Cultural Aspects Of Guatemalan Culture

When I came to the United States I was twelve years old. I did not know anything about this country or the culture, it was like I was starting my life over again. I needed to adapt, learn and adjust myself to this new culture, and I knew it was not going to be easy because it was completely different from my own culture. Because I came at a young age I think I was able to adapt to the culture very fast, but at the same time I was overwhelmed with all the information and things that I needed to learn. There were a lot of differences between Guatemala and the United States culture, one of the most significant cultural difference was language. I came here without knowing any english, but I knew that I had to made the effort to learn it as fast

When I went to Guatemala the culture there was very colorful. I realized the people there don’t speak english. Their first language was spanish. Which was fine to me, since I know how to speak spanish. My

Whenever traveling to different countries they notice every culture is different from their own. Every country has different cultures but many times there can be similarities, For example, if you travel to both Honduras and Dominican Republic you notice a lot of differences from the way they dress to the food they eat. They both have great cultures and they are different cultures but they can be similar at times. Firstly, the food they eat are similar foods like both of their dishes consist of beans, rice

Guatemala is often recognized in three stages, Mayan Empire, Spanish rule and last but not least the Modern Republic. Every single one of the stages have had a great influence on the food in Guatemala. The ancient civilization of the Mayan lasted for over six – hundred years before it collapsed in 900 A.D. Usually Spanish dishes like tamales, enchiladas, Guacamole, and tortillas consist of the Guatemalan diet. Guatemala doesn’t have a national dish but there are many dishes that have become more of an everyday dish. Over many years tourism, exports of textiles nontraditional agriculture, such as vegetables that don’t produce very well in the winter time and cut flowers have been greatly purchased, and apparel to continue to represent the exports market. Approximately 13.4% of the children age 7 to 14 are working 68% work in agricultural based things, 13% in the industrial based things, and 18% involved in the services

Guatemala is a small country in central America, bordered by Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, and Mexico. Guatemala is best known for their indigenous Mayan culture and excavated ruins of the Mayan empire, nature, and their world class coffee. If you visit Guatemala, you’ll see that it is unique in many ways.

     Guatemala’s culture is a unique product of Native American ways and a strong Spanish colonial heritage. About half of Guatemala’s population is mestizo (known in Guatemala as ladino), people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. Ladino culture is dominant in urban areas, and is heavily influenced by European and North American trends. Unlike many Latin American countries, Guatemala still has a large indigenous population, the Maya, which has retained a distinct identity. Deeply rooted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, many indigenous people speak a Mayan language, follow traditional religious and village customs, and continue a rich tradition in textiles and other crafts. The two cultures

Guatemala has more people than any other Central American country, with an estimated population of 11,980,000 it is home to many different cultures. The population can be divided into two groups; Indians and people of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry. But in Guatemala, being called an Indian or a non-Indian does not depend entirely on a person 's ancestry. It is basically a matter of how people live and of how they categorize themselves. For example, a Guatemalan is considered an Indian if he or she speaks an Indian language, wears Indian clothing, and lives in a community where the people follow the Indian ways of life. The Indians think of themselves more as part of their community than of their country. They pay little attention to

Guatemala is divided into 22 departments. Guatemala 's capital is the largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, and is known as Guatemala City. Guatemala City, locally known as Guatemala or Guate, is the capital and largest city of Republic of Guatemala, and the most popular in Centro America. The city is located in the south–central part of the country. Pedro Alvarado was the Spanish man who conquered what is now Guatemala by defeating the native Mayan people and making it a Spanish colony. Guatemala joins the United Provinces of Central America. In the territory of modern Guatemala was formed the core of the Mayan civilization, in which was extended across Mesoamerica. Guatemala was conquered by the Spanish Pedro de Alvarado in the 16th century, and becoming a part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala was conquered independence in 1821 as part of the Federal Republic of Central America.

The author of this book is Juan Jose Arevalo and he was a professor of philosophy who became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president in 1944. He was elected after a popular uprising against the United States, backed by Dictator Jorge Ubico, which began the Guatemalan Revolution. He stayed in office until 1951 and had survived 15 coup attempts. During his presidency he had passed several social reform policies that included an increase in minimum wage and a series of literacy programs. He also directed and ministered the drafting of a new constitution in 1945. Arevalo focused much on the need of advancement with individuals and communities. After he was exiled as being a university professor he went back to Guatemala to help the new post-Ubico government, focusing on the areas of social security and drafting of a new constitution. He developed the term “spiritual socialism”, in which he defined his political philosophy as. The philosophy was pointed towards the moral development of Guatemalans with the intent to liberate man psychologically. Arevalo strongly believed that this theoretical doctrine was vital to the making of a progressive and peaceful Guatemalan society. He felt in order to create an ideal society it was necessary to allow the citizens the freedom to pursue their own opinions, property, and way of life. He proclaimed that protecting the freewill of the citizens creates more support for governmental institutions, which in turn ensures the security of

Not everyone has experienced traveling to another country, but many people dated another individual from another country before. From a life experience, dating someone from Guatemala is a big experience for me because dating that person I was able to determine how Guatemala culture is just by the way he carries himself. This experience is very interesting because I was able to gain knowledge on how Guatemalans do things and it was like learning something new that I never knew about. However, it is very difficult because we both really don’t understand each other’s language. This is why it is important to understand the major concepts of ethnocentrism because people won’t always be around things that they are more familiar with.

Once they arrived at Mexico the place was way different from Guatemala, it was extremely bright, away hot and there was sand everywhere. In Mexico, the music was different the music then Guatemala. Rosa

The climate is much different in Guatemala. While they have a dry season and it will not rain from October till at least a couple months after February, we have a lot of our rain during these months. In my city we all have electricity and our houses are all wired with a surplus of sockets and individual switches; while in Cesar’s village the countryside is just recently receiving electricity, and their homes only have two sockets and one switch that turns them on and off at the same time. Our Easter celebrations are similar, we both decorate eggs and dress up; but while they dance and set off firecrackers; we have scavenger hunts, go to church, and have a fancy dinner. We both have similar goals to improve our city and to succeed in school.

The Mayan religion was characterized by the worship of nature gods. Main practices in the Maya included astronomy, divination, human sacrifice, elaborate burial for royalty and worshipping in stone pyramid temples (http://www.religionfacts.com/big_religion_chart.htm). Much of what is believed relating to the beliefs and practices of the Maya result from what archaeologists have uncovered and studied along with historians. In a book written by a Franciscan Priest named Diego de Landa, he described in some detail the

The Mayans had a amazing government. The Mayan rulers were thought to have been god like. All of the Mayan rulers were from the same family. The most famous Mayan ruler was Janaab Pakal ,and he lived from 603 until 683. He became king at the age of 12. They could also have a woman ruler if the king was at war or ill. The Mayans had three groups in their society the elite, middle class, and the lower class.

The Popol Vuh is a collection of historical mythos of the K’iche’ Maya, a group that still lives in the Guatemalan highlands. Popol Vuh translates as either, “Book of Council” or in proper K’iche’ “Book of Events” or “Book of the People”, and tells the creation mythos of the K’iche’ peoples, an epic tale of Hero Twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, along with a series of genealogies.