LADINO CULTURE OF GUATEMALA: CHARACTERISTICS AND CURIOSITIES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Ladino culture of Guatemala is one of the ethnic groups of the country. It arose as a result of colonization after the discovery of America. People who are mestizo are called “ladino”, the result of the union between Spaniards, aborigines and Africans. Also included in the group of "ladinos" are people who do not have aboriginal blood.

In Guatemala there is no single culture, but there are several. Among these are the aboriginal, composed of the descendants of the first settlers of Guatemala, the Mayans; the Garífunas, who are an ethnic group originating in the Caribbean islands, made up of the descendants of Africans and aborigines; and the Ladinos.

Map of Guatemala where ethnic groups such as the Ladino culture are found.

The name "Ladinos" comes from the Latin Latinu, which meant "Moor who speaks Latin." Later, the term began to be used in America during the colonial era to refer to the Spanish-speaking population.

This population belonged neither to the peninsular social class (Spaniards born in Europe) nor to that of the Creoles (children of two Spaniards, but who were born in American territory) nor to that of the aborigines.

Ladinos make up just over half the population. Most of the Ladinos live in the cities of Guatemala; a small part of the population lives in rural areas, alongside the aborigines.

According to the Ministry of Education of this country, the Ladino population is characterized by expressing themselves in Spanish as their mother tongue, by representing a mixture of Spanish and indigenous cultural elements and by dressing according to Western criteria. It also shows the influence of foreign cultures in other ways.

Characteristics of the Ladino culture

Ladino culture is the most "western" of the cultures of Guatemala. Image retrieved from prezi.com.

Members

The term ladino refers, in the first instance, to Guatemalans who do not have aboriginal blood and to mestizos, which are the result of the interaction between Spaniards, indigenous people and Africans during the colonial era.

Notably, the term can also refer to members of Aboriginal communities who live under Western social conventions or who reject their indigenous roots.

Behavior of the Ladinos

Ladinos are usually cheerful, lively, and boisterous people, common characteristics in most Latin American cultures. They are kind people with high acceptance towards foreigners.

However, not all the characteristics of Ladino attitudes are positive. This culture tends to be macho and is often governed by stereotypes, such as "men should be aggressive and women, housewives."

ID

The culture in Guatemala is so divided that, within the country, the inhabitants do not think of themselves as "Guatemalans", but rather identify with the ethnic group to which they belong. Just as the aborigines of Guatemala identify with their own dialect, the ladinos call themselves “ladinos”.

However, when they travel abroad they do recognize themselves as “Guatemalans” or as “chapines” (singular: chapín), a term used by foreigners to refer to a person who comes from Guatemala.

Language

The official language of Guatemala is Spanish. This is a characteristic feature of all Ladinos. Some Ladinos, who were born or lived in areas close to indigenous communities, know how to speak some aboriginal dialect; however, being bilingual is not a characteristic among members of this culture.

Religion

Guatemala's constitution guarantees freedom of worship and religion. Approximately 60% of the Ladino population is Catholic. This is due to the inclusion of Catholicism through the missions during the colonial period.

It should be noted that since the 20th century, Protestant religions have acquired some importance, 20% or 30% of the Ladino population belongs to one of these.

Parties

Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala.

Religious holidays attract a large group of people. During Holy Week, festivals and processions are held throughout the country; however, most Guatemalans prefer to attend the services of the baroque cathedral located in Antigua Guatemala.

During Easter, the ingredient that stands out is cod, which can be prepared in different ways. August 15 is the day of the Patron Saint of Guatemala, the Virgin Mary, so they celebrate the Assumption with festivals and feasts.

On the other hand, on September 15, the Independence Day of Guatemala is celebrated, which was reached in 1821. During this day, it is celebrated throughout the country with fireworks, dances, parades, soccer matches and rooster fights..

During All Saints 'and All Souls' Day, which are celebrated on November 1 and 2, respectively, families gather in cemeteries to honor deceased family members and share food with them.

These days, a special salad called "cold meat" is prepared, which includes vegetables, meat and fish. In the cemeteries near Antigua Guatemala, giant kites are flown, which represents a unique tradition of this country. Likewise, in the Guatemalan city Todos Santos, horse races and dances are held.

On December 7, the Burning of the Devil is celebrated nationwide. On December 24 and 25, Christmas Eve and Christmas are celebrated, respectively. During this festivity, gourmet tamales and punch, an alcoholic drink based on rum with spices and fruits, are prepared.

Gastronomy

Ladino cuisine is simple and not as spicy as that of its neighboring countries. Ladino gastronomy collects all the elements of the main cultures that have influenced Guatemala: the aboriginal, the Spanish and the African.

The main ingredients of Ladino cuisine, and that of Guatemala in general, are corn and beans, which are inherited from the ancient Mayans.

Likewise, guacamole, chiles and tamales, essential elements of Guatemalan gastronomy, come from the aborigines. Similarly, rice and bananas (ripe and green) are staple foods.

Typical dishes include corn or bean tamales, turkey soup, chiles rellenos (peppers stuffed with meat and vegetables), fricassee (Mayan dish consisting of a chicken with pumpkin and sesame sauce with almonds).

Also the stuffed ones with plantain (mashed green plantains with black beans), the pepian (soup made with tomatoes, onions, chili peppers and pumpkin seeds) and rice with chicken.

The most outstanding drinks are horchata (milk and rice drink, with chocolate and cinnamon) and cocktails based on rum and lemon. The best known desserts are pompan (papaya or milky sweet) and flan.

Ladinos prefer to eat the typical dishes of their country and prefer home-made food, which is why fast food restaurants do not have a large influx in Guatemala.

Family

Family members in Guatemala are very close. As for Ladino families, the trend is the nuclear family, which means that the mother, father and children live in a house.

Children often live with their parents even into their 30s, and after marrying, they may continue to live with their parents for a short period of time.

If possible, the new married couple makes sure they have a home close to their parents. In this sense, it is observed that, despite the fact that the nuclear family is the one that prevails, the members of the extended family keep in contact.

Both Ladino mothers and fathers enter the labor field, which is why childcare is usually entrusted to grandparents or a nanny, if they can afford it.

Marriage

Among Ladinos, parents are not involved in selecting a mate. However, members of the higher social classes could plan the marriage of their children to ensure economic well-being.

Marriages are celebrated by civil, as stipulated by Guatemalan law. Generally, after the civil wedding, the church wedding takes place. This ritual is considered of greater importance than legal marriage.

Despite the disapproval of the Church, divorce is legal and a common process among Ladinos. Divorced women have the right to retain the husband's last name if they so wish.

sports

Soccer is the national sport of Guatemala and is played by both Ladinos and Aborigines. In Guatemala City is one of the largest soccer stadiums in Central America.

Clothing

Ladino culture reflects the influence of foreign cultures, especially western ones. This can be observed in the dress of the Ladinos, who wear common garments in the United States and in Western European societies.

Ethnic relations

Some Ladinos consider that movements in favor of the strengthening of aboriginal cultures are a threat to the hegemony of the Ladino culture. In this sense, the exclusion and marginalization of indigenous groups by some Ladinos is evident.

Education

Education in Guatemala is taught in Spanish, which represents an advantage for Ladinos since this is their mother tongue. However, this has led to social problems for the country: 40% of the adult population is illiterate.

Most of this population belongs to some aboriginal community. However, a considerable percentage belongs to the Ladino culture.

Influence of foreign cultures on Ladinos

Ladino culture is strongly influenced by other foreign cultures, not only in terms of the way they dress, but also in other aspects of their way of life.

In this sense, Guatemala imports films from the United States, mainly; television novels, very popular with Ladinos, are imported from Mexico and Venezuela. Similarly, television includes American programs dubbed into Spanish.

On the other hand, a large quantity of products consumed by Ladinos are of foreign origin, such as cereals, beverages, and automobiles.

References

1. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2016). Ladino. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from britannica.com.
2. National Dates. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from guatemalaweb.com.
3. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2016). Guatemala. Daily life and social customs. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from britannica.com.
4. Zielanski, Michael (2012). The Clothing. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from rotoplast.org.
5. People & Population. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from web.standford.edu.
6. Guatemala. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from everyculture.com.
7. Rainsford, Cat (2011). La gente. Retrieved on April 2, 2017, from roadjunky.com.