Latin Celebrations

Although birthday traditions are quite similar in some countries today, not everyone celebrates in the same way.

There may also be special birthday traditions in your family or a friend's family.

Family history, culture, language and economic status are all details that affect the way a person observes his/her birth.

Two of the most significant factors throughout history, however, have been geographic location and spiritual beliefs.

La Piñata

lWhere does it come from?

lMany experts believe that the piñata originated in Mexico. Archeological evidence shows that the Aztecs, Mayans and other native people had their own versions of the piñata. These early piñatas were pots made of clay which were broken (usually using sticks) to reveal its contents. Such items represented gifts from the gods.

lThe piñata tradition is very popular in Central America and other Latin American countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. This tradition has also spread to the United States.

Mexican Birthday Traditions

In Mexico, kids love to have piñata's at their birthday. (usually in the form of an animal or object), is filled with goodies and hung from the ceiling or a tree branch.

The birthday child is blindfolded and hits the piñata until it is cracked open and all the goodies fall out. All the children then get to share the goodies.

Panamá Birthday Traditions

kids love to have piñata's at their birthday. (usually in the form of any character of the moment), is filled with candies, flour.

The first to hit the piñata is the birthday child then the friends take turn hitting until it is cracked Open and all the candies and flour fall out.

When it its time to leave, all the children get a canastita (little gift bag)

South America

Argentinian Birthday Traditions

In Argentina, the birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe for each year they have been alive.

Brazilian Birthday Traditions

In Brazil, the children usually eat candies shaped like fruits and vegetables. The houses are decorated for the occasion with festive banners and

brightly colored paper flowers.

South America

Peruvian Birthday Traditions

In Peru, guests at a birthday party might receive two kinds of party favors. These are called "recordatorio", which means souvenir.

The first favor is a goody box or bag and the second is a pin made in honor of the event.

These pins are so elaborate that some children might collect them.

At these parties children almost always receive fancy paper hats.

Native American Traditions

Throughout history, Native American tribes have usually placed significance on milestones in a child's development rather than the day he or she was born.

The day a child takes its first step is cause for just as much rejoicing as the day he or she accepts the responsibilities of an adult, gets married, becomes a parent, etc

American Birthday Traditions

At children's parties, balloons and streamers are hung up and lots of friends are invited to the party.

Sometimes the person having the birthday can choose what they want to do: bowling, swimming, arcades, amusement parks, camping trips, etc.

Now you

lHow do you celebrate yours?lBecome a party planner:lYou are in charge of planning from beginning to end a 9-year old birthday party.lWhere:lWhen:lHow many people (exactly whom?)lMenu

lThen we will discusslAfter we will kahoot it!

Family Culture

Culture affects many aspects of one’s life, including family, school, ethnicity, race, religion, Gender, employment, immigration situation, and socioeconomic status.

Culture can be defined as “a way of life or the totality of the individual artifacts, behaviors, and mental concepts transmitted from one generation to the next in a society.

It is visible and invisible, cognitive and affective, conscious and unconscious, internal and external, rational and irrational, and coercive and permissive at the same time” (Pederson et al. 2002).

Family Culture

Most Latin Americans come to the United States in search of better economic opportunities (Leyendecker and Lamb 1999). Other reasons may be related to lack of employment opportunities in country of origin, government instability, family unification, improved life style, and more. It is important to note that although there may be some general cultural characteristics, each country and region brings its own uniqueness and individuality. In addition, most Latin Americans are mestizos (mixed Indian and European descent). Therefore, their culture stems from Indian beliefs as well as European ideas

Divide into two groups

have a debate panel Pro/cons

why do you think some members of a family depart from home andcountry leaving family behind to come to the USA?

What are the benefits/disadvantages/problems (for family, for the USA)?

Religion

How can it influence a culture?Most families indicate an affiliation with the Catholic Church stemming from Spain’s early influences (McGoldrick, Pearce, and Giordano 1982). This Catholic influence may be evident even if couples and families are not practicing the faith. Some researchers indicate that this Catholic influence has affected many aspects of family life such as family size and attitudes about marriage and divorce (Falicov 1998).

The church influences family life and community affairs, giving spiritual meaning to the Hispanic culture. Each local community celebrates its patron saint's day with greater importance and ceremony than individuals do for personal birthdays.

Gender roles

The husband assumes the role of provider and the wife assumes the role of caretaker/homemaker. In the past, there has been an emphasis on machismo as a dominant philosophy in the Latino culture.

How is Machismo is traditionally viewed? decision-making. Many Latinos/Hispanics in the United States this paradigm.

Role of children in the family

Children are highly valued in Latino/Hispanic families. Children and family relationships are often more important than the couple’s relationship (Skogrand, Hatch, and Singh 2008; Vega 1995). In many homes, the father tends to be the disciplinarian while the mother tends to be the nurturer.

Quinceaños

An important celebration in Latin AmericaIntroduction to SocietyTraditionsWealthHave you been to one? How was it?Did you have one (girls)`

Día de las Madres

Motherhood itself has been celebrated for centuries; mostly focusing on goddesses and symbols of fertility and motherhood rather than individuals. From Egyptian Goddess Isis, to Greek Rea and more, the figure of the mother has been crucial for humanity for thousands of years .

Recognized since 17th Century

Mothering was recognized and celebrated since the 17th century, when it turned into an occasion to get together and give mothers presents; but it wasn’t until 1908 that it was officially celebrated as such in the United States of America.From there, the holiday spread all over the world, sometimes turning into a commercial date instead of the commemorative one.

International Holiday?

Mother’s Day isn’t an international holiday per se. Although most countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, many others do it in different dates.The traditional second Sunday of May is observed by Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Uruguay, Cuba, Honduras, Ecuador and Puerto Rico.

Different dates

For Mexico it is different. Mexican mothers have a set date, May 10th. Usually mothers are serenaded by a band, a mariachi or the family members and it is quite common that a family breakfast starts the day of celebration. Flowers, chocolates and cards are the most widespread treat for these mothers. El Salvador and Guatemala also celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10th.

Juana Maria

Paraguay’s celebration is on May 15th which is the same as ‘Día de la Patria’ or the national day; the day Paraguay got its freedom. It is said that this particular date was chosen to be able to honor Juana María de Lara, whose brave actions during the events of May 14th 1811 led to Paraguay's independence.

Mother-in law

A different story is Nicaragua’s. Nicaraguan mothers are celebrated on May 30th since the early 1940s. Story goes that President Anastasio Somoza García chose that date because it was the birthday of his mother in law, his wife’s mother Casimira Sacasa.

Manuela Gandarilla

Bolivia celebrates on May 27th, which is a historic day because in that date many women fought in a battle for independence.The date actually commemorates the Battle of La Coronilla, which took place on 27 May 1812, during the Bolivian War of Independence, in what is now the city of Cochabamba. In this battle, women fighting for the country's freedom from Spain were killed in great numbers by the Spanish army.

The Dominican Republic chose the last Sunday of May of each year to celebrate Mother's Day.Costa Rica picked August 15th, which is also the day of the Assumption Virgin, a Catholic celebration related to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God as officially addressed by the Catholic Church.

In Argentina the celebration takes place on the third Sunday of October, with a traditional family dinner and presents for the mothers. Panama celebrates even later in the year, also making it coincide with a Catholic celebration related to Virgin Mary.They celebrate it on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

What about you?

How do you celebrate it?What type of gifts?

Latin American Weddings Brides in many Latin-American countries wear a

light blue petticoat or slip beneath their dresses.

In Spain, brides wear black dresses to show their

devotion until death.

Touches of red and black, for both bride and groom,

also add a Latin touch.

Spanish weddings do not include bridesmaids or

groomsmen. The couple stands together at the altar with

no one else in attendance.

There is no Best Man or Maid of Honor. Also, the groom's mother accompanies him down the aisle. 

During Catholic ceremonies as a traditional wedding custom in Spain, Panama & Mexico the groom presentsthe bride 13 gold/silver coins known as arras (unity coins),To represent his commitment to support her.

The coins are blessed by the priest and passed through the hands of the newlyweds several times, ending up with the bride

Las Arras

The Rings

Not everyone waits until their big day to get their wedding bands. In Chile, engaged couples wear rings on their right hand until they are married and switch tothe left hand after the wedding.

Argentinean couples also exchange rings whenthey get engaged.

Ate el Nudo (Tie the Knot)

In Guatemala, the couple binds themselves together during the ceremony with a silver rope.

Mexican couples perform a similar ritual, where a rosaryor white rope is wound around their shoulders in a figure eight to symbolize their union.

Other traditions include throwing rice to the married couple representing abundance of food.