Cultural Scrapbook--ChileAlyssa Olsen

Population Facts

16.75 million people Growing at nearly .9% a year 89% lives in urban areas About 1 of 3 Chileans live in the Santiago

metropolitan area

Ethnic Makeup

Ethnic Makeup

Around 95% have either European heritage or mixed European-indigenous descent

Many groups came from Middle Easter immigrants

Numerous Chileans have ancestry from Spain, Italy, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Croatia, France Germany or Switzerland

Language--Castellano

Language

Castellano is the official language Chileans commonly add suffix –ito to words

and names to show affection English is taught in numerous schools in Chile Some in southern Chile speak German and

Mapuche

Religion

Religion

87% profess a Christian faith About 70% belongs to the Roman Catholic

Church Others are in protestant groups There’s also a small Jewish minority Church and state are separate Religious freedom is guaranteed

Greetings--Abrazo

Greetings

They stress that one is welcomed and recognized

Abrazo is the most common among friends & relatives

It is a handshake & hug with a kiss to the right cheek for women and family

Eye contact is essential when greeting

Patriotic

Interpersonal Relationships

They’re naturally friendly & warm, though they can be shy when first meeting someone

They have a sharp, witty [and a little cynical] sense of humor

Chileans are patriotic Large middle class Encourage education They believe in progress

Holidays—New Year’s

Holidays New Year’s Day Easter Labor Day (May

1) Naval Battle of

Iquique (May 21 Independence

Day (Sept. 18)

All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1)

Christmas (in summer)

Dia de la Raza (Oct. 12

Armed Forces Day (Sept. 19)

Holidays—Eat Empanadas

Holiday (cont.)

Independence Day they eat empanadas, drink chicha and dance the cueca at parks

Christmas Day they barbecue the day before and open their gifts at midnight

Chileans consider Ney Year’s the most important time for family gatherings

Rights of Passage

Rights of Passage

Begin dating around 16 Group dates happen often Men marry at about 22 & Women marry

between 18 & 23 Often date from 1-3 years before getting

engaged Important to finish education before marriage Divorce legal in 2004

Food—sopapillas & pisco

Food

Many national dishes include fish, seafood, chicken, beef, beans, eggs, and corn

Favorites: empanadas de horno, pastel de choclo, cazuela de ave, ensalada chilena, and seafood casseroles & stews. (described on last page)

Children love eating sopapillas Manjar is a favorite bread spread & baking

ingredient Chile’s well known for it’s wines Pisco is the national drink

Clothing

Clothing

Fashions are like European styles & are sophisticated in urban area

American fashions are popular, mostly among the teens

Many employees wear uniforms (stylish suit or dress)

Even if they’re not wealthy they’re neatly dressed

Sports & Recreation

Sports & Recreation

Fútbol is a very popular sport with basketball getting more popular

They also enjoy swimming, playing at parks & watching movies at home

During summer they’ll take vacations to the coast or countryside

Chileans enjoy fishing, surfing, barbecuing, rodeos & more

Hausos guide their horses to trap a steer against the wall

Food--Described

Empanadas de horno—meat turnovers with beef, hard-boiled eggs, onions, olives & raisins

Pastel de choclo—Baked meal of beef, chicken, onions, corn, eggs & spices

Cazuela de ave—Chicken soup Ensalada chilena—cold tomato & onion salad Sopaipillas—made from deep-fried pumpkin dough

sprinkled with sugar Manjar—made by boiling an unopened can of sweetened

condensed milk for hours Pisco—Grape Brandy