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. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Popular culture, sometimes called pop culture, consists of widespread cultural elements in any given society. ...

Definitions of Latin America vary. From a cultural perspective, Latin America generally includes those parts of the Americas where Spanish or Portuguese prevail: Mexico and most of Central America, South America, and part of the Caribbean in which Haiti (a non-Hispanic country) is generally included. There is also an important Latin American cultural presence in the USA (e.g. California and the Southwest, and cities such as New York and Miami). Sometimes the areas influenced by France (particularly Haiti) are also included. There is also increasing attention to the relations between Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole. See further discussion of definitions at Latin America. The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... 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. ...

The rich mosaic of Latin American culture is the product of many influences, including:

• Pre-Columbian cultures, whose importance is today particularly notable in countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Paraguay.
• European culture, owing to the region's history of colonization by Spain, Portugal, and France. European influence is particularly marked in so-called high culture, such as literature, painting, Literature and Music. Moreover, this imperial history left an enduring mark of their influence in their languages, which are spoken throughout Central (including the Caribbean), South and North America (México and many parts of the USA). In addition, nineteenth- and twentieth-century immigration (e.g from Italy, Germany, and Eastern Europe) also transformed especially countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil (particular the southeast and southern regions)and Venezuela.
• The introduction of slaves from Africa, which has influenced for instance dance and religion, especially in countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba.
• Increasingly, the United States, particularly via mass culture such as cinema and TV.

In this sense, it might be strictly more accurate to speak of "Indo-Afro-Latin American culture." This list of pre-Colombian civilizations includes those civilizations and cultures of the Americas which flourished prior to the European colonization of the Americas. ... The Culture of Europe might better be described as a series of overlapping cultures of Europe. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ...

Population

Further information: Latin America#Population

The population of Latin America is an amalgam of ethnic groups. The composition varies from country to country; some have a predominance of a racially mixed (mestizo) population, some have a high percentage of people of Amerindian origin, some are dominated by inhabitants of European origin and Brazil particularly has a high proportion who are of Africans,japanese and germany origin. 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. ... For other uses, see Amalgamation. ... Languages Predominantly Spanish, (with a minority of other languages), while Mestizos speaks Portuguese Religions Christianity (Predominantly Roman Catholic, with a minority of Protestant and other Religions) Related ethnic groups Other Spanish people, Italian people, French people, Portuguese people, Amerindian, African people, Austronesian people, Hispanics and Latinos Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ...

Demographics

Latin America has a very diverse population, with many ethnic groups and different ancestries. Only in three countries do the Amerindians make up the majority of the population. This is the case of Peru, Guatemala and Bolivia. In the rest of the Continent, most of the Native American descendants are of mixed race ancestry. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ...

Since the 16th century a large number of Iberian colonists left for Latin America: the Portuguese to Brazil and the Spaniards to the rest of the region. An intensive race mixing between the Europeans and the Amerindians occurred and their descendants (known as mestizos) make up the majority of the population in several Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Puerto Rico, etc. (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. ... Iberia can mean: The Iberian peninsula of southwest Europe; That part of it inhabited by the Iberians, speaking the Iberian language. ... Languages Predominantly Spanish, (with a minority of other languages), while Mestizos speaks Portuguese Religions Christianity (Predominantly Roman Catholic, with a minority of Protestant and other Religions) Related ethnic groups Other Spanish people, Italian people, French people, Portuguese people, Amerindian, African people, Austronesian people, Hispanics and Latinos Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço...

Starting in the late 16th century, a large number of African slaves were brought to Latin America, the majority of whom were sent to the Caribbean and Brazil. Nowadays, Blacks make up the majority of the population in most Caribbean countries. Many of the African slaves in Latin America mixed with the Europeans and their descendants (known as Mulattoes) make up the majority of the population in some countries, such as Cuba, and large porcentages in Brazil, Colombia, etc. Mixes between the Blacks and Amerindians also occurred, and their descendants are known as Zambos. Many Latin American countries also have a substantial tri-racial population, which ancestry is a mix of Amerindians, Whites and Blacks. (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. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second_largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Wiktionary has related dictionary definitions, such as: slave Slave may refer to: Slavery, where people are owned by others, and live to serve their owners without pay Slave (BDSM), a form of sexual and consenual submission Slave clock, in technology, a clock or timer that synchrnonizes to a master clock... “West Indian” redirects here. ... Look up black in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Representation of Mulattos during the Latin American colonial period Mulatto (also Mulato) is a term of Spanish and/or Portuguese origin describing first-generation offspring of African and European ancestry. ... A representation of Zambos in Pintura de Castas during the Latin American colonial period. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Large amounts of European immigrants arrived in Latin America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of them settling in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela and in Southern Brazil). Nowadays this region has a large majority of people of European descent and in all more than 80% of Latin America's white population, which is in turn more than 90% composed of the top five groups of immigrants, which were: Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Germans and, to a much smaller extent, Irish, Poles, Russians, Welsh, Ukrainians, French, Jews, etc. 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. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Welsh are, according to Hastings (1997), an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language, which is a Celtic language. ...

In this same period, many immigrants came from the Middle-East and Asia, including Indians, Lebanese, Syrians, and, more recently, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese (mainly in Brazil). The traditional Middle East and the G8s Greater Middle East Political & transportation map of the traditional Middle East today The Middle East is a historical and political region of Africa-Eurasia with no clear definition. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ...

This racial diversity has profoundly influenced religion, music, and politics, and gave rise to a weak feeling of identity in parts of these mixed cultures. This opaque cultural heritage is (arguably improperly) called Latin or Latino in United States' English. Outside of the U.S., and in many languages (especially romance ones) "Latino" just means "Latin", referring to cultures and peoples that can trace their heritage back to the ancient Roman Empire. Latin American is the proper term. // Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... // The term Latino is a linguistic identity that refers to an individual that has significant ancestry from a nation-state where a Latin derived language is spoken or is the offical language of the government. ... // The term Latino is a linguistic identity that refers to an individual that has significant ancestry from a nation-state where a Latin derived language is spoken or is the offical language of the government. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ...

Romance languages in Latin America: Green-Spanish; Blue-French; Orange-Portuguese

Image File history File links Map-Romance_Latin_America. ... Image File history File links Map-Romance_Latin_America. ...

Language

Spanish is the predominant language in the majority of the countries. Portuguese is spoken primarily in Brazil, where it is both the official and the national language. French is also spoken in smaller countries, in the Caribbean, and French Guiana. “West Indian” redirects here. ...

See also: Amerindian languages

Several nations, especially in the Caribbean, have their own Creole languages, derived from European languages and various African tongues. Native American languages are spoken in many Latin American nations, mainly Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Mexico. Nahuatl is only one of the 62 native languages spoken by indigenous people in Mexico, which are officially recognised by the government as "national languages", along with Spanish. Guarani is, along with Spanish, the official language of Paraguay, and is spoken by a majority of the population. Amerindian languages are the native languages of the Americas. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... A creole is a language descended from a pidgin that has become the native language of a group of people. ... Native American languages are the indigenous languages of the Americas, spoken by Native Americans from the southern tip of South America to Alaska and Greenland. ... Nahuatl is a native language of central Mexico. ... Guaraní (local name: avañeẽ ) is an Amerindian language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily. ...

Other European languages spoken include Italian in Brazil and Argentina, German in southern Brazil, southern Chile and Argentina, and Welsh in southern Argentina. Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ...

Religion

The primary religion throughout Latin America is Roman Catholicism. Latin America, and in particular Brazil, are active in developing the quasi-socialist Roman Catholic movement known as Liberation Theology. Practitioners of the Protestant, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Mormon, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Bahá'í, and indigenous denominations and religions exist. Various Afro-Latin American traditions, such as Santería, and Macumba, a tribal- voodoo religion, are also practiced. Evangelicalism in particular is increasing in popularity. ^[1] 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 · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      As a Christian ecclesiastical... Liberation theology is a school of theology that focuses on Jesus Christ as not only the Redeemer but also the Liberator of the Oppressed. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ... 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 Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The word evangelicalism often refers to... According to Latter Day Saint belief, Mormon is the name of the compiler of the book of scripture known as the Book of Mormon. ... A silhouette of Buddha at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice, governing body of the Baháís, in Haifa, Israel The Baháí Faith is the religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th-century Persia (Iran). ... Languages Portuguese, Spanish, and several creoles Religions Predominantly Christian (mainly Roman Catholic); minorities practicing Judaism, Islam, or no religion Related ethnic groups sub-Saharan An Afro-Latin American (also Afro-Latino) is a Latin American person of at least partial sub-Saharan African ancestry; the term may also refer to... “Lukumi / Yoruba Religion / La Religión” redirects here. ... Macumba is a word of African (Bantu) origins. ... 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 Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The word evangelicalism often refers to...

Arts

Visual art

Main article: Latin American art

See also: List of Latin American artists

Beyond the rich tradition of indigenous art, the development of Latin American visual art owed much to the influence of Spanish, Portuguese and French Baroque painting, which in turn often followed the trends of the Italian Masters. In general, this artistic Eurocentrism began to fade in the early twentieth century, as Latin-Americans began to acknowledge the uniqueness of their condition and started to follow their own path. The following is a list of famous Latin American Painters: // Xul Solar Antonio Berni (1905 – 1981) Lucio Fontana (1899 – 1968) Florencio Molina Campos (1891 – 1959) Benito Quinquela Martín (1890 – 1977) Xul Solar (1887 – 1963) Raúl Soldi (1905 – 1994) Anita Malfatti Alfredo Volpi (born Italian) Ismael Nery Lasar Segall... A list of Latin American artists (painters, sculptors, photograhers, video artists, etc. ...

From the early twentieth century, the art of Latin America was greatly inspired by the Constructivist Movement. The Constructivist Movement was founded in Russia around 1913 by Vladimir Tatlin. The Movement quickly spread from Russia to Europe and then into Latin America. Joaquin Torres Garcia and Manuel Rendón have been credited with bringing the Constructivist Movement into Latin America from Europe. Vladimir Yevgrafovich Tatlin (Владимир Евграфович Татлин) (December 28, 1885 (OS: December 16) – May 31, 1953) worked as a painter and architect. ... Joaquín Torres García (b. ... Rendóns , oil on canvas, 1955. ...

An important artistic movement generated in Latin America is Muraliismo represented by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo in Mexico and Santiago Martinez Delgado and Pedro Nel Gómez in Colombia. Some of the most impressive Muralista works can be found in Mexico, Colombia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. A mural is a painting on a wall, ceiling, or other large permanent surface. ... Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957), (full name Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez) was a Mexican painter and muralist born in Guanajuato City, Guanajuato. ... David Alfaro Siquerios (December 29, 1896 in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico - January 6, 1974 in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico) was a painter and muralist known for his social realism work. ... José Clemente Orozco. ... Rufino Tamayo holding a guitar in a photo taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1945. ... Master Santiago Martinez Delgado. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... NY redirects here. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ...

Mexican painter Frida Kahlo remains by far the most known and famous Latin American artist. She painted about her own life and the Mexican culture in a style combining Realism, Symbolism and Surrealism. Kahlo's work commands the highest selling price of all Latin American paintings. Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954) was a Mexican painter who depicted the indigenous culture of her country in a style combining Realism, Symbolism and Surrealism. ... Realism in the visual arts and literature is the depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. ... Max Ernst. ...

Literature

Main article: Latin American literature

See also: List of Latin American writers

Pre-Columbian cultures were primarily oral, though the Aztecs and Mayans, for instance, produced elaborate codices. Oral accounts of mythological and religious beliefs were also sometimes recorded after the arrival of European colonizers, as was the case with the Popol Vuh. Moreover, a tradition of oral narrative survives to this day, for instance among the Quechua-speaking population of Peru and the Quiché of Guatemala. Latin American literature rose to particular prominence during the second half of the 20th century, largely thanks to the international success of the style known as magical realism. ... . ... Aztec codices (singular codex) are books written by pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial era Aztecs. ... The Popol Vuh (Quiché for Council Book or Book of the Community; Popol Wuj in modern spelling) is the book of scripture of the Quiché, a kingdom of the post classic Maya civilization in highland Guatemala. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Quechuan languages. ... The Kiche (or Quiché in Spanish spelling), are a Native American people, part of the Maya ethnic group. ...

From the very moment of Europe's "discovery" of the continent, early explorers and conquistadores produced written accounts and crónicas of their experience--such as Columbus's letters or Bernal Díaz del Castillo's description of the conquest of Mexico. During the colonial period, written culture was often in the hands of the church, within which context Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz wrote memorable poetry and philosophical essays. Towards the end of the 18th Century and the beginning of the 19th, a distinctive criollo literary tradition emerged, including the first novels such as Lizardi's El Periquillo Sarniento (1816). Conquistador (meaning Conqueror in the Spanish language) is the term used to refer to the soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under Spanish rule between the 15th and 17th centuries. ... Christopher Columbus (1451 – May 20, 1506) was a navigator and maritime explorer credited as the discoverer of the Americas. ... Bernal Díaz del Castillo (1492 or 1493 - 1581) was a conquistador, who wrote an eyewitness account of the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés. ... Sor Juana (12 November 1651 (or 1648, according to some biographers) – 17 April 1695), also known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz or, in full, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz de Asbaje y Ramírez, was a self taught Mexican scholar, nun, and writer of the... 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. ... El Periquillo Sarniento (The Mangy Parrot) by Mexican author José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi, is generally considered the first novel written and published in Latin America. ...

The 19th Century was a period of "foundational fictions" (in critic Doris Sommer's words), novels in the Romantic or Naturalist traditions that attempted to establish a sense of national identity, and which often focussed on the indigenous question or the dichotomy of "civilization or barbarism" (for which see, say, Domingo Sarmiento's Facundo (1845), Juan León Mera's Cumandá (1879), or Euclides da Cunha's Os Sertões (1902)). Wanderer above the sea of fog by Caspar David Friedrich Romanticism is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in 18th century Western Europe during the Industrial Revolution. ... Naturalism is a movement in theater, film, and literature that seeks to replicate a believable everyday reality, as opposed to such movements as Romanticism or Surrealism, in which subjects may receive highly symbolic, idealistic, or even supernatural treatment. ... Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Albarracín (February 15, 1811 – September 11, 1888) was an Argentine statesman, educator, and author. ... Facundo (subtitiled civilization and Barbarism) A book written by Argentinian Domingo Sarmiento in 1845, it was written partly in protest to the regime of Juan Manuel de Rosas who ruled Argentina from 1835-1852. ... Juan León Mera Juan León Mera Martínez (June 28, 1832, Ambato—December 13, 1894) was an Ecuadorian poet, novelist, journalist, critic, politician and satirist. ... Caricature of Euclides da Cunha by Raul Pederneiras. ... Os Sertões is a book written by the Brazilian writer Euclides da Cunha. ...

At the turn of the 20th century, modernismo emerged, a poetic movement whose founding text was Rubén Darío's Azul (1888). This was the first Latin American literary movement to influence literary culture outside of the region, and was also the first truly Latin American literature, in that national differences were no longer so much at issue. José Martí, for instance, though a Cuban patriot, also lived in Mexico and the USA and wrote for journals in Argentina and elsewhere. Modernismo is Spanish for modernism, however the term Modernismo indicates a more specific art movement: Modernismo, also known by its Catalan name Modernisme, as term in architecture generally refers to the pre-Art Nouveau style existing; e. ... A framed picture of Rubén Darío hanging in the National Theater. ... Look up azul in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... José Julián Martí y Pérez was a leader of the Cuban independence movement from Spain and as well a renowned poet and writer. ...

However, what really put Latin American literature on the global map was no doubt the literary boom of the 1960s and 1970s, distinguished by daring and experimental novels (such as Julio Cortázar's Rayuela (1963)) that were frequently published in Spain and quickly translated into English. The Boom's defining novel was Gabriel García Márquez's Cien años de soledad (1967), which led to the association of Latin American literature with magic realism, though other important writers of the period such as Mario Vargas Llosa and Carlos Fuentes do not fit so easily within this framework. Arguably, the Boom's culmination was Augusto Roa Bastos's monumental Yo, el supremo (1974). In the wake of the Boom, influential precursors such as Juan Rulfo, Alejo Carpentier, and above all Jorge Luis Borges were also rediscovered. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Julio Cortázar. ... Hopscotch the 1963 novel (translated from the Spanish Rayuela), is the most famous novel by the Argentine writer Julio Cortázar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... 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... Magic realism (or magical realism) is an artistic genre in which magical elements appear in an otherwise realistic setting. ... Mario Vargas Llosa in his youth. ... Carlos Fuentes Carlos Fuentes Macías (born November 11, 1928) is a Mexican writer and one of the best-known living novelists and essayists in the Spanish-speaking world. ... Augusto Roa Bastos, (June 13, 1917 – April 26, 2005), was a Paraguayan novelist, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest that nation has produced. ... Juan Rulfo (16 May 1917 [not 1918 as he often told people after 1936, see note below] – 7 January 1986) was a Mexican novelist, short story writer, and photographer. ... Alejo Carpentier y Valmont (December 26, 1904 – April 24, 1980) was a Cuban novelist, essay writer, and musicologist who greatly influenced Latin American literature during its famous boom period. ... Jorge Luis Borges (August 24, 1899 – June 14, 1986) was an Argentine writer. ...

Contemporary literature in the region is vibrant and varied, ranging from the best-selling Paulo Coelho and Isabel Allende to the more avant-garde and critically acclaimed work of writers such as Diamela Eltit, Ricardo Piglia, or Roberto Bolaño. There has also been considerable attention paid to the genre of testimonio, texts produced in collaboration with subaltern subjects such as Rigoberta Menchú. Finally, a new breed of chroniclers is represented by the more journalistic Carlos Monsiváis and Pedro Lemebel. Paulo Coelho (IPA: , born August 24, 1947) is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. ... For the Chilean politician and daughter of Salvador Allende, see Isabel Allende Bussi. ... Diamela Eltit (Santiago de Chile, 1949) is a writer and a Spanish teacher from Chile. ... Ricardo Piglia (born on November 24, 1941 in Adrogué) is an Argentine writer best known for his 1992 novel The Absent City. Heavely influenced by countryman Jorge Luis Borges, Piglias stories contain elements of the occult, while still heavily grounded in the reality of their metafictional narratives. ... Roberto Bolaño (April 28, 1953 — July 15, 2003) was a Chilean novelist and poet, winner of the prestigious Rómulo Gallegos Prize for his novel Los detectives salvajes (The Savage Detectives) in 1999. ... In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. ... The term subaltern is used in postcolonial theory to refer to marginalized groups and the lower classes; this sense of the word was coined by Antonio Gramsci. ... Rigoberta Menchú Rigoberta Menchú Tum (born in Chimel, Quiché department, January 9, 1959) is an indigenous Guatemalan, of the Quiché-Maya ethnic group. ... Carlos Monsiváis (born May 4, 1938, in Mexico City) is a Mexican writer and journalist on the El Universal newspaper. ... Pedro Lemebel is a Chilean essayist, chronicler, and novelist. ...

The region boasts five Nobel Prizewinners: in addition to the Colombian García Márquez (1982), also the Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral (1945), the Guatemalan novelist Miguel Ángel Asturias (1967), the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (1971), and the Mexican poet and essayist Octavio Paz (1990). Nobel Prize in Literature medal. ... Gabriela Mistral Gabriela Mistral (April 7, 1889 – January 10, 1957) was the pseudonym of Lucila de María del Perpetuo Socorro Godoy Alcayaga, a Chilean poet, educator, diplomat and feminist who was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1945. ... Miguel Ángel Asturias (October 19, 1899 – June 9, 1974) was a Guatemalan writer and diplomat. ... Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904 – September 23, 1973) was the penname of the Chilean writer and communist politician Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto. ... Octavio Paz, Mexican writer, poet, diplomat, and 1990 Nobel Prize winner for literature Octavio Paz Lozano (March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998) was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature. ...

Music

Main article: Latin American music

See also: Dance and music of Latin America

One of the main characteristics of Latin American music is its diversity, from the lively rhythms of Central America and the Caribbean to the more austere sounds of southern South America. Another feature of Latin American music is its original blending of the variety of styles that arrived in The Americas and became influential, from the early Spanish and European Baroque to the different beats of the African rhythms. Latin American music, sometimes simply called Latin music, includes the music of many countries and comes in many varieties, from the simple, rural conjunto music of northern Mexico to the sophisticated habanera of Cuba, from the symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos to the simple and moving Andean flute. ... Latin America thrives on its culture. ...

Hispano-Caribbean music, such as salsa, merengue, bachata, etc., are styles of music that have been strongly influenced by African rhythms and melodies. ^{[2] [3]} Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Spanish Caribbean genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos. ... Merengue is a type of lively, joyful music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. ... Bachata is a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural marginal neighborhoods of Dominican Republic. ...

Other main musical genres of Latin American include the Argentine and Uruguayan tango, the Colombian cumbia and vallenato, Mexican ranchera, Uruguayan Candombe and the various styles of music from Pre-Columbian traditions that are widespread in the Andean region. In Brazil, samba, American jazz, European classical music and choro combined into the bossa nova music. Recently the Haitian kompa has become increasingly popular. ^[4] Tango music is traditionally played by an orquesta típica, a sextet which includes two violins, piano, doublebass, and two bandoneons. ... Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ... Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. ... The ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico. ... Candombe is a drum-based musical form of Uruguay. ... The word Andean refers to the geographic area in and around the Andes Mountains of South America, and to the indigenous peoples that inhabit the area, such as the Inca. ... Samba ( ) is one of the most popular forms of music in Brazil. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Choro, also called chorinho, is a Brazilian popular music style. ... For other uses, see Bossa nova (disambiguation). ... Kompa (sometimes written Compas Direct, konpa direk, konpa or compa) is a musical genre as well as a dance that originates from Haïti. ...

The classical composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) worked on the recording of native musical traditions within his homeland of Brazil. The traditions of his homeland heavily influenced his classical works. ^[5] Also notable is the much recent work of the Cuban Leo Brouwer and guitar work of the Venezuelan Antonio Lauro and the Paraguayan Agustín Barrios. Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 - November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, possibly the best-known classical composer born in South America. ... Leo Brouwer (born March 1, 1939) is a Cuban composer, guitarist and conductor. ... Antonio Lauro Antonio Lauro (born August 3, 1917 in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, died April 18, 1986 in Caracas) was a Venezuelan composer, considered to be one of the foremost South American composers of the 20th century. ... Augstin Barrios Agustín Pío Barrios (also known as Agustín Barrios Mangoré) (born May 5, 1885 in San Juan Bautista de las Missiones, Paraguay; died August 7, 1944) was a Paraguayan guitarist and composer. ...

Arguably, the main contribution to music entered through folklore, where the true soul of the Latin American and Caribbean countries is expressed. Musicians such as Atahualpa Yupanqui, Violeta Parra, Victor Jara, Mercedes Sosa, Jorge Negrete, Caetano Veloso, and others gave magnificent examples of the heights that this soul can reach. Atahualpa Yupanqui performing for Radio Nacional, Buenos Aires. ... Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval (October 14, 1917 – February 5, 1967) was a notable Chilean folklorist and visual artist. ... Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez (September 23, 1932 – September 16, 1973) was a Chilean folk singer and activist. ... Mercedes Sosa (born 9 July 1935) is an Argentine singer immensely popular throughout Latin America. ... Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno (November 30, 1911 - December 5, 1953) was a Mexican singer and movie star. ... Caetano Veloso (born 7 August 1942) is one of the most popular and influential Brazilian composers and singers. ...

Latin pop, including many forms of rock, is popular in Latin America today (see Spanish language rock and roll). ^[6] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... Spanish language rock and roll (Spanish: Rock en español) borrows heavily from rock and roll music and from traditional and popular music of Spanish-speaking cultures (bachata, cumbia, merengue, ranchera, rumba, salsa, tango, etc) and has evolved from a cult-like music movement to a more well established music...

Latin American music, sometimes simply called Latin music, includes the music of many countries and comes in many varieties, from the simple, rural conjunto music of northern Mexico to the sophisticated habanera of Cuba, from the symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos to the simple and moving Andean flute. Music has played an important part in Latin America's turbulent recent history, for example the nueva canción movement. Latin music is very diverse, with the only truly unifying thread being the use of the Spanish language or, in Brazil, its close cousin the Portuguese language.^[7] Tejano is also the name of Texans of Spanish origin. ... The habanera is a musical style or genre from Cuba with a characteristic Habanera rhythm; it is one of the oldest mainstays of Cuban music and the first of the dances from Cuba to be exported all over the world. ... Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 - November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, possibly the best-known classical composer born in South America. ... The quena is a South American wind instrument, mostly used by Andean musicians The quena (Quechua: , sometimes also written kena in English) is the traditional flute of the Andes. ... 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. ... Nueva Canción (Spanish for new song) was a movement in Latin American music that emerged in the mid-1960s, taking root in South America, especially Chile and other Andean countries. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Portuguese (  or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain) and northern Portugal from the Latin spoken by romanized Celtiberians about 1000 years ago. ...

Latin America can be divided into several musical areas. Andean music, for example, includes the countries of western South America, typically Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Venezuela; Central American music includes El Salvador, Belize, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Caribbean music includes many Spanish and French-speaking islands in the Caribbean Sea, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Martinique and Guadeloupe, though the Francophone islands are not necessarily considered Latin. Brazil perhaps constitutes its own musical area, both because of its large size and incredible diversity as well as its unique history as a Portuguese colony. Although Spain isn't a part of Latin America, Spanish music (and Portuguese music) and Latin American music strongly cross-fertilized each other, but Latin music also absorbed influences from English and American music, and particularly, African music. A cultural area is a region (area) with one relatively homogenous human activity or complex of activities (culture). ... A quena, a traditional Andean instrument Andean music comes from the approximate area inhabited by the Incas prior to European contact. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Central America is a is dominated by the popular Latin musical trends, including salsa, cumbia, mariachi, reggae, calypso and nueva canción. ... The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. ... Map of Central America and the Caribbean Caribbean Sea from space (top left). ... 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. ... For many people, Spanish music is virtually synonymous with flamenco, an Andalusian genre of music, but is not representative of all country. ... Portugal is internationally known in the music scene for its traditions of fado, a popular form of music that has undergone numerous mutations in the last half of the 20th century. ...

Film

Main article: Latin American cinema

Latin American film is both rich and diverse. But the main centers of production have been Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Cuba. Latin American cinema refers collectively to the film output and film industries of Latin America. ...

Latin American cinema flourished after the introduction of sound, which added a linguistic barrier to the export of Hollywood film south of the border. The 1950s and 1960s saw a movement towards Third Cinema, led by the Argentine filmmakers Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino. More recently, a new style of directing and stories filmed as been tagged as "New Latin American Cinema." This does not cite any references or sources. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Third Cinema is a cinema which decries neocolonialism, the capitalist system, and the Hollywood model of cinema as mere entertainment to make money. ... Fernando Ezequiel Pino Solanas (b. ... Octavio Getino (born in August 6, 1935 in León, Spain[1]) is an Argentinean film director who is best known for co-founding, along with Fernando Solanas, the school of Third Cinema. ...

Mexican movies from the Golden Era in the 1940s are significant examples of Latin American cinema, with a huge industry comparable to the Hollywood of those years. More recently movies such as Amores Perros (2000) and Y tu mamá también (2001) have been successful in creating universal stories about contemporary subjects, and were internationally recognised. The history of Mexican cinema goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, when several enthusiasts of the new medium documented historical events – most particularly the Mexican Revolution – and produced some movies that have been only recently been rediscovered. ... The Golden age of the cinema of Mexico (in Spanish: Época de oro del cine mexicano) is the name given to the period between 1935 and 1959 where the quality and economic success of the cinema of Mexico reached its peak. ... ... Amores perros is a Mexican film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu in 2000. ... Y tu mamá también (literally And your mother, too, released in English-speaking markets under the original Spanish title) is a 2001 Mexican film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. ... Contemporary is an adjective which in its basic form merely means that two individuals, events or movements overlapped in time. ...

Argentine cinema was a big industry in the first half of the 20th century. After a series of military governments that shackled culture in general, the industry re-emerged after the 1976-1983 military dictatorship to produce the Academy Award winner The Official Story in 1985. The Argentine economic crisis affected the production of films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but many Argentine movies produced during those years were internationally acclaimed, including Nueve reinas (2000), El abrazo partido (2004) and Roma (2004). The Cinema of Argentina has a long tradition, and plays an important role in the culture of Argentina. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dirty War. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Official Story (Spanish: La Historia Oficial) is a 1985 Argentinean film directed by Luis Puenzo and written by Puenzo and Aída Bortnik. ... The Argentine economic crisis was part of the situation that affected Argentinas economy during the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Nueve reinas (international, English title: Nine Queens), is a 2000 Argentine film directed by Fabián Bielinsky and starring Gastón Pauls, Ricardo Darín, Leticia Brédice and Tomás Fonzi. ... El Abrazo Partido (2004) is an Argentine movie depicting episodes in the life of a Jewish family in the Once neighborhood of Buenos Aires and the other shopkeepers in a low-rent commercial galería (gallery). ... Poster for Roma Roma is a 2004 Spanish/Argentine film directed by Adolfo Aristarain and starring Juan Diego Botto, Susú Pecoraro and José Sacristán. ...

In Brazil, the Cinema Novo movement created a particular way of making movies with critical and intellectual screenplays, a clearer photography related to the light of the outdoors in a tropical landscape, and a political message. The modern Brazilian film industry has become more profitable inside the country, and some of its productions have received prizes and recognition in Europe and the United States. Movies like Central do Brasil (1999) and Cidade de Deus (2003) have fans around the world, and its directors have taken part in American and European film projects. The cinema of Brazil started in 1930. ... Cinema Novo was a movement among Brazilian film makers in the second half of the 20th century, summarized by the phrase Uma câmera na mão e uma idéia na cabeça (which roughly translates to A camera in the hand and an idea in the head). The... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Central do Brasil (released as Central Station on the English speaking market) is a Brazilian film from 1998. ... City of God (Portuguese: Cidade de Deus) is an Academy Award-nominated 2002 Brazilian film, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003. ...

Cuban cinema has enjoyed much official support since the Cuban revolution, and important film-makers include Tomás Gutiérrez Alea. This page is meant to explore the themes explored in the cinema of Cuba. ... Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (December 11, 1928 – April 16, 1996) was a Cuban filmmaker, possibly the most popular and influential to date. ...

Dance

Main article: Latin dance

See also: Dance and music of Latin America

Latin America thrives on its culture. Its dance and music is known to be very sexy and promiscuous, and is recognizable by anyone familiar with dance. Salsa and the more popular Latin dances were created and embraced into the culture in the early and middle 1900s. Latin American music has had a large influence on the form the dances have today. It was the mariachi bands of Mexico that stirred up the quick paced rhythms and playful movements at the same time that Cuba was embracing similar musical and dance styles. Traditional dance was blended with new, modern ways of moving, and became a whole new dance rage. The dances from those days evolved and were influenced by modern music as the sexy style and hip gestures became more accepted. The term Latin dances in the context of social and ballroom dances may be used in two meanings. ... Latin America thrives on its culture. ... Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Shortcut: WP:NPOVD Articles that have been linked to this page are the subject of an NPOV dispute (NPOV stands for Neutral Point Of View; see below). ... 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. ... Culture (Culture from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate,) generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) generally refers to movement used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. ... // Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. ... This article uses Weasel Words. ... // Public flight demonstration of an airplane by Alberto Santos-Dumont in Paris, November 12, 1906. ... Mariachi is a type of musical group, originally from Mexico. ...

There are stories claiming that when Elvis performed live on television, broadcasters could only show him from the waist up. Considering this, a Latin ballroom competition would have had significant difficulties being broadcast in the United States. Contemporary America is very accepting of these dances. You can find Latino night in most dance clubs. Ballroom studios teach lessons on many Latin American dances. One can even find the cha-cha being done in honky-tonk country bars. Miami has been a large contributor of the United States’ involvement in Latin dancing. With such a huge Puerto Rican and Cuban population one can find Latin dancing and music in the streets at any time of day or night. Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll, or as just simply The King, was an American singer who had an immeasurable effect on world culture. ... For the dance, see Cha-cha-cha (dance). ... A vintage belt buckle from Gilleys, a large honky tonk featured in the movie Urban Cowboy. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ...

The dances of Latin America are derived from and named for the type of music they are danced to. For example, Mambo, Salsa, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Merengue, Samba, Flamenco, Bachata, and, probably most recognizable, the Tango are among the most popular. Each of the types of music has specific steps that go with the music, the counts, the rhythms, and the style. Mambo is a Cuban musical form and dance style. ... For the dance, see Cha-cha-cha (dance). ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Merengue is a dance originating in the Dominican Republic (East Hispaniola). ... Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba music. ... Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre. ... Bachata is a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural marginal neighborhoods of Dominican Republic. ... A couple dances Argentine Tango. ...

The style of Latin American dancing is very risqué. These dances for the most part are done with a partner as a social dance, but there is never a reason not to dance by oneself. The music is so inviting one would be hard pressed to hear a Latin beat and not see everyone feeling the rhythm. However, there are many conservatives that are offended by the extreme hip movement and the connection between partners. Many of the dances are done in a close embrace while others are more traditional to ballroom dancing and hold a stronger frame. Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing. ...

All dancing evolves, and Latin dancing has made many contributions to other types of dances we have today. The music is still popular as well. Many popular artists are modernizing the music while there are others who hold true to their traditional roots. Either way there will be more Latin dancing to come, but luckily the traditional dances are being embraced and conserved just as strongly.

Cuisine

Main article: Latin American cuisine

Latin American cuisine refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America. Latin American cuisine is a phrase that refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America. ... 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. ...

Some items typical of Latin American cuisine include maize-based dishes (tortillas, tamales, humitas, pupusas) and various salsas and other condiments (guacamole, pico de gallo, pebre, chimichurri, mole). “Corn” redirects here. ... Two cooked flour tortillas. ... It has been suggested that nacatamal be merged into this article or section. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Humita Humitas are a Native American dish from prehispanic times, and a traditional food in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Perú. They consist of masa harina and cooked corn, slowly cooked in oil. ... Two pupusas The Salvadoran pupusa (from Pipil pupusawa) is a thick, hand-made corn tortilla (made using masa de maíz, a maize flour dough used in Latin American cuisine) that is stuffed with one or more of the following: cheese (queso) (usually a soft Salvadoran cheese called Quesillo), fried... Note: This page or section contains IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. ... Guacamole // Guacamole is an avocado-based relish or dip from the time of the Aztecs. ... Pico de gallo Pico de gallo (Spanish for roosters beak) is the term generally referring to a fresh condiment made from chopped tomato, onion, and chiles (typically serranos or jalapeños). ... Pebre is a Chilean condiment made of cilantro, chopped onion, chopped tomato, olive oil, garlic and often ground or pureed spicy aji peppers. ... Chimichurri is a sauce and marinade for grilled meat originally from Argentina but used in countries as far north as Nicaragua. ... Mole (MOH-leh, IPA: /ˈmo. ...

Beverages include mate, horchata, mote con huesillo, atole and aguas frescas. Mate Mate (pronounced ) is a highly caffeinated infusion prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in hot water. ... Two large jars of aguas frescas in a taqueria in Seattle, Washington, USA. On the left is a jar of jamaica and on the right is a jar of horchata. ... A glass with Mote con huesillo Mote con huesillo is a typical Chilean non alcoholic drink and dessert. ... Traditional cornstarch-based Mexican hot drink. ... Two large jars of aguas frescas in a taqueria in Seattle, Washington,USA. On the left is a jar of jamaica and on the right is a jar of horchata. ...

Desserts include dulce de leche, brazo de reina, and flan. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Flan may refer to any of the following: a flan IS a pie it says so on the pie page, it is a tart which is a pie, so there In British English usage, flan may be various kinds of tart or cake with a sweet or savoury filling, often...

Regional cultures

Mexico

A woman dancing folklórico in the traditional dress of Jalisco

Main article: Culture of Mexico

Traditionally, Mexicans have struggled with the creation of a united identity. The issue is the main topic of Mexican nobel prize winner Octavio Paz's book "The Labyrinth of Solitude". Mexico is a large country, therefore having many cultural traits found only in some parts of the country. The north of Mexico is the least culturally diverse and more americanized of them all, making it a less exciting destination for foreign travelers. Central and southern Mexico is where many well-known traditions find their origin, therefore the people from this area are in a way the most traditional, but their collective personality can't be generalized. People from Puebla, for instance, are thought to be conservative and reserved, and just a few kilometers away, the people from Veracruz have the fame of being very outgoing and liberal. Chilangos (Mexico City natives) are believed to be posh or preppy, or dirty and crime-prone if talking about the poor. The regiomontanos (from Monterrey) are thought to be stingy and cocky regardless of their social status. Almost every Mexican state has its own accent, making it fairly easy to distinguish the origin of someone by their use of language. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1867x2007, 928 KB) Photographer: Jürgen from Sandesneben, Germany Title: Bailando Description: El Día De México (En Alemania) Taken on: 2004-11-28 08:30:11 Original source: Flickr. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1867x2007, 928 KB) Photographer: Jürgen from Sandesneben, Germany Title: Bailando Description: El Día De México (En Alemania) Taken on: 2004-11-28 08:30:11 Original source: Flickr. ... The culture of Mexico reflects the complexity of jessicas love of chips and salsa. ... Nobel Prize medal. ... Octavio Paz, Mexican writer, poet, diplomat, and 1990 Nobel Prize winner for literature Octavio Paz Lozano (March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998) was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature. ... The Labyrinth of Solitude (Spanish: El Laberinto de la soledad) is an essay, published in 1950, written by the Mexican author and poet, Octavio Paz. ... The Mexican state of Puebla is located in the center of the country, to the east of Mexico City. ... The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states that comprise Mexico. ...

Indigenous people are likely to be perceived as inferior, even though this rarely reaches the level of aggressive racism. It's unusual to see native Mexicans in high positions anywhere. This hidden racism is latent in the use of the word "indio" as an insult for the darker skinned, which is even used between indigenous people to offend each other.

The derogatory term naco was forged by the middle and upper class Mexicans to refer to the native or mestizo population. The term allegedly comes from the word totonaco, which is one of the ethnic groups in Valle de Mexico. Its use has been made popular even among the poorest classes. Mexicans differ in opinion about the meaning of the word. Some would use it for a person who dresses in a tacky or tasteless manner, some use it to refer to the natives, some to the poor classes, and other for people with less education or culture and other ideology. The term fresa is in some terms the opposite of naco, and it is not always derogatory and means always some relative high economical status of the person termed in that way. Traditionally, people with more European looks and belonging to the middle or high classes are called fresas. Naco is a word for disrespectfully referring to natives of Mexico. ... In Mexican Spanish, fresa is a slang term that refers to a person with economic wealth and high society status, especially a young girl or man. ...

Dancing and singing are commonly part of family gatherings, bringing the old and young together, no matter what kind of music is being played, like cumbia, salsa, merengue or the more Mexican banda. Dancing is a strong part of the culture, and visitors will find that even people who were thought to be unlikely to dance, do so. Singing enjoys the same popularity and Mexicans will sing when they are depressed, in a cantina to a mariachi song, or when they are very happy. Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music and is Colombias representative national dance and music along with vallenato. ... Merengue is a type of lively, joyful music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. ... Banda is a brass-based form of traditional Mexican music. ... A cantina is a spanish word meaning bar. ... Mariachi is a type of musical group, originally from Mexico. ...

Mexicans in places like Guadalajara, Puebla, Monterrey, Mexico City, and most middle sized cities, enjoy a great variety of options for leisure. Shopping centers are a favorite among families, since there has been an increasing number of new malls that cater to people of all ages and interests. A large number of them, have multiplex cinemas, international and local restaurants, food courts, cafes, bars, bookstores and most of the international renowned clothing brands are found too. Mexicans are prone to travel within their own country, making short weekend trips to a neighbouring city or town. Coordinates: , Country Mexico State Jalisco Foundation 1542 Government  - Mayor Alfonso Petersen Farah ( PAN) Area  - City 187. ... Nickname: Location of Puebla in central Mexico Coordinates: Country Mexico State Puebla Founded 1531 Government  - Mayor Enrique Doger (PRI) Area  - City 546 km²  (211 sq mi) Elevation 2,175 m (7,136 ft) Population (2005)  - City 1,485,941  - Density 5,741/km² (14,869. ... Nickname: Motto: El Trabajo templa el Espíritu Location of Monterrey in northern Mexico Coordinates: , Country Mexico State Nuevo León Founded 20 September 1596 Government  - Mayor Adalberto Madero ( PAN) Area  - City 572 km²  (220. ... Nickname: Motto: Ciudad en movimiento Location of Mexico City in central Mexico Coordinates: , Country Mexico Federal entity Federal District Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ... A shopping mall (or simply mall), shopping center, or shopping arcade is a building or set of buildings that contain stores and have interconnecting walkways that make it easy for people to walk from store to store. ...

The standard of living in Mexico is higher than most of other countries in Latin America attracting migrants in search for better opportunities. With the recent economic growth, many high income families live in single houses, commonly found within a gated community, called "fraccionamiento". The reason these places are the most popular among the middle and upper classes is that they offer a sense of security and provide social status. Swimming pools or golf clubs, and/or some other commodities are found in these fraccionamientos. Poorer Mexicans, by contrast, live a harsh life, although they share the importance they grant to family, friends and cultural habits. 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. ...

In the larger towns, hiring housekeepers or maids is not as common as in the past, but there are still many families that are willing to pay a person, generally a middle aged woman, to come help with the house chores once or twice a week. "Muchacha" or "chacha" are the words used to call them.

Mexicans are people oriented, and they will put friends, family and relatives before work or business matters. They are not stoic when it comes to passion for the honour of their mothers, sisters, wives or daughters.

Mexicans living in the United States, legally or illegally, are looked down by most middle class and high class Mexicans, since they feel they are creating a bad reputation for the rest of the Mexicans. Many terms that refer to Mexicans in USA exist, but chicano or pocho are the most popular. In central and southern Mexico, these terms are used as a derogatory description. The majority of Mexican men or families that pursue a life in the U.S. come from the lowest stratus of society in Mexico, and have created a culture unique to them. The celebration of cinco de mayo is an example of this. Mexicans do not regard this date as important and nothing special takes place that day in Mexico whereas the chicano population does and the day is celebrated as a holiday in areas of the United States that have large Mexican populations. Look up reputation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Chicano teenager in El Pasos second ward. ... Pocho is a slur used to describe an uncultured Mexican who is born and/or raised in the United States. ... A Stratus cloud is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide (these are termed Cumulus clouds). ... In predicate logic and technical fields that depend on it, uniqueness quantification, or unique existential quantification, is an attempt to formalise the notion of something being true for exactly one thing, or exactly one thing of a certain type. ... A typical Cinco de Mayo Baile folklórico celebration in Gardena, California. ... Chicano teenager in El Pasos second ward. ...

Two of the major television networks based in Mexico are Televisa and TV Azteca. Soap operas (telenovelas) are translated to many languages and seen all over the world with renown names like Verónica Castro, Lucía Méndez, Lucero, and Thalía. Even Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna from Y tu mamá también and current Zegna model act in some of them. Some of their TV shows are modeled after American counterparts like Family Feud (100 Mexicanos Dijeron or "A hundred Mexicans said" in Spanish), Big Brother, American Idol, Saturday Night Live and others. Nationwide news shows like Las Noticias por Adela on Televisa resemble a hybrid between Donahue and Nightline. Local news shows are modeled after American counterparts like the Eyewitness News and Action News formats. Televisa is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world[1], followed by TV Azteca, and a major player in the international entertainment business. ... TV Azteca is the second largest Mexican television network. ... For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Verónica Castro in the opening credits for Los ricos también lloran Verónica Castro (born October 19, 1952 in Mexico City) is a Mexican actress, singer and host. ... Lucía Leticia Méndez (born January 26, 1955) is a Mexican actress and singer. ... For the punk/country band named Lucero, see Lucero (band) Lucero (born Lucero Hogaza León on August 29, 1969 in Mexico City), is an actress and singer. ... Thalía (born Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda, August 26, 1971 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico) is a successful Latin Grammy-awarded Mexican singer and actress. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Diego Luna (born December 29, 1979 in Mexico City) is a Mexican actor. ... Y tu mamá también (literally And your mother, too, released in English-speaking markets under the original Spanish title) is a 2001 Mexican film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. ... Ermenegildo Zegna logo The high-fashion clothing company Ermenegildo Zegna (pronounced Zenya) was founded in 1910 in Trivero, Italy by tailor and entrepreneur Ermenegildo Zegna. ... Marco Antonio Regil hosting the show 100 Mexicanos Dijeron (A hundred Mexicans said in Spanish) is a Spanish-language version of the Goodson-Todman game show from the 1970s, Family Feud, produced in Mexico City by the Televisa Mexican television network. ... Big Brother is a reality television format. ... AMERICAN IDOL HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO DEATH OF SIMON ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 90 minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City that has been broadcast live by NBC on Saturday nights since October 11, 1975. ... Las Noticias por Adela is a nightly 90 minutes news show on the Televisa network from Mexico. ... The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, was the first tabloid talk show. ... Nightline is a late-night hard and soft news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. ... Eyewitness News is a local television newscast format, widely used in different markets across the United States. ... WPVI-TV Action News open, 2006. ...

Mexico's national sports are Charreria and Bullfighting. Ancient Mexicans played a ball game which still exists in Northwest Mexico (Sinaloa, the game is called Ulama), though it is not a popular sport any more. Most Mexicans enjoy watching bullfights. Almost all large cities have bullrings. Mexico city has the largest bullring in the world, which seats 55,000 people. But the favorite sport remains football (soccer) while baseball is also popular especially in the Gulf of Mexico and bordering states. Professional wrestling is shown on shows like Lucha Libre. American football is practiced at the major universities like UNAM. Charrería is the Mexican style of traditional Spanish horsemanship that developed in central and northern Mexico under the hacienda system. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Ulema, a community of legal scholars of Islam and the Sharia. ... Nickname: Motto: Ciudad en movimiento Location of Mexico City in central Mexico Coordinates: , Country Mexico Federal entity Federal District Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... One of the most well known Lucha Libre wrestlers (luchadores), Rey Mysterio. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... UNAM or UNaM may refers: The National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City The Universidad Nacional de Misiones in Posadas, Argentina Category: ...

Central America

Further information: Central America

Further information: Culture of Costa Rica, Culture of El Salvador, Culture of Guatemala, Culture of Honduras, Culture of Nicaragua, and Culture of Panama

For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... El Salvador is a Central American nation of 6. ... 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. ... A Piñata: One of the Honduran traditions to celebrate peoples birthdays. ... Nicaraguan culture has several distinct strands. ... Headline text Panamas culture comically seen There are many things seen in panama but this is one of my favorites. ...

The Caribbean

Further information: Caribbean

Further information: Culture of Cuba, Culture of the Dominican Republic, Culture of Haiti, and Culture of Puerto Rico

“West Indian” redirects here. ... The Culture of Cuba is a complex mixture of different, often contrasting, factors and influences. ... The Dominican people and their customs have origins in a unique mix of African, Taino and European roots. ... The Culture of Haiti encompasses a variety of Haitian traditions, from native Taino customs to practices imported during French colonisation and Spanish imperialism. ... La escuela del Maestro Cordero by Puerto Rican artist Francisco Oller. ...

The Andes

Further information: Andean states

Further information: Culture of Bolivia, Culture of Colombia, Culture of Ecuador, Culture of Peru, and Culture of Venezuela

The Andes Region comprises roughly much of what is now Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, and was the seat of the Inca Empire in pre-Columbian era. As such, many of the traditions can date back to Incan traditions. The Andean States are nations in South America that contain portions of—or border—the Andes mountain range. ... Bolivia is a country in South America located at the Andes mountains. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The majority of the Ecuadorian population is mestizo, a mixture of both European and Amerindian ancestry, and much like their ancestry, the national culture is also a blend of these two sources, along with influences from slaves from Africa. ... The Culture of Peru was shaped by the relationship between Hispanic and Amerindian cultures. ... The Venezuelan people have a very rich and very diverse cultural heritage. ... Capital Cusco 1197-1533 Vilcabamba 1533-1572 Language(s) Quechua, Aymara, Jaqi family, Mochic and scores of smaller languages. ...

During the independization of the Americas many countries including Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador formed what was known as Gran Colombia, a federal republic that later dissolved, however the people in these countries believe each other to be their brothers and sisters and as such share many traditions and festivals. Gran Colombia Capital Bogotá Language(s) Spanish Religion Roman Catholic Government Republic History  - Established December 17, 1819  - Disestablished November 19, 1831 Gran Colombia (Spanish for Great Colombia) is a name used today for the Republic of Colombia of the period 1819-1831. ...

Brazil

Main article: Culture of Brazil

Brazilian culture is a Latin American culture of a very diverse nature. ...

The Southern Cone

Further information: Southern Cone

Further information: Culture of Argentina, Culture of Chile, Culture of Paraguay, and Culture of Uruguay

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The culture of Argentina is as varied as the countrys geography or its ethnic mix. ... Culture of Chile. ... We dont have an article called Culture of Paraguay Start this article Search for Culture of Paraguay in. ... The culture of Uruguay is rich, reflecting the amalgam between people of European, African and Indigenous origins dating back to the 16th century. ...

See also

• Culture of South America
• Hispanic culture
• Culture by region
• Arts by region