Venezuela is a country with an important number of traditions, which vary depending on the region. In this article, we tell you which are the most important customs and we inform you of when and where they are celebrated. Some of them may be rare for other cultures.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Childish games
In Venezuela we find numerous traditional games for children. One of them is the greasy stick, on which a pole about five meters high is greased. Participants have to climb to get the prize that is at the top.
All the meters o you prick They are small balls of clay or colored glass with which you compete in different ways. One of them consists of trying to introduce the meters in holes.
Another exercise is the Rhodes. The boys and girls shake hands and form a circle. They dance and sing typical songs, like Milk pudding or the sea viper.
On the other hand, there are various gadgets with which the little ones are entertained. One of them is the whirligig, formed by a ball or head that must be inserted into the base. Both parts are connected by a rope.
It is also typical gurruff, which can be done manually with a sheet of tin, wood or plastic. This part is crossed with a string, with which you try to make it rotate. It is around 400 years old.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas is a very important time in Venezuela. You cannot miss the mangers, representations with figures of the birth of Jesus, and the little tree, as the Christmas tree is known. The most outstanding musical styles are the Christmas bonuses and the parrandas.
Likewise, in each State they have different traditions. On the first Sunday of December, in Aragua and Carabobo, the Dance of the Shepherds of the Child Jesus. A mass and procession is carried out in which dances and music are not lacking.
As of December 24, in Tachira, Mérida and Trujillo the Child's Paradura. A parade in which a large figure of the Child Jesus in a silk scarf parades. In some towns they hide the figure for three days, an act known as Robbery and Child Search.
December 28 is the Day of the Innocent Saints, which in Mérida, Trujillo and Portuguesa translates into the Festival of the Crazy and Locainas. In this, people disguise themselves by reversing roles (women into men, children into the elderly...). In Lara, Zaragoza, a procession takes place.
On December 31, New Year's Eve is celebrated. For this, in Táchira and Mérida they burn a doll called Old year. It is also typical to eat twelve grapes and go out with suitcases to attract good luck.
The Wise Men They arrive on January 6. For this reason, during the night before, the children leave their shoes at the door, as they hope that the Kings will leave their gifts here.
Eating and culinary habits
If we start with the most typical dishes of Venezuelan gastronomy, we find bread with ham. It is made at Christmas or December holidays. It consists of a sweet dough stuffed with ham, bacon, green olives and raisins. Another Christmas food is the hallaca. It is made with corn dough and banana leaves.
Since the XNUMXth century, the Creole flag. Its main ingredients are white rice, shredded meat, beans or black beans, and fried plantain.
The staple food is the arepa, which comes from the indigenous people. It is used as an accompaniment to most of the meals. It is a dough made from cooked and ground corn.
Regarding eating habits, the majority of citizens carry out three meals up to date. A large amount of meat is consumed, especially beef, charcuterie and chicken. Milk and coffee are two basic drinks in everyday life.
indigenous culture
At present, more than 30 aboriginal ethnic groups continue to inhabit Venezuela. One of them is the waraos, which live in the Orinoco Delta. Its main resource is the moriche, a plant used for food, housing, decoration and clothing.
They have two types of housing. The stilt houses, which are built on wooden platforms on the banks of the river, and the morichalera ranches, which are inside the jungle.
The wayuu They are located in the northwest of Venezuela, in addition to Colombia, in an area known as the Guajira Peninsula. In this tribe, when girls are about to enter adulthood, they are locked in a room isolated from their family and are prepared for their new role as women.
The Yukpa, like the Wayuu, are located in the Zulia region. His ancestors emigrated from the Amazon. This ethnic group is made up of isolated settlements. Their main food is corn.
If you want to know more about the aboriginal tribes of Latin America, we recommend you read this article: Ethnic groups of South America and their characteristics.
marriage and family
In Venezuela, most weddings are celebrated by the Church, although there is also the possibility of marrying civilly. Following the ceremony, a reception is held.
Al feast A large number of guests usually attend and abundant food is served. Traditionally, the couple opens the dance with a waltz. Then attendees join them.
Within the family, both parents, and even the children, work outside the home. Women also tend to take care of the home and children, sometimes becoming overloaded with responsibilities.
naval world
An important part of the territory communicates with the sea and, therefore, we find diverse naval traditions. For example, when a ship crosses the Equator, the part of the crew that has passed it for the first time is baptized.
If a Navy Officer gets married, a toast is made with a drink known as Bomb, since it is a mixture of different alcoholic beverages. In addition, a corridor is made with crossed sabers, which symbolizes honor and respect.
An important piece of the boats is the Bell, since in ancient times it was used to mark the changing of the guard, the end of the working day and the rest hours of the sailors.
Religion
The predominant religion is Catholicism and is part of the life of Venezuelans. An important date is Lent, which lasts for forty days. It has been celebrated since the XNUMXth century and is a preparation for the eastern.
On the Sunday before this date, the procession of the palm trees of Chacao. It consists of climbing the Ávila mountain to collect the palms that will be used on Palm Sunday.
On Holy Wednesday, the Nazarene is celebrated, in which the inhabitants dress in purple and go in procession to the church. On Good Friday, the tour passes through seven different churches.
In some states such as Vargas, Guárico, Miranda and Cojedes, the festival of that Dancing Devils of Yare, which is a World Heritage Site. The participants dress up as devils and walk the streets. It is a representation of the victory of good over evil.
in ancient times
There are some traditions from the past that have already been lost. For example, in the Colonial Venezuela and feudal, the upper classes organized gatherings in which they listened to music and danced.
People also met at the end of the day in the patio of a house, where they drank mate, a type of infusion. The men's was prepared bitter, while the women's was sweet.
We also find influences from other countries. In the XNUMXth century there was that of French culture. It is in the XNUMXth century, at the time of the rise of the oil, when they transcend American activities such as baseball or the movies. In addition, on these dates, the agricultural tradition decreases, since coffee is no longer the main export product.
Carnival
Carnival takes place between the months of February and March. The activities that are organized around it are also known as Shrovetide. The typical musical style of these dates is calypso, although salsa and zamba are also heard.
It is a very important festival for the inhabitants of the country and is lived with great passion. Some of the states in which it has a great impact are El Callao, Anzoategui or Sucre.
In Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, it has been celebrated since 1871. The last act is the Burial of the Sardine. In this one, before, a pork rib was buried, which symbolized the prohibition of eating meat during Lent.
In other areas such as Carúpano, parades full of floats and troupes cannot be missed. The costumes are usually colorful and cheerful. You can also see the typical costumes of Venezuela.
society and culture
The society of this territory is a mixture of indigenous, African and Spanish cultures. Therefore, the customs are very diverse. When greeting, a handshake or a kiss on the cheek is given. It is also impolite to point out.
As for the country's folklore, dances are abundant. One of them is the joropo. This dance comes from the XNUMXth century and has influences from the Spanish fandango, which is why it is mestizo. The figures of the joropo are the waltz, broom and shoe.
Another representation of the area is the burriquita. In it, a man disguises himself as a woman and places a structure that resembles a donkey. The performer dances and imitates the sound of the animal.
Venezuelan culture has had such an impact that dolls called Barbie Venezuelan Traditions y Barbie Ranger, which refers to the Los Llanos Region.
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