn around the ankles of the slaves. In the 19th century, slavery was abolished and Africans, Indians and other ethnic groups mixed more fully. Styles like bambuco, vallenato and porro were especially influential. When the waltz became popular in the 19th century, a Colombian version called pasillo was invented. International Latin, a type of pop ballad, and salsa music are best-represented by Charlie Zaa and Joe Arroyo, respectively. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Slave redirects here. ... Bambuco is sometimes said to be the unofficial music of Colombia. ... Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. ... The porro (or porro palitiao) is a cumbia rhythm that developed into its own sub-genre. ... A waltz (German: , Italian: , French: , Spanish: , Catalan: ) is a ballroom and folk dance in   time, done primarily in closed position. ... Pasillo (Spanish: Corridor) is a genre of indigenous Latin music. ... This is the list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Illustration by Arthur Rackham of the ballad The Twa Corbies A ballad is a story, usually a narrative or poem, in a song. ... Salsa music is a Latin musical genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos. ... Carlos Alberto Sánchez (born 1978), better known in the entertainment world as Charlie Zaa, is a Colombian singer who has gained fame across Latin America and among Hispanics in the United States. ... Álvaro José Arroyo González (also known as Joe Arroyo or El Joe) is a Colombian salsa and tropical music singer and songwriter. ...

Music and dancing are very popular in Colombia, with dozens of popular vibrant styles. The most popular local musical styles are Vallenato, salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Bambuco. The latter is a very complicated dance with many differently named steps. Colombian Rock developed after an influence of Rock en Español generating fusion of Rock Music with traditional Colombian music and other musical styles. Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. ... Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Caribbean rhythm that is popular in many Latino countries. ... Merengue is a type of lively, joyful music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. ... Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ... Bambuco is sometimes said to be the unofficial music of Colombia. ... Rock en español is the latest generation of Spanish language rock and roll. ...

Dancing to reggeaton became also very popular in Colombia during the first decade of the 21st century.

Cumbia, which originated on the Caribbean Coast, is the national dance. It should not be confused with other types of Cumbia which rooted out from Colombia to other areas of Latin America generating sub genres.

Drugs

Narcocultural influence (narcocultura)

Symbols

See also

Colombia Portal

• Latin American culture
• Hispanic culture
• List of players from Colombia in Major League Baseball
• Carnival in Colombia
• Festivals in Colombia

Image File history File links Portal. ... Latin American culture is the formal or informal expression of the peoples of Latin America, and includes both high culture (literature, high art) and popular culture (music, folk art and dance) as well as religion and other customary practices. ... The Hispanic world The term Hispanic culture pertains to cultures found in Spain and to the cultures of any country that was colonized by the early Spanish conquistadors. ... This is a list of baseball players from Colombia who have played in Major League Baseball: 1902 Luis Castro 1974 Orlando Ramírez 1983 Jackie Gutiérrez 1996 Edgar Rentería 1997 Orlando Cabrera 1998 Jolbert Cabrera 1999 Yamid Haad Categories: Baseball players | Lists of sportspersons ... The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spaniards. ... Bogota colombia (Spanish:Carnaval de Bogotá) in August 6 for the citys centenary of Hispanic foundation, includes masquerades, krewes and dances parades at the same time or after 5 days takes place the Summer festival which is a group of activities, concerts and sports events in all the city...

References

• Londoño Vélez, S. (2001). Colombian Art: 3,500 Years of History. Bogotá: Villegas Editores.
• Safford, F. (2002). Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society (Latin American Histories). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

External links

• ColArte(Spanish), Colombian art and culture
• [8](Spanish), Luis Ángel Arango Library digital collection

v • d • e Latin American culture

Argentina · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · The Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Guatamala · Haiti · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Puerto Rico · Uruguay · Venezuela The Luis Angel Arango Library facade and part of 11th street at La Candelaria neighborhood Luis Ángel Arango Library, is a public library located in Bogotá, Colombia. ... Latin American culture is the formal or informal expression of the peoples of Latin America, and includes both high culture (literature, high art) and popular culture (music, folk art and dance) as well as religion and other customary practices. ... Image File history File links Map-Latin_America2. ... La Vega Carnaval in the Independence Month. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: single word If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ...

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