Guatemala

Guatemala is the epitome of the syncretism between indigenous and Spanish communities. Indigenous Mayan languages and beliefs constitute a massive part of Guatemalan culture. This culture exudes into colorful clothing, costumes, masks, festivals and musical performances. Guatemala has very noticeable class distinctions, noticeable between rural residents of Mayan descent and mestizos in urban areas, and the government assumes lots of the people’s rightful power. There is a great sense of collectivism in Guatemala, so loyalty and commitment are the two chief virtues. As a result, society is not so cutthroat. Family is very important, and children look to their parents for guidance. Families often gather in large groups. Women often marry very young and have many children. Many births are performed at home because the medical system and infrastructure are still developing. While the illiteracy rate in Guatemala has declined, there is still a sizable portion of the population that can’t read. In education, the country aims to foster a national identity and bring better resources to rural areas. Overall, however, enrollment has declined in recent years. Separately, there is a growing protestant population in Guatemala, a trend not observed in many other Latin American countries. In Catholicism, Guatemalans revere San Simón, a syncretic figure with modern symbols depicted in all black. During religious festivals, Guatemalans create long-spanning rugs along the streets and fly kites to honor their religion. Guatemala’s economy is seeing quick growth and is reliant upon crops like coffee, sugar, and bananas. The textile industry is also prevalent, with many women hand-crafting different articles. Still, half of the citizenry live below the poverty line and women make way less money than men. Work usually includes hard manual labor, and deadlines are mostly fluid because dignity consumes all aspects of the workforce. Still, timeliness to meetings is important and small talk is very prevalent. Politically, there is a history of social unrest in response to government exploitation. Historically, the government also colludes with private enterprises for their economic benefit. Healthcare in Guatemala is mostly inadequate and indigenous communities often resort to traditional methods of care. Guatemala’s national instrument is the marimba, and it plays a big role in the country’s musical scene. Corn, turned into tortillas, is a staple crop in Guatemala. Pepian, Tamales and Churrasco are popular dishes central to the nation’s identity.