2.  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

4.  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

6.  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

8.  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

10.  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

12.  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

14.  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)

16.  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

18.  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

20.  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

22.  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

24.  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

25.  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