Culture of Nicaragua
Culture of Nicaragua is a fusion of
The northern region, however, was inhabited mostly by German migrants, and to a lesser extent Russian and Dutch. The inhabitants of the northern part are mostly white and in to a lesser extent mestizos (Indigenous, European).
Culture and language
Music and religious icons find their roots in
Recent immigration by Spanish speakers has largely influenced younger generations, and an increasing number of people are either bilingual at home or speak Spanish only. In eastern Nicaragua there is a relatively large population of people of mixed African descent, as well as a smaller
Due to the African influence in the East Coast, there exists a different kind of music. It is the popular dance music called 'Palo de Mayo', or Maypole, which is celebrated during the Maypole Festival, during the month of May. The music is sensual with intense rhythms. The celebration is derived from the British Maypole for May Day celebration, as adapted and transformed by the Afro-Nicaraguans on the Caribbean or Mosquito Coast.
Of the many cultures that were present before European
Language
Language | Speakers |
---|---|
Arabic | 400 |
Chinese | 7,000 |
English | 20,334 |
Garífuna | 1,500 |
Miskito | 154,400 |
Sign language | 3,000 |
Spanish | 4,347,000 |
Sumo | 6,700 |
Rama | 24 |
Creole English | 30,000 |
Spanish, or Nicañol as
In addition, many
Spanish
Central American Spanish is spoken by about 90% of the country's population. In Nicaragua, the voseo form of Spanish is dominant in both speech and publications. The first nation to formally adopt the voseo dialect, Nicaragua is one two Central American nations (Costa Rica is the other) that use voseo Spanish as its written and spoken form of the language. The usage is also seen in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and coastal Colombia.
In the Caribbean coast, many Afro-Nicaraguans and creoles speak English and creole English as their first language, but they speak a very fluent Spanish as a second language. The languages in the North and South Atlantic Regions are influenced by English, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and French. Many of the indigenous people on the Caribbean coast speak native languages such as the Miskito, Sumo, Rama and Garifuna language.[4] In addition, many ethnic groups in Nicaragua have maintained their ancestral languages, while also speaking Spanish or English; these include Chinese, Arabic, Italian, and German.[5]
Spanish is taught as the principal language. English is taught to students during their high school years and tends to be the national second language. Other languages, particularly Romance languages, can be found sporadically.
Phonetics and phonology
Some characteristics of Nicaraguan phonology include:
- /s/ at the end of a syllable or before a consonant is pronounced like [h].
- /j/ (/x/) is aspirated; it is soft like the /h/ in English (e.g.: Yahoo).
- There is no confusion between /l/ and /r/, as in the Caribbean.
- /s/, /z/ and in some cases /c/ (as in cerrar) are pronounced as [s]
Religion
Religious affiliation in Nicaragua | |
Religion | Percentage |
---|---|
Roman Catholic
|
58.5% |
Evangelical | 21.6% |
Moravian | 1.6% |
Jehovah's Witnesses | 0.9% |
None | 15.7% |
Other1 | 1.6% |
1 Includes Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and traditional religion among other religions. | |
Source: 2005 Nicaraguan Census[6] |
Religion is a significant part of the culture of Nicaragua and forms part of the constitution. Religious freedom, which has been guaranteed since 1939, and religious tolerance is promoted by both the Nicaraguan government and the constitution. Bishops are expected to lend their authority to important state occasions, and their pronouncements on national issues are closely followed. They can also be called upon to mediate between contending parties at moments of political crisis.[7]
Although Nicaragua has no official religion it is nominally
Roman Catholicism came to Nicaragua in the sixteenth century with the Spanish conquest and remained until 1939 the established faith. Protestantism and other
Most localities, from the capital of
Music
Modern Nicaraguan music is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish, influences. Musical instruments include the marimba and others common across Central America.
Marimba of Nicaragua is uniquely played by a sitting performer holding the instrument on his knees. He is usually accompanied by a bass fiddle, guitar and Guallatiri (a small guitar like a mandolin). This music is played at social functions as a sort of background music. The marimba is made with hardwood plates, placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths. It is played with two or four hammers.
The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is known for a lively, sensual form of
Education
Education is free for all Nicaraguans.[8] Elementary education is free and compulsory, however, many children in rural areas are unable to attend due to lack of schools and other reasons. Communities located on the Caribbean coast have access to education in their native languages. The majority of higher education institutions are located in Managua, higher education has financial, organic and administrative autonomy, according to the law. Also, freedom of subjects is recognized.[9]
Nicaragua's higher education consists of 48 universities and 113 colleges and technical institutes which serve student in the areas of
When the
Literature
Other literary figures include Ernesto Cardenal, Gioconda Belli, Claribel Alegría and José Coronel Urtecho, Alfredo Alegría Rosales, Carlos Martínez Rivas, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Manolo Cuadra, Pablo Alberto Cuadra Arguello, Sergio Ramírez among others.
El Güegüense
El Güegüense is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of the pre-Columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater.[18] El Güegüense is performed during the feast of San Sebastián in Diriamba (Carazo Department) from January 17 to the 27th.
The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere.[19] It was passed down orally for many centuries until it was finally written down and published into a book in 1942.[20]
El Güegüense represents folklore of Nicaragua, therefore,
Legends
Nicaraguans legends are similar to those found in other Latin American countries. Some popular legends include:
- La Mocuana -- The Nicaraguan folkloric legend of La Mocuana is believed to be based on genuine history and it is thought that La Mocuana was a living Indian princess. Her father was hospitable to the Spanish conquerors at first but then ordered them to leave. Soon the Spanish forces returned to take over the village and take their gold. The chief of the village had hidden the treasure and his daughter, La Mocuana, was the only other individual who knew its whereabouts. During a battle between the two groups the tribe gained victory. Some time later the son of one of the Spanish soldiers came to live near the village and soon fell in love with La Mocuana. She too fell in love with him and they planned to run away together. She gave him her father’s treasure so that they could have something for their lives together. The Spaniard preferred to keep the gold for himself and sealed La Mocuana in a cave, running away with the treasure. La Mocuana escaped through the back of the cave. The heartbroken princess began to wander the woods and was driven mad by the thoughts of betrayal and feelings of guilt. Country people say that her sad figure can be seen on dark nights. She is also said to lure drunkards and philanderers to her cave where they disappear.[23]
- El Cadejo – There is a good white cadejo and an evil black cadejo. Both are spirits that appear at night to travellers. The white cadejo to protect them from harm during their journey, and the black cadejo (sometimes an incarnation of the devil) to kill them. The cadejos usually appear in the form of a large, cow-sized shaggy dog with burning red eyes and a goat's hooves, although in some areas they have more bull-like characteristics. According to the stories, those who have attempted to kill the black cadejo have failed and perished.
- La Cegua – Also called Cihuanaba, Cegua is probably a romanization of the nahuatl "Cihua" which means woman. La Cegua is a witch who resides in the woods. She takes on several facades. At times she appears in a white corn leaf dress with a veil covering her face. It is said that she has long black hair covering over her face. She is also said to wear a Guarumo Tree leaf dress and her voice is made rasping and hollow by plantain leaves covering her teeth. Others say that her face is ghostly and that her eyes stare into her victim's souls. Still another version says that she is believed to have the face of a horse. Nicaraguans also say that she walks through the woods and back roads naked, waiting for her next victim. Men are drawn to her fantastical silhouette. The words she speaks to these men are so horrific that the victim goes insane instantaneously – something from which they never recover. La Cegua is believed to have super-human abilities and is able to walk through solid objects, gravitate above ground and fly at extreme speeds in her efforts to lure men into her trap. To save yourself from such an encounter you should carry mustard seeds and throw them before her. She apparently will stop to try and pick up the magical seeds. As with other myths in Nicaraguan folklore, the tale of La Cegua is believed to ensure that men come straight home after work.[24]
- La Llorona – Sometimes called the Woman in White or the Weeping Woman is the ghost of a woman crying for her dead children. Her appearances are sometimes held to presage death.
- La Novia de Tola ("The bride from Tola") – Apocryphal legend of a maiden who went insane after her fiancé stood her up at the altar. In current usage, to say that someone was "left like the bride from Tola" is a uniquely Nicaraguan idiom meaning that someone was stood up or left "holding the bag". The city of Rivas, Nicaragua erected a statue in the town square to honor the legendary bride.[25]
- La Carreta Nagua – An old Nicaraguan folk tale about a haunted cart that is driven by Death and pulled by two skeletal oxen. It could supposedly be heard at night because of the sound of chains it made being dragged along the streets. If the "Carreta Nagua" stops at one's home, surely a resident is to die. The old tale is believed to have been established by the indigenous people of Nicaragua, who would be kidnapped by the Spaniards, chained onto ox-driven carts and taken to work the mines. There they would die and not be seen again until their corpses were driven on those same carts to be disposed of. Such carts became a symbol of death and when heard approaching, the indigenous people would flee into the woods.[citation needed]
- La Taconuda – The legend of a woman whose fiancé stood her up at the altar. People say that her ghost walks around the city of heels.[citation needed]
See also
- Museums of Nicaragua
- Public holidays in Nicaragua
- Miss Nicaragua
- Nicaraguan cuisine
General:
- Latin American culture
- Hispanic culture
References
- ^ "Reconstructing the population history of Nicaragua by means of mtDNA, Y-chromosome STRs, and autosomal STR markers".
- ^ "Nicaragua".
- ^ "Languages of Nicaragua". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ a b "Languages of Nicaragua". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ "Colegio Aleman Nicaraguense".
- ^ "2005 Nicaraguan Census" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics and Census of Nicaragua (INEC) (in Spanish). pp. 42–43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
- ^ a b c Dennis, Gilbert. "Nicaragua: Religion". Country Studies. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
- ^ Liu, Dan (2006-12-06). "Nicaragua's new gov't to enforce free education". CHINA VIEW. Archived from the original on 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ "Nicaragua Education". Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ "Human Capital: Educationand Training". ProNicaragua. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- ^ "Central American Countries of the Future 2005/2006". 2005-08-01. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- ^ Gilbert, Dennis. "Nicaragua: Education". Country Studies. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ^ Hanemann, Ulrike. "Nicaragua's Literacy Campaign". UNESCO. Archived from the original (DOC) on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ^ "Historical Background of Nicaragua". Stanford University. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ "Nicaragua Pre-election Delegation Report". Global Exchange. Archived from the original on 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ B. Arrien, Juan. "Literacy in Nicaragua" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- ^ "Showcasing Nicaragua's Folkloric Masterpiece – El Gueguense – and Other Performing and Visual Arts". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "Nicaragua facts, information, pictures – Encyclopedia.com articles about Nicaragua". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Event Calendar – National Museum of the American Indian". si.edu. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "El Güegüense". www.vianica.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "List of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity". unesco.org. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "List of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity". unesco.org. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Folklore in Nicaragua". Nicaragua.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ "Folklore in Nicaragua – By Nicaragua Channel". www.nicaragua.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ Sánchez Ricarte, Noelia (2007-03-14). "Tola con brújula para el turismo" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
External links
- Nicaraguan Culture (in Spanish and English)
- 400 elefantes Nicaraguan Literature (in Spanish)
- Marcaacme Art, Literature & Cultural Events (in Spanish)
- Arte Nicaragüense
- Nicaragua Online Art, history, politics, & more...