Chile+Culture

toc Chilean Culture



Music:
Chilean music, particularly folk music, has had international acclaim since the 1960s, when Violeta Parra and her children Angel and Isabel made their names as politically committed singers and songwriters. During the 1970's and later as exiles, folk groups like Quilapayún and Inti Illimani regularly toured Europe and North America before returning to Violeta Parra.

Festivals:
The most important festival in the Norte Grande region takes place in the small town of La Tirana. Each year, from the 12th through the 18th of July, some 40.000 believers arrive to celebrate the Virgin of Carmel, Chile's patron saint. Activities include songs and dances that seem to go on 24 hours a day for the whole week of ceremonies.

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Santiago: Bicentennial celebrations of the independence

Dance:
The cueca is the national dance. It originates from peasant folklore and some sources believe that it emerged as a symbol of the newborn republic in rebellion against the Spanish crown. The steps represent the cock stalking the hen, the amorous courting of a couple, or the cornering of a filly by a huaso (Chilean cowboy), which he is trying to lasso. Man and woman dance to the classic rhythm, twirling their kerchiefs in the air.

Traditions:
Today, when modernization has become the cornerstone of the Chilean economy, some traditional customs still endure, particularly in the countryside. One of them, the trilla a yegua, involves using horses to help separate wheat from the chaff. In another, the rodeo, huasos on horseback rope and bring down calves in a crescent-shaped barricade, la medialuna. The island of Chiloé, meanwhile, is Chile's land of myths, and tradition.

People:
Chile's population of 14 million is relatively young. Nearly half the population is under 25 years of age and 72 percent is under 40. Women have an average of 2.4 children. Despite the country's length, most of the population is concentrated in the southern and central regions - Santiago alone accounting for 5.5 million. Chile as a whole has practically eliminated illiteracy, and the average school attendance level has doubled in the last two decades. In June 1996, President Eduardo Frei mandated an increase of classroom hours to benefit students and bring new vigor to the educational enterprise, or at least that is the hope.

Population:

 * 16,284,741

 Age structure:

 * 0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,010,576/female 1,920,951)
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">15-64 years: 67.4% (male 5,480,703/female 5,492,988)
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">65 years and over: 8.5% (male 576,698/female 802,825)

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Median age:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">total: 30.7 years
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">male: 29.8 years
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">female: 31.7 years

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Population growth rate:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">0.916%

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Birth rate:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">15.03 births/1,000 population

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Death rate:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">5.87 deaths/1,000 population

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Life expectancy:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">total population: 76.96 years
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">male: 73.69 years
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">female: 80.4 years

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Ethnic groups:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Religions:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Most Chileans are Roman Catholics.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Religion has played a large role in defining social and political life.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Religious instruction in public schools is almost exclusively Roman Catholic.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Abortion is illegal due to the influence of the Church.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Divorce was illegal until 2004.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Most national holidays are religious in nature.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Chileans of more mature generations still celebrate their saint's day as much as they do their own birthday

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Language:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Spanish

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Literacy:

 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">definition: age 15 and over can read and write
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">total population: 95.7%
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">male: 95.8%
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">female: 95.6%

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Meeting & Greeting
<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Men will usually shake hands. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Women generally pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· These are always accompanied by the appropriate greeting for the time of day - "buenos dias" (good morning), "buenas tardes" (good afternoon) or "buenas noches"(good evening). <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Between friends and family things will relax and become more unreserved - men may embrace and energetically pat each other on the back while women will kiss once on the right cheek. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Always let your Chilean counterpart progress to this stage of formality. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Like many South Americans, Chileans use both their maternal and paternal surnames. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· If you know of any titles always try to use them. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· If no title exists then simply use "Senor" (male) or "Senora" (female) followed by the surname. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· When addressing older people with whom you have a personal relationship, who may be referred to as "don" (male) or "dona" (female) with <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">their first name. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· First names are used between close friends - wait until invited to move to a first name basis.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Gift Giving Etiquette
<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">· Gifts are usually given for birthdays and Christmas. Some general etiquette guidelines include:
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">If invited to a Chilean's home, take sweets/chocolates or wine for the hostess.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Send flowers in advance.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Do not give yellow roses as they indicate contempt.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Do not give purple or black flowers as they symbolize death.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Do not give scissors or knives as they indicate you want to sever the relationship.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">For a young girl's 15th birthday, a gift of gold jewelry is the norm.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Gifts are opened when received.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Dining Etiquette
<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. Dining etiquette can be quite formal in Chile. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. As a general rule, observe and follow if ever unsure. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. Here are some basic dining etiquette guidelines: <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - When sitting wait to be shown to your place. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Women sit before men. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - The hostess invites people to eat. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Keep your hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Always use utensils to eat. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Avoid speaking with eating utensils in your hands. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - It is considered polite to finish everything on your plate. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - The host makes the first toast. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - The most common toast is "Salud!" <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted. <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Pour wine with the right hand only.

<span style="background-color: #0000ff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Chile's Annual Holidays:
<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">January 1: New Year's Day <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">March or April: Easter and Holy Week <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">May 1: Labor Day or Day of the Worker <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">May 21: Navy Day <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">June 29: Saint Peter and Saint Paul <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">July 16: Fiesta de la Virgin del Carmen: <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">August 15: Assumption of Mary <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">September 18: Independence Day
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Chile welcomes in the New Year with the rest of the world.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Traditional Christian holidays celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, includes Good Friday and the Saturday following
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Celebrate economic and social contributions of workers.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Commemorates the great naval battle of Iquique and other naval victories
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Catholic feast celebrating these saints
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Feast celebrated by Catholics
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Catholic holiday remembering Mary's passage to heaven

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">September 19: Armed Forces Day <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">October 12: Columbus Day (Day of the Race) <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">October 31: Reformation Day <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">November 1: All Saints Day <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">December 8: Immaculate Conception <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">mid-December: Public Holiday (Presidential Elections <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">December 25: Christmas Day
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Chile officially proclaimed independence from Spain on February 12, 1818.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Nevertheless, Chileans celebrate their independence Sept. 18th with Fiestas.
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Honors the military and their past victories
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Remembers day Columbus arrived in the Americas
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Day of the Evangelical & Protestant Churches
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Catholic holiday celebrating all saints and martyrs
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Catholic holiday remembering the virgin Mary
 * <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">During presidential election years, a public holiday is declared for voting to take place.

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