Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Culture

Due to the blending of different cultures that took place in Nicaragua resulted in the birth of a creative, varied, happy, and humorous culture. Even if in a vast part of Nicaragua you will find Spanish influences, there are parts that have British influences, but also parts of Nicaragua that have remained faithful to their own culture.

Because the western half of the country was colonized by Spain, the people living there were influenced by the Spanish culture, resulting a similar culture to other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Spanish is their first language and they practice Catholicism.

On the other hand, the eastern half of the country was a British protectorate. Therefore, in this part of the country you will find some British influences on the Nicaraguan culture. Most people from these regions still speak English as a first language and the Protestant religion is favored over Catholicism.

However, in the eastern half of the country, you will find a small group, which has remained ethnically distinct from the rest of the country. This group managed to maintain many of their tribal customs and languages. Among these are the Sumos and Ramas people.

Art

Almost all of the art in Nicaragua is found in the form of handicrafts and trades. However, the country has little developed the fine arts and graphics side of human expression, choosing instead to continue to create decorative pieces with a practical value. Today, many of these attractive handicrafts can be found in the form of leatherwork, ceramics and woven garments.

Another important thing you should know about the Nicaraguan art is that there are many native artisans tend to work in clusters where their wares can receive a wide audience and they have a better chance of selling. One of the most famous artisan markets in Nicaragua is the Masaya Market located in the extreme northern reaches of Nicaragua’s mountains.

This mountain village has been populated for more than 3000 years and the village itself is quite interesting to see. The chief craft in Masaya is premium quality hammocks, though there are many other handcrafted goods available for sale here.

While Nicaragua is not generally known for its crafts and art, you can be certain that you will enjoy a wealth of such goods. Many of its goods are exported to other Central American countries because the standards of such goods are excellent. So whether you are looking for a dress, hammock, some leather goods or some ceramics, make sure that you check out the markets and crafters guilds of Nicaragua. You can be sure that you will find some real treasures made with love and passion.

Music and dances

As well as the Nicaraguan culture, the music and dances are a product of the heritage and the mixture of different cultures from indigenous tribes, European conquerors, and African slaves.

The music and dances were born in the different regions of the country. Even though each region has its own traditions, all Nicaraguans consider themselves to share one cultural identity. This is why dances from the Caribbean are danced in the Pacific, and northern dances are just as well performed in the south.

Architecture

Architecture is also incredibly diverse. You will find pondering of the plight of rural citizens living in shacks in various rural areas only to find yourself enjoy the opulence of a high-class, colonial-style hotel only hours later. Almost all of the existing architecture was influenced by the countries history and built largely in one or two architectural styles.

Because Nicaragua was a Spanish colony, you will find many Spanish influence carved on the face of many of Nicaragua’s cities. Even though earthquakes have brought buildings to the ground and civil unrest has resulted in some architectural changes, it is this colonial-style, which still dominates Nicaragua’s architecture in a grand and alluring way. The cities of Granada and Leon are known for their Spanish-Colonial architectural heritage and this is often a featured attraction on tours.

On the other hand, because many of the people in more rural areas are poor, they tend to live in small, crudely made homes with only the most basic facilities. Nevertheless, another facet of architecture in Nicaragua is the striking more modern architecture that is slowly starting to grow in certain cities.

These modern buildings are usually reserved for younger cities or cities which lost much of their heritage to a natural disaster of some sort. Cities with a strong architectural legacy tend to try and maintain a theme when planning the construction of new buildings. While colonial cities enjoy cobbled streets and iron railed walkways, modern cities are lavishly decorated with picturesque palms trees and large grassy areas.

Literature

Poetry has played a massive role in the culture and Nicaraguan literature. Actually, large portions of revolutionary leaders were also writers who had published works, including Tom Borge, the Head of State Security, and the President Daniel Ortega.