Traditions of Bolivia

Bolivia is called the "most Indian" country of the southern continent. More than 60% of the local population are descendants of mixed marriages and Indians. To the traditions inherited by local tribes from ancient civilizations, the Bolivians are treacherous and careful, and their influence on the life of the indigenous population is even greater. Despite the fact that Bolivia is considered the poorest country in South America, it can rightly be called a cultural treasure.

The traditions of Bolivia in society

There is a somewhat confusing picture in the country with a racial identity. Most Indians regard themselves as direct descendants of the Maya tribe and are openly proud of it. The rest are inclined to consider themselves to be Spaniards and to indicate a kinship with the Indian tribes of Uruguay and Brazil. But the inhabitants of the countryside do not call themselves Indians, for them the term "campesinos" or ordinary peasants is more familiar.

The Indian community of Bolivia clearly delineates the status of a person. Therefore, when communicating with local people, be sure to follow the basic rules of conduct. Indians appreciate sincere signs of attention and perfectly feel falsehood and hypocrisy. If they feel insincerity in the behavior of the guest, they can close themselves and step back from the interlocutor. By tradition, it so happened that in Bolivia people are not obtrusive. It is enough to say "no" once, and no one will be bothering.

Traditions in clothes

In the Indian families of Bolivia, they respect the observance of customs and traditions. The Bolivian people are quite simple-minded and not vindictive, but openly ignore the generally accepted norms should not be. This applies to clothes. Local people mostly dress according to the principle of centuries-old traditions. For the majority, it is widely sewn free skirts and bright colored shawls. In addition, the costume of a native Indian is complemented by various hats.

The European style of clothing adhere to the inhabitants of the major cities of Bolivia. However, for tourists who visit the country, there are no clear norms in clothes. Both everyday and sports clothes are allowed, except for cases when an official reception is planned.

Traditions in the kitchen

The national cuisine of Bolivia also has its own traditions. Tourists are invited to try delicious meat dishes, which are served with rice, salad or potatoes. With meat, it is usually recommended to try a traditional hot sauce made from tomatoes and chilli peppers. Bolivian beer, wine and corn liquor have an unusual pleasant taste. But if you drink such drinks with Indians, remember that alcohol is very strong here, and local people have long been accustomed to it.

Traditions in music

Each region of Bolivia adheres to its musical traditions. For example, in the mountains you can hear the long melody of the desert Altiplano, and on the territory of Tarihi you can mix several instruments at once. Basically, they play on such traditional instruments as a pipe, vertical flutes, leather drums, brass bells and bronze gongs. The Bolivians express their feelings and emotions in songs and dances, therefore all the holidays are accompanied by symbolic costumes.

Traditional festivals and festivals

For many centuries, Bolivia is famous for its traditional carnivals , but there is still no equal to the most popular of them - carnival in the city of Oruro . This city is called the folklore capital of the country, and the carnival was proclaimed by UNESCO a true masterpiece of the oral and spiritual heritage of mankind. During the celebration in Oruro, tourists can watch the performance of 30,000 dancers and more than 10,000 musicians disguised as Incas, devils, angels and animals.

The tradition, similar to the horror film, is associated with the parade of human skulls, which is held annually in Bolivia on November 9. The cemetery of La Paz turns into an arena of eerie rituals and strange rituals. "Day of Skulls" is analogous to "Day of the Dead", when the majority of Bolivians remember the deceased ancestors. They take care of the turtles, so that they provide protection to the family, take misfortunes and promote a good harvest.

Unusual tradition

For a long time there has been a debate about the interesting custom of Bolivia - the use of coca leaves. Here they are chewed, brewed tea, insisted and added as a spice to some dishes. Leaves of coca bush, or coca, in all European countries are considered a drug, but for Bolivians this is a usual tonic. Local residents find this their own, well-founded, explanation. Since Bolivia is located at a high altitude (some areas are above 3600 m), and in the air contains a small amount of oxygen, the leaves of coca are sometimes just irreplaceable. There is even the only coca museum in the world.