1. Culture in Middle/South America
Honors World Geography

2. Mexico Culture Primary language: Spanish
Major Religion: Roman Catholic
Imp. Holidays: Christmas, Lent, Easter
Other holidays include:
Day of the Dead (1)
Quinceanera (2)
Cinco de Mayo (3)

3. Mexico Culture continued
Day of the Dead (1)
Day of honoring dead loved ones & accepting death
In rural areas, families clean relatives’ graves and place candles, flowers, and the favorite foods of the deceased on the gravesite
In cities, people celebrate in the street and eat breads and candies in the shapes of skulls and skeletons
Quinceanera (2)
Girl’s 15th birthday
Marks end of her childhood
May date back from Aztec tradition to stress a young woman’s role in society

7. Mexico Culture continued
Cinco de Mayo (3)
National holiday that remembers the Mexican victory over French troops in 1862
Became a symbol of the Mexican struggle to end European control in Mexico
Celebrated more in the U.S. to emphasize Mexican heritage
Sometimes misrepresented as Mexican Independence Day

8. Mexican Culture Continued
Food
Tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, and chalupas
Most popular sport is soccer
Bullfighting is the national sport of Mexico

9. Caribbean Culture Background
Official language of Caribbean country depends on what European country colonized it
Spanish: Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
French: Haiti
Main religion in Caribbean:
most Spanish/French speaking countries are Roman Catholic
English/Dutch speaking countries: Protestant
Many people in the Caribbean are mulattoes
Mulattoes: people of African & European descent

10. Haiti Creole is spoken throughout the Caribbean
Creole: blend of European, African and Caribbean language
Strongly influenced by African traditions
Voodoo
Haitian version of traditional African beliefs that are blended w/ elements of Christianity
Followers believe good/evil spirits play a role in daily life

11. Jamaica Background Strongly influenced by African traditions
Much of population descendants of slaves
English is the official language
Last colonized by Great Britain
Majority Religion: Christianity

12. Jamaica Rastafarianism
Important religious and cultural movement in Jamaica since the 1950s
Popular in underprivileged communities
They believe that they are being tested by Jah through slavery, the existence of economic injustice & racial “downpression”

13. Jamaica Rastafarianism continued
Rastafarians believe in principles of a balanced lifestyle
Long hair locked in its natural, uncombed state (Dreadlocks)
Dressed in the colors of red, green, gold, and black
symbolize the life force of blood, herbs, royalty, and being African
Natural vegetarian diet
All-night drumming ceremonies
Start of Reggae

16. Jamaica Reggae Originated in 1960’s
Became popular in United States in 1970’s
Consists of drum, bass guitar, and electric guitar
Became extremely popular by Bob Marley
Still used in music today

22. South American Culture
Most countries speak Spanish
Brazil speaks Portuguese
Most of cities are located on the coast near seaports
Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro

23. South America Culture Continued
Religion: most are Roman Catholic
Hindu temples and Islamic mosques located in areas with South Asian and Indonesian immigrants
Origins of the samba & tango

25. South American Culture
Gauchos- Argentinean cowboys
Popular in literature and culture
much of population meat eaters