1. Cultures and Lifestyles of Latin America
Ch. 9 Sec. 3

2. Religion Christianity: most dominant
Brought to Latin America through Europeans in colonial era
Traditional Native and African religions mixed w/ Christianity
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism : W. Indies, coastal S. America
Brought by Asian immigrants
Judaism: followers in largest Latin American cities

3. Religion Most Christians are Roman Catholic
Was the official religion in Spanish colonies & Brazil during colonial times, converted natives
Clergy were part of politics
Movements for land reform, education & healthcare improvements
Opposed dictatorships
Pope Benedict XVI

4. Religion Protestantism came with British and Dutch settlers in 1800s
Protestantism = NOT Catholicism (think “Protest”….because it originally did)
Did not grow until late 1900s
Ppl liked it b/c laypeople had a major role, emphasized personal religious experience
Laypeople = people who were members of church but not of the clergy

5. Religion Mixing of religions has occurred since colonial era.
Syncretism- blending of beliefs and practices from diff. religions into 1 faith
Santería in Cuba and Voodoo in Haiti and D.R.
Belief in West African deities + Roman Catholic devotion to the saints
Descended from African slaves

7. The Arts Blending of European and Native Am culture
Lots of weaving, pottery, metalwork, murals, mosaics
Murals: wall paintings
Mosaics: pictures/designs made by setting small bits of colored stone, tile, shell into mortar
Guatemala: Mayan symbols + Incan weaving
Paintings had Christian themes (inspired by European works)

8. Mayan glyphs
Incan textiles

9. The Arts Present-day artists focus on social and political subjects
Diego Rivera (muralist) painted events in Mexico’s history
Music mixes European, African, and Native styles (salsa, samba, mariachi)
Architects, dancers & writers = recognition

10. Everyday Life
4 important values: social status, family life, personal honor, & individual freedom

11. Families Strong sense of loyalty to family
Often live with extended family
Includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins in addition to parents & children
Godparents also play important role in family life (sponsor new baby)
Machismo- Spanish & Portuguese tradition of male supremacy
Women are advancing though (yeaaaa!!)
Make important financial and family decisions, more attend university, elected as national legislators, country leaders
Panama (1999): woman president (Miyera Elisa Moscoso)

12. Education Quality of education varies
Many do not complete elementary school
Reasons: Long distances to go to school, lack of $, family obligations (jobs, family farms)
Gains have been made though in literacy and university enrollment
Some provide education at little to no cost to student
Role of internet literacy in Chile & Mexico

13. Healthcare As education rises, awareness rises
Improve sanitation & nutrition
Malnutrition: condition marked by lack of proper food
But still varies country to country (Chile is high, Haiti is low)

14. Sports & Leisure Biggest sport is fútbol (soccer)
National sport in many places
Baseball, volleyball popular in W. Indies
Jai alai in Cuba & Mexico

15. Sports & Leisure Celebrations are most popular activity
Carnival is best-known festival
A week before Lent begins
Lent = 40-day period of fasting & prayer before Easter (Roman Catholic)
Rio de Janeiro throws largest Carnival
Other popular activities: TV, radio, movies, concerts & plays