Post by Dominicanese on Dec 5, 2017 22:37:06 GMT
Honduras.
Culture:
The wealth of cultural expression in Honduras owes its origins primarily to being a part of Latin America but also to the multi-ethnic nature of the country. The population comprises European, Amerindian, and African ancestry. This influences all facets of the culture: customs, practices, ways of dressing, religion, rituals, codes of behavior and belief systems.
Cuisine:
Honduras features different cooking styles from one region to another. This fact is the result of the influences each region has gathered. Also, the ingredients determine this diversity. The western and the central regions of the country have a cuisine based on corn, while people from the Eastern Honduras put a greater accent on the rice and the cassava root. Also, the Eastern part of the country, which comprises the coastal region, too, uses the seafood more frequently.
Each ingredient requires being prepared in a certain way. For example, fish is broiled with lemon juice and garlic. In most cases, the Chicken and Pork are fried. The dishes that are based on beans may also include coconut milk or garlic. The rice is prepared with vegetables and spices. For instance, some of the rice dishes may contain carrots or peas. Hondurans, however, make use of the same preparation techniques that are used by most of the world. Therefore, the cooking methods include, but do not resume to: frying, roasting, boiling, salting, seasoning, baking, drying and grinding. As mentioned before, each recipe implies the use of one or more of these cooking techniques.
Although Honduras does not have a very modern cuisine, people use the basic cooking utensils that are used in many other countries. Some dishes may be prepared in adobe ovens, instead of being cooked in modern ovens. The lack of very complex cooking equipment is another proof of the poverty of this country. Besides the classical forks, knives, teaspoons, tablespoons, scoops, pans, trays, pots, graters and portioners, a typical Honduran cuisine may also feature utensil trays that are made of mahogany. Most Honduran dishes don’t require you to purchase any special tools. However, having a coffee grinder helps with roasting and grinding spices and maximizes their volatile oils, which, in turn, provides your food with more flavor.
Most of the Honduran events are related to their religion. The majority of the population is Catholic and the days of the saints present a great importance for people of Honduras. All the communities from the cities and villages organize feast to celebrate the patron saints. One of the towns, La Ceiba, features the most important Carnival of Honduras. Although these events may not focus on food, there are certain dishes that are prepared on these occasions.
Also, the Christmas is a very important holiday for the Hondurans. Tamales are usually prepared at that time and most frequently, a variety that is named nacatamales. These are made from banana leaves filled with meat and rice. Chilate is another traditional dish that is prepared during Christmas or the Holy Week. As a common dessert, Torrejas are served warm at the end of the Christmas meal. Torrejas are very similar to a french toast simmered in sugar cane juice and spices: cinnamon, cloves and all spice.
Other famous festival in Honduras is Typical Gastronomical Festival, which is held in June in El Paraiso. On this occasion, the culture of the city is promoted. People can enjoy the traditional music, dances, but most important, the traditional food of Honduras, which is the main goal of this event.
Music:
The music of Honduras is very varied. Punta is the main "ritmo" of Honduras, with other sounds such as Caribbean salsa, merengue, reggae, and reggaeton all widely heard especially in the North, to Mexican rancheras heard in the interior rural part of the country. Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa is an important center for modern Honduran music, and is home to the College for Fine Arts.
Folk music is played with guitar, marimba and other instruments. Popular folk songs include La ceiba and Candú.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 80% Mestizo
* 10% Amerindian
* 8% Black
* 2% White
People:
The majority of the Honduran population is mestizo (a mixture of white and Amerindian), many others are tri racial. The Amerindian population consists of seven indigenous groups recognized by the Confederation of Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH) and the government of Honduras, among them they recognize the Afro-Caribbean and Garífuna groups which are not Amerindian. The seven indigenous groups are: the Ch'orti', a Mayan group living in the northwest on the border with Guatemala; the Garifuna speaking a Carib language., they live along the entire Caribbean coastline of Honduras, and in the Bay Islands; the Pech or Paya Indians living in a small area in the Olancho department; the Tolupan (also called Jicaque, "Xicaque", or Tol), living in the Department of Yoro and in the reserve of the Montaña de la Flor and parts of the department of Yoro; the Lenca Indians living in the western highlands of Intibuca, Lempira, La Paz, Valle and Choluteca departments; and the Miskito Indians living on the northeast coast in the Gracias A Dios department and along the border with Nicaragua.
Approximately 8%, up to 650,000 or more, of Honduras's population is black, or Afro-Honduran, and mainly reside on the country's Caribbean or Atlantic coast. The black population comes from a number of sources. Most are the descendants of the West Indian islands brought to Honduras as slaves and indentured servants. Another large group are the Garífuna, descendants of an Afro-Carib population which revolted against British authorities on the island of St. Vincent and were forcibly moved to Belize and Honduras during the 18th century. Garífunas are part of Honduran identity through theatrical presentations such as Louvavagu.
Languages:
Spanish is the official language of Honduras. In addition to Spanish a number of indigenous languages are spoken in Honduras, as well as Honduran sign language and Bay Islands Creole English or Island English. The roots of the English dialect spoken in the Bay Islands stems from Southern Ireland and British English with some influences from West African languages.
There are a number of Amerindian languages still spoken in the country such as Garifuna, Miskito, Mayangna, Paya, Tol, and Mayan. The Lenca isolate lost all its fluent native speakers in the 20th century but is currently undergoing revival efforts among the members of the ethnic population of about 100,000. The largest immigrant languages are Arabic (42,000), Armenian (1,300), Turkish (900), Yue Chinese (1,000).
Honduran Spanish, spoken by everyone stems from Castillian, Extremaduran, and Andaluzian Spanish with some influences from Indigenous languages.
Religion:
The pre-Hispanic peoples that lived in actual Honduras were primarily polytheistic Maya and other native groups. In the 16th century, Christianity was introduced by the Spanish Empire.
Economy:
The economy of Honduras is based mostly on agriculture, which accounts for 14% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013. Leading export coffee ($340 million) accounted for 22% of total Honduran export revenues. Bananas, formerly the country's second-largest export until being virtually wiped out by 1998's Hurricane Mitch, recovered in 2000 to 57% of pre-Mitch levels. Cultivated shrimp is another important export sector. Since the late 1970s, towns in the north began industrial production through maquiladoras, especially in San Pedro Sula and Puerto Cortés. About 66% of Hondurans suffer from poverty.
Sports:
The major sports in Honduras are football (Soccer), basketball, rugby, volleyball and cycling, with smaller followings for athletics, softball and handball.
Videos:
Culture:
The wealth of cultural expression in Honduras owes its origins primarily to being a part of Latin America but also to the multi-ethnic nature of the country. The population comprises European, Amerindian, and African ancestry. This influences all facets of the culture: customs, practices, ways of dressing, religion, rituals, codes of behavior and belief systems.
Cuisine:
Honduras features different cooking styles from one region to another. This fact is the result of the influences each region has gathered. Also, the ingredients determine this diversity. The western and the central regions of the country have a cuisine based on corn, while people from the Eastern Honduras put a greater accent on the rice and the cassava root. Also, the Eastern part of the country, which comprises the coastal region, too, uses the seafood more frequently.
Each ingredient requires being prepared in a certain way. For example, fish is broiled with lemon juice and garlic. In most cases, the Chicken and Pork are fried. The dishes that are based on beans may also include coconut milk or garlic. The rice is prepared with vegetables and spices. For instance, some of the rice dishes may contain carrots or peas. Hondurans, however, make use of the same preparation techniques that are used by most of the world. Therefore, the cooking methods include, but do not resume to: frying, roasting, boiling, salting, seasoning, baking, drying and grinding. As mentioned before, each recipe implies the use of one or more of these cooking techniques.
Although Honduras does not have a very modern cuisine, people use the basic cooking utensils that are used in many other countries. Some dishes may be prepared in adobe ovens, instead of being cooked in modern ovens. The lack of very complex cooking equipment is another proof of the poverty of this country. Besides the classical forks, knives, teaspoons, tablespoons, scoops, pans, trays, pots, graters and portioners, a typical Honduran cuisine may also feature utensil trays that are made of mahogany. Most Honduran dishes don’t require you to purchase any special tools. However, having a coffee grinder helps with roasting and grinding spices and maximizes their volatile oils, which, in turn, provides your food with more flavor.
Most of the Honduran events are related to their religion. The majority of the population is Catholic and the days of the saints present a great importance for people of Honduras. All the communities from the cities and villages organize feast to celebrate the patron saints. One of the towns, La Ceiba, features the most important Carnival of Honduras. Although these events may not focus on food, there are certain dishes that are prepared on these occasions.
Also, the Christmas is a very important holiday for the Hondurans. Tamales are usually prepared at that time and most frequently, a variety that is named nacatamales. These are made from banana leaves filled with meat and rice. Chilate is another traditional dish that is prepared during Christmas or the Holy Week. As a common dessert, Torrejas are served warm at the end of the Christmas meal. Torrejas are very similar to a french toast simmered in sugar cane juice and spices: cinnamon, cloves and all spice.
Other famous festival in Honduras is Typical Gastronomical Festival, which is held in June in El Paraiso. On this occasion, the culture of the city is promoted. People can enjoy the traditional music, dances, but most important, the traditional food of Honduras, which is the main goal of this event.
Music:
The music of Honduras is very varied. Punta is the main "ritmo" of Honduras, with other sounds such as Caribbean salsa, merengue, reggae, and reggaeton all widely heard especially in the North, to Mexican rancheras heard in the interior rural part of the country. Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa is an important center for modern Honduran music, and is home to the College for Fine Arts.
Folk music is played with guitar, marimba and other instruments. Popular folk songs include La ceiba and Candú.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 80% Mestizo
* 10% Amerindian
* 8% Black
* 2% White
People:
The majority of the Honduran population is mestizo (a mixture of white and Amerindian), many others are tri racial. The Amerindian population consists of seven indigenous groups recognized by the Confederation of Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH) and the government of Honduras, among them they recognize the Afro-Caribbean and Garífuna groups which are not Amerindian. The seven indigenous groups are: the Ch'orti', a Mayan group living in the northwest on the border with Guatemala; the Garifuna speaking a Carib language., they live along the entire Caribbean coastline of Honduras, and in the Bay Islands; the Pech or Paya Indians living in a small area in the Olancho department; the Tolupan (also called Jicaque, "Xicaque", or Tol), living in the Department of Yoro and in the reserve of the Montaña de la Flor and parts of the department of Yoro; the Lenca Indians living in the western highlands of Intibuca, Lempira, La Paz, Valle and Choluteca departments; and the Miskito Indians living on the northeast coast in the Gracias A Dios department and along the border with Nicaragua.
Approximately 8%, up to 650,000 or more, of Honduras's population is black, or Afro-Honduran, and mainly reside on the country's Caribbean or Atlantic coast. The black population comes from a number of sources. Most are the descendants of the West Indian islands brought to Honduras as slaves and indentured servants. Another large group are the Garífuna, descendants of an Afro-Carib population which revolted against British authorities on the island of St. Vincent and were forcibly moved to Belize and Honduras during the 18th century. Garífunas are part of Honduran identity through theatrical presentations such as Louvavagu.
Languages:
Spanish is the official language of Honduras. In addition to Spanish a number of indigenous languages are spoken in Honduras, as well as Honduran sign language and Bay Islands Creole English or Island English. The roots of the English dialect spoken in the Bay Islands stems from Southern Ireland and British English with some influences from West African languages.
There are a number of Amerindian languages still spoken in the country such as Garifuna, Miskito, Mayangna, Paya, Tol, and Mayan. The Lenca isolate lost all its fluent native speakers in the 20th century but is currently undergoing revival efforts among the members of the ethnic population of about 100,000. The largest immigrant languages are Arabic (42,000), Armenian (1,300), Turkish (900), Yue Chinese (1,000).
Honduran Spanish, spoken by everyone stems from Castillian, Extremaduran, and Andaluzian Spanish with some influences from Indigenous languages.
Religion:
The pre-Hispanic peoples that lived in actual Honduras were primarily polytheistic Maya and other native groups. In the 16th century, Christianity was introduced by the Spanish Empire.
Economy:
The economy of Honduras is based mostly on agriculture, which accounts for 14% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013. Leading export coffee ($340 million) accounted for 22% of total Honduran export revenues. Bananas, formerly the country's second-largest export until being virtually wiped out by 1998's Hurricane Mitch, recovered in 2000 to 57% of pre-Mitch levels. Cultivated shrimp is another important export sector. Since the late 1970s, towns in the north began industrial production through maquiladoras, especially in San Pedro Sula and Puerto Cortés. About 66% of Hondurans suffer from poverty.
Sports:
The major sports in Honduras are football (Soccer), basketball, rugby, volleyball and cycling, with smaller followings for athletics, softball and handball.
Videos:
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