Hispanic Culture

Curadora, or curandera, is the feminine form of the Spanish word for "healer." Curadoras are classified as herbalists (yerberas), those skilled in massage (sobaderas) or midwives (parteras). They...

Want to travel to Cuba, one of the most beautiful islands but scared because you are US Citizen. Due to the embargo, it is difficult if not impossible to buy tickets to Havana without a...

A quinceañera is the celebration of a Latin-American girl turning 15. After the quinceañera, the newly crowned woman can get a job, begin dating and start to mark her place in the...

An introduction on where to start to learn Spanish fast. Don't buy expensive products or take endless lessons

Understanding how to conjugate verbs is vital to learning a new language. Nearly every language conjugates verbs, including English. Spanish verbs are conjugated according to the subject of the...

A quinceanera is held on a girl's 15th birthday to celebrate her becoming a young lady. Padrinos are benefactors who help with the cost of the Mass and fiesta, which can be quite elaborate and...

If you know anything about Costa Ricans, you know that they make the best Gallo Pinto in the world. And why not? It's "Pura Vida" in Costa Rica; of course they make delicious "pura...

Spanish is the top 5 speaking language in the world. Makeing it a must to learn. It is the second most spoken language in the world after Chinese Mandarin. learning how to be a paisa like...

Finding a missing person or a person you have lost contact with in Honduras or another country can be difficult. Most people in the U.S. are located easily through home phone numbers, business...

If you are in a foreign country, it is a good idea to learn a little of the language, in case you can't find anyone who speaks English. Spanish is also becoming more and more commonly spoken in...

The most famous Mexican music is the "mariachi" style which originated in in the city of Guadalajara in the 19th century. But Mexico's music and musical instruments go back many centuries earlier.

Nowadays we hear Spanish everywhere, so if English is not your first language and you really want to improve it, you MUST make a big effort to do it. Sometimes around you there is only Spanish...

From 1492 to 1570, colonial life in Latin America was established when the Spanish empire settled in the area. From 1570 to 1700, colonial life was at its peak.

Mexico is a richly diverse country where the indigenous tribes of the region along with the Spanish influence have created a unique culture. In Mexico, you will find ancient ruins, picturesque...

Be prepared to eat a large quantity of food. Typical foods at a Mexican Fiesta are tamales. Another favorite food is carne asada. This barbecued beef is eaten as a taco or alone with plenty of...

Mexico is a land of rich cultural diversity. As the third largest Latin American country, Mexico boasts ancient ruins, bustling modern cities and everything in between. It is most popular for...

Most of us are fairly easy to find. We have home phone numbers, business phone numbers, cell phone numbers, home addresses, work addresses, e-mail addresses and personal web pages. To find a...

Mexico's colorful blend of European and Indian cultures is expressed in the traditional Mexican dance dress seen in the United States during a Folklorico festival. There is no one style, but many...

Two versions of the national flag exist in the Dominican Republic: one flown by citizens and the other flown by the government. The difference is the addition of an emblem on the government flags.

The Nobel Prize-winning Mexican author Octavio Paz, in his book "The Labyrinth of Solitude," made a revealing comparison between the roles of men and women in Mexican culture. Paz examined the...

The pinata, that staple of birthday parties, has a long tradition and is indelibly tied to the country of Mexico. It was traditionally made from a clay pot, though today's versions are more likely...

Chile is a South American country that was won its independence from Spain in 1818. Many other cultures such as the Germans, the Italians and the French also have had major contributions to the...

Speaking Spanish is a valuable skill to have in both society and the workplace, especially as the prevalence of Spanish speakers in the United States has risen. Fluency comes with practice, so...

The history of cascarones, the brightly painted, surprise-filled Mexican eggs thrown or smashed at Easter-related celebrations, is almost as colorful as the eggs themselves. It's a story that...

In traditional Mexican homes, the family is the most important aspect of their lives. Though dating and courtship practices have in some cases been influenced by modern trends, this love and...

Today, a pinata brings to mind a paper mache three-dimensional shape covered in brightly colored tissue paper and filled with candy. Blind-folded children take turns hitting the pinata with a...

Many baby-boomers approaching retirement age look south of the U.S. border for inexpensive and beautiful alternatives for places to retire. Instead of flocking to Florida or Arizona, a tropical...

Mexican music is best characterized by the Mariachi style that originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The music was popular for singing and dancing. Many call the town of Coluca the...

Mexican paper flowers are made from brightly-colored pieces of tissue or crepe paper. Their association with Mexican culture is mostly due to the traditional Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos...

The Belize government, a member of the British Commonwealth with a Westminster model parliamentary democracy, has a history that stretches back more than 3,000 years.

If you plan to visit El Salvador, you may be concerned about what to wear. Because of the hot Caribbean climate of Central America, light fabrics and colors are preferred. Many of the traditional...

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean islands. The country's flag is made up of blue and red boxes on both the upper and lower four corners. It has a white cross,...

Puerto Rico has a rich musical and dance heritage heavily influenced by the African, Spanish and Caribbean Indian cultures.

The Quinceañera is a traditional Latin American celebration centered around a girl's 15th birthday. It is a rite of passage with a long and deeply rooted history that symbolizes the...

Quince Anos or quinceanera, Spanish for "15 years," is a rite of passage for Latino girls. A Quince Anos party is a celebration to honor a young girl's coming of age. Parents begin preparations...

A serape is almost as ubiquitous as a sombrero in Mexican history and folklore. It was originally worn by vaqueros, or Mexican cowboys, and was eventually adopted by the upper classes. It's useful...

Over 300 million people in 20 different countries speak Spanish worldwide, making it the third most commonly spoken language in the world. Though Spanish is primarily a Latin-based language like...

The centuries-old tradition of quinceanera celebrates a Latino 15-year-old girl's right of passage from the innocence of girlhood to womanhood. Although somewhat modernized, the longstanding...

A quinceanera is a traditional right of passage for a 15-year-old Latino girl from girlhood to womanhood. It is a celebration you and your daughter may have been dreaming about for several years....

Cascarones are colorful party favors that can be used for numerous different celebrations. They're painted eggs that, when cracked, send confetti flying. They have a shared history with Easter...

Cuba has always been a world center of tobacco farming and production. Cuban cigars have always been known for their high quality; today they are regarded as the finest cigars in the world. ...

The American Hispanic and Latino populations continue to grow by leaps and bounds. As we welcome more Hispanics and Latinos into our neighborhoods, we also find opportunities to explore ages-old...

Mexico is a nation rich in musical tradition. Famous for its mariachi bands and ranchera music, Mexico has developed a variety of musical genres stemming from broad origins. Indigenous roots have...

Tamales are steamed rolls of corn dough ("masa") containing filling and usually wrapped in corn husk. Tamales have been around for thousands of years and are now prepared with regularity...

The current Mexican flag was first used in 1968. It has three vertical stripes, one green, one white and one red. The white stripe in the center has a seal that pictures an eagle, eating a snake,...

Mexican-style weddings can be decorated on any budget. A bride on a small budget can decorate her wedding using simple, bright centerpieces and white linens, and a bride with a larger budget may...

Sopapillas are a popular Hispanic dish in South America and New Mexico. The deep-fried pastries can be served as a dessert, covered with honey or syrup, or as an entree, stuffed with meat, cheese...

In Mexico, Holy Week, or Santa Semana, is the largest and most important religious celebration of the year. Since a large population of the country is Roman Catholic, almost everyone attends the...

When thinking of a vaquero, you may picture a man on a horse herding cattle. In English, the word vaquero means cowboy. However, there is more to a vaquero than a man and his horse. The vaquero's...

La Raspa, a high-energy Mexican folk dance enjoyed by children and adults alike, has spread beyond its roots in Veracruz to become popular worldwide as the Mexican Hat Dance. When it's performed...