CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN VENEZUELA AND ITS EVOLUTION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The cultural diversity in Venezuela is represented by a mixture of indigenous, Spanish and African cultures. After the colonization process carried out by the Spanish, the crossing between Europeans and Indians was a natural consequence due to the scarcity of women among the first Spanish colonizers.

In later centuries, African slaves and immigrants from other parts of Europe joined the process of miscegenation, making Venezuela one of the most racially mixed countries in Latin America. At the end of the 20th century, 69% of the population was considered mixed race.

The interaction of different cultural traditions has produced the rich variety of hybrid forms of expression, beliefs and customs that is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive features of modern Venezuelan culture.

Among them are music that blends European and African forms, culinary traditions that blend Spanish and Indian practices, and religious rituals that blend indigenous, African, and European elements.

Variables of Venezuelan cultural diversity

Religion

96% of the Venezuelan population is nominally Catholic. However, faith and religious practices are much more diverse than that figure suggests.

As in other parts of Latin America, a variety of cultural influences and specific historical factors have coalesced to produce some original expressions of Catholic belief.

Many of those who consider themselves Catholic are at the same time devoted to popular cults, some of which have been accepted by the Catholic Church. Other cults have been condemned as deviant practices that undermine fundamental Catholic principles.

However, these cults are the most distinctive feature of religious life in Venezuela. They have spawned a wide range of regularly practiced rituals and the images and figures associated with them are a common sight in homes, shops and vehicles across the country.

Waves of immigrants have introduced other major religions to Venezuela; Protestantism, Islam, Judaism and all the Orthodox churches. However, the number of adherents has been too small to challenge the dominant position of Catholicism.

Protestantism has the second largest number of followers, although the evangelical churches that spread throughout Latin America in the last decades of the 20th century have not had the same impact in Venezuela as in other nations in the region.

Many of the indigenous communities in the most remote areas of the country still retain their own religious traditions, but they do not constitute more than 2% of the population.

In the Catholic religion, some particular saints are associated with particular "powers." Saint Peter is linked to good harvests, Saint Apolonia is said to cure tooth pain and Saint Anthony is often called upon to help find lost possessions and also to help young women find a boyfriend.

The Virgin Mary is a special worship figure, she assumes different forms in different regions of the country. In Zulia she is known as Virgen de la Chiquinquirá and is the patron of that state, as Virgen del Valle occupies the same position in the state of Nueva Esparta. Whatever her local name, the Virgin is honored once a year in each place.

There is a great party whose main event is a procession (carrying the statue of the Virgin through the streets), generally many people participate in these processions. Furthermore, there is often a local story associated with these virgins, usually involving miraculous events.

You may be interested in The 20 most outstanding Venezuelan legends and myths.

Social classes, ethnicity and gender difference

In the past there were many social classes in Venezuela. Now the gap between rich and poor does not include so many social classes in between. Venezuela is a highly unequal and polarized society. While a small percentage of the population enjoys the luxuries of the first world, the majority of Venezuelans (approx. 60%), live in poverty and have a very low educational level.

In Venezuela women have the same rights as men, however, machismo at work and in relationships is very common. At the labor level, Venezuelan women occupy positions from heavy machinery operators to the president of well-known corporations. In politics there are many female ministers, senators, members of parliament, etc.

Given the high percentage of racial mixing, ethnicity is not an important issue in Venezuela, there is no discrimination of people based on their ethnic origin or skin color. The everyday social language of Venezuelans often contains an explicit use of racial categories.

Farmers collect vegetables in Chirgua (Bejuma)

For example, calling someone "black" or "brown" is not perceived in a bad way. In fact, some people use it as a nickname or to express affection, the same applies to "Chinese", "skinny" or "fat".

Relationships and punctuality

Personal relationships are very important for Venezuelans, the family is the center of life. Venezuelans often show affectionate gestures towards friends and like to foster a more personal atmosphere with their colleagues. In business it helps to develop strong and dynamic relationships to achieve a large and diverse number of contacts.

Dating in Venezuela is quite liberal, but in general it is expected that the man takes the initiative in the process of conquest while the woman does not give in so quickly. People are social and are not afraid to meet new people and go out on a date.

Before marriage, the future groom is expected to ask his bride's father for permission to marry her. If granted, the couple will have two ceremonies, first the legal or civil ceremony (a small meeting with the closest family members) and then the wedding in the church that has much more cultural significance in the eyes of Venezuelans.

Venezuelans tend to manage time flexibly so they tend to be late or just in time for work meetings.

When it comes to a family reunion or party with friends, it is common to arrive 1 or 2 hours after the scheduled time. In Venezuela, delays are common, but as a Venezuelan saying goes: "it's better to be late than never."

References

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4. Globals Affairs Canada. Cultural information - Venezuela (2013). Recovered from: international.gc.ca
5. Hagerty R. Venezuela: a country study (1990). Washington DC: Federal Research Division.
6. Maddicks R. The essential guide to customs & culture - Venezuela (2012). Great Britain: Kuperard.
7. Soto E. Cultural conflict in Venezuela (2015). Recovered from: www.cpalsocial.org