25 TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF VENEZUELA - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The traditions and customs of Venezuela are closely linked to the practice of the Catholic religion, both festivities and other customs. Among them are the vassals of La Candelaria, the monkey dance, Holy Week, the Christmas bonus masses, the Margarita entertainment, among others that I will explain below.

Traditions define, in part, the culture of a country or a population where everyone can participate in their common expression and feeling. In the same way that it happens in other South American countries like Colombia.

Each region of the country has countless traditions that have endured over time. Some of the most important Venezuelan traditions and customs are described below.

List of the most widespread Venezuelan traditions

1- Stop of the child Jesus

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The term "Paradura" refers to the standing image of the baby Jesus in the manger. This tradition of the Venezuelan Andes consists of several parts:

In the first place, the “godparents” of the child are designated who are in charge of carrying the image in procession, animated with songs of parrandas or prayers in the so-called Paseo or Serenada del Niño. When the image is returned in procession to the manger, the participants kiss the child.

Once this is done, the Paradura itself takes place, culminating the celebration with songs, prayers, toasts and the recitation of the rosary.

A variant of the tradition is to carry out The Search for the Child, in which the theft of the image is “organized”, which is taken to a neighboring house while a procession made up of children is in charge of asking questions of each family. Meanwhile the Wakes of the Lost Child are sung until it is finally found and placed in its place.

2- Shepherds of the child Jesus

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In Venezuela it is very common to make "promises" to God in exchange for receiving a special favor. The dance of the Shepherds of the child Jesus is one of the customs that serve as a means to “pay promises”. Besides being an activity that ratifies the identity of the regions where it is carried out.

It is a tradition with greater roots in the towns of San Joaquín, Los Teques and El Limón, in the center of the country, and is made up of several phases.

The first occurs when the group of shepherds, dressed in colorful costumes, walk towards the church at the end of the rooster mass and receive the message from the Angel Gabriel (who is represented by a girl) announcing the birth of Jesus.

In response, the shepherds greet the Child and start the choreography with The Dance of the Shepherds or the Deliver in which they give their offerings on their knees and say verses related to their promises. At the end, the Cachero (leader of the group) hands over the horns of his suit that indicate his rank.

3- Dancing devils of Yare

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The Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament of the dancing devils of Yare is one of the most emblematic cultural organizations in Venezuela. It was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2012.

Originated in San Francisco de Yare in 1749, it is a representation of the struggle between good and evil and takes place on the day of the Catholic celebration of Corpus Christi.

A group of adults, young people and children, who are fixed members of the brotherhood, dressed in entirely red costumes and devil masks provided with horns in different numbers (which indicates the hierarchy of the one who wears them), dance backwards as a symbol of penance.

The act ends with the triumph of good, represented by God in the Eucharist, over evil, represented by the devils who fall down.

4- Devils of Chuao

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The devils of Chuao, like the devils of Yare and the other 9 Cofradías (perhaps more) that exist in the country, practice the same ritual mentioned above, but with some variations.

For example, instead of red the devils of Yare wear multicolored clothes. The masks are black with white and red silhouettes and carry a ribbon with the colors of the Venezuelan flag between the horns.

Also, hierarchies are represented by the length of the mask's mustache or beard. This brotherhood, which has more than 300 years of history, is one of the cultural and tourist attractions of the town of Chuao, located on the central coast of the country.

5- Carnival of El Callao

Recently inscribed on the list of traditions that are Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the Callao Carnival is one of the most far-reaching manifestations in Venezuela.

Great and colorful parades of thousands of people dressed in costumes that can vary according to the imagination take place in the streets of the Guyanese town, where the famous calypso, a typical musical genre of the region, is heard.

Some of the costumes are constant characters in each presentation, such as the madamas who guide the parade, the mediocretos, the miners and the devils.

6- The zaragozas

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It is an original tradition of the town of Sanare, in the Lara State. It is based on the cult of the innocent saints, the child martyrs who were killed by Herod in his attempt to get rid of the newborn messiah, the baby Jesus.

The celebration begins with the rite called El Rompimiento, which consists of praying the salve in front of a painting that represents the scene of the massacre.

They then go through the streets (accompanied by music) near the church where the mass will be celebrated. At the end, a group of children from the area who have been the object of some miracle) are given by their parents to the group so that they offer a dance in front of the altar.

A new route takes place to the church of Santa Ana to begin a second mass and again the dance for the children.

7- La Burriquita

La Burriquita is a well-known dance troupe that has spread throughout the country. In it, a woman dresses in a costume whose lower part pretends to be a donkey, while dancing to the musical accompaniment.

It is one of the most popular diversions in Venezuela and is observed during the carnivals or festivals of each region.

8- Vassals of Candelaria

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It is celebrated in the parish, in the state of Mérida, between February 2 and 3 in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria.

It begins with the blessing of the Candelaria fire during the mass, followed by the procession through the town with the Virgin to return again to the church.

Before the image placed on its altar and from the door, the vassals sing songs dedicated to the Virgin and dance a choreography inspired by the work of the peasant.

The next day, the Vassals take the image to the area of its appearance called zumba, in the middle of a procession with music. Upon arrival at the site, an exclusive mass for the Vassals takes place.

After dancing a second time, they return to the parish and in the house of the captain of the Vassals the Dance of the Stick is performed. Finally, it begins with El Entierro del Gallo, a traditional game.

9- The monkey dance

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This festival takes place in the town of Caicara de Maturín, in eastern Venezuela. It is celebrated on December 28 and it is a collective dance, in which all the people who wish participate wearing different costumes.

They go through the town under the guidance of the Monkey and The Mayordoma, who are in charge of disciplining the choreography by hitting the dancers who get out of line with a strap or a kind of machete.

10- Holy Week: Procession of the Nazarene of San Pablo

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A great epidemic of bubonic plague that struck the city of Caracas in 1579 gave rise to this procession, which was devised as a way of asking God for the cessation of the spread of the disease.

During the tour of the image the Nazarene became entangled with a lemon tree, causing several of its fruits to fall. Interpreting this as a divine sign, the assistants gave the sick to drink the juice, receiving the miracle of healing.

Since then, massive processions accompany the Nazarene to the Basilica of Santa Teresa. Many worshipers pay their promises for favors granted showing deep popular devotion that spreads across the country.

Even this miracle was a source of inspiration for the Venezuelan poet Andrés Eloy Blanco, who in his work “El Limonero del Señor” expresses:

"…

11- Visit the 7 Temples

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This Catholic tradition runs from the night of Holy Thursday until the early hours of Friday. 7 churches or temples are visited, which symbolize the 7 places where Jesus was before being crucified, according to the biblical Scriptures.

It is customary to visit in groups organized by parishes, although it can also be done in a private way. In some cities there are defined routes for the faithful to go to the temples closest to each other. It is conceived as a time dedicated to prayer and penance.

12- The burning of Judas

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This custom of Resurrection Sunday is mistakenly associated with Catholicism but is rather an expression of popular justice.

Dolls are usually created (in any town in the country) that represent some character, generally from the political sphere, who is considered a "traitor", who is chosen from among the neighbors according to each era and region. The doll is teased and later burned in a public place.

13- Procession of the Divina Pastora

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Millions of people from all regions of the country are transferred to the Lara state on January 14 to participate in the 3rd ^to largest the world, which runs 7.5 km from the Church of Santa Rosa procession to the Cathedral.

It is said that the image of the Virgin of the Divine Shepherd was commissioned to an artist and would be destined for the church of the state capital, Barquisimeto. For its part, an image of the Immaculate Conception would be sent to the church of Santa Rosa.

However, the artist mistakenly exchanged places and when the priest of Santa Rosa realized it and tried to return it, the image became very heavy and could not be lifted. This fact was taken as a sign that the Virgin should stay there.

14- Christmas bonuses and posadas

Venezuela, along with the Philippines and the Canary Islands are the only places where it is allowed (with permission from the Vatican) to celebrate 9 Masses on each of the days before Christmas, which symbolize the 9 months of pregnancy of the Virgin Mary.

They are normally celebrated in the early hours of the morning and within it songs inspired by the upcoming birth of the Child God -aguinaldos- are sung accompanied by typical instruments of the parranda such as cuatro, maracas, drum, furruco, among others.

After the mass, in some towns the tradition of carrying the images of Saint Joseph and the Virgin in procession to a previously designated neighboring house is preserved.

Upon arrival, verses are sung that describe a dialogue between Saint Joseph and the owner of the house, asking for a lodging for "his beloved wife." When the landlord accepts, the musical group enlivens the sharing between neighbors and foreign visitors of various snacks.

15- Velorio de Cruz de Mayo

It is celebrated on May 3 in many regions of Venezuela. A cross adorned with multicolored flowers (artificial or natural) is the center of attention of this party. In it religious acts are combined with rituals to ask for the success of the crops during the year.

It consists of presenting prayers and songs of praise before the cross, which is placed on an altar. One of the verses that are sung is this:

16- Margariteñas entertainment

These are various pantomimes or typical dances of the Eastern Coast, inspired by fishing. They combine songs that speak about the fisherman's tasks with particular dances and costumes. Among them are: El Carite, El Róbalo, El Sebucán and La Lancha a Nueva Esparta.

17- The Tamunangue

It originated in colonial times and belongs to the traditions of the Lara state. It is associated with the festival of San Antonio de Padua and consists of a series of dances (7 in total) performed during the procession of San Antonio.

Accompanied by music made with percussion instruments, particular pieces of the celebration are sung. It begins with the recitation of Salve and La Batalla, a famous choreography that represents a fight between two men, each with a club. The colorful clothing and the participation of men and women stand out.

18- Drums of San Juan

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It is celebrated on June 24, the day of San Juan Bautista, in the states of the central coast of Venezuela (Aragua, Miranda, Vargas, Carabobo).

It begins on the night of the 23rd with the so-called Velorio, a party with drums and liquor. The next day a mass is celebrated in honor of the saint whose end is marked by the beat of drums and the procession through the place begins, while San Juan receives gifts and thanks from the people.

The image is generally small and is carried along to the beat of the music. At the end of the festival, it is customary to "bathe" the saint in a nearby river.

19- The tures

The dance of the turas is a custom of the Falcón and Lara states. It has indigenous origins and consists of a rite that served as the beginning and end of the sowing season, to ask for good harvests and later to thank for the favors granted.

It is characterized by being a dance in which several people embraced form a circle that resembles a snake. There are also hierarchies such as the Foreman, Butler and Queen.

20- The San Pedro

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This tradition was proclaimed Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on December 5, 2013.

It is typical of the Miranda state and the capital district. It follows the celebration of San Juan on the day of San Pedro Apóstol (June 29).

It is an offering of the devotees of the saint in which their own verses are sung for the party and it is made up of choreographies and various characters. Among those, La María Ignacia stands out, a man dressed as a woman with a doll in her arms, alluding to a legend to whom Saint Peter granted the miracle of saving his daughter.

The dance is performed by a group of dancers made up of adult men and children, who are called “tucusos”.

21- Men's and women's soccer

Bernardo Londoy from Baruta, Venezuela / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

Like other South American countries, in Venezuela there is a true passion for soccer despite not being the national sport (baseball) nor the one that has generated the most sporting successes in the nation.

It was introduced by some Englishmen settled in El Callao around 1876 and its expansion covers a corner of the country.

It should be noted that the vinotinto, the national women's section, has as much support for the nation as the men's team.

22- Humor, family and gastronomy

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They are possibly one of the happiest peoples on the planet. They enjoy family and, whatever the situation, they love to joke about anything.

Possibly the best plan that can be proposed to a Venezuelan is to celebrate a barbecue (and arepas, always present) or birthdays with family and close friends with good music and the best recipes from mothers and grandmothers.

Perhaps a phenomenon that can explain this point is the well-known rice farmers. This is how you know that person who, despite not having been invited to a party, can introduce himself without fear of being rejected. The saying "the friend of my friend is my friend" is deeply rooted in this close and loving town.

23- The coffee

Like neighboring Colombia, in Venezuela coffee consumption is one of the most deeply rooted customs among the people.

Being an early riser town, a cup of strong coffee is served very early. Throughout the day they can take more doses either as a social event or to stay active at work.

It is not strange either that in informal meetings, the conversation lasts until late, coffee being the fuel that brightens the night.

24- Time is relative

Never trust phrases like "I'm there in five minutes." Venezuelans have a conception of time and punctuality that is at the antipodes of countries like the United Kingdom.

Being a very close town, they tend to take a long time in conversations, farewells or at their workplace, so stipulating the delay they may have in arriving or finishing something is very difficult.

25- Getaways to the coast or to the mountains