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Customs of Venezuela
Eating
Much of the Venezuelan diet consists of hot foods, casseroles, meat pies, stews, and pasta dishes. Rice is common, and maize is the basis of many dishes, including the arepa, a soft pancake wrapped around soft cheese, and empanadas, which are pies filled with cheese, meat, or fish. Punta-trasera is a tender steak dish. Pabellón criollo is made of black beans, rice, shredded meat, and plantains. In most cities, open markets provide a large variety of tropical fruits and fresh vegetables. Hot chocolate is almost as popular as coffee.
Out of respect for parents, the two ends of the dinner table are usually reserved for the mother and father of a family. Some people eat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. Others eat with the fork in the right hand, unless the knife is picked up to cut something. In this case, the tips of utensils not in current use are rested on the edge of the plate; the handle rests on the table. When a person is finished, the utensils are placed together at the center of the plate. It is generally considered inappropriate for adults to eat on the street.
Socializing
Among close friends and relatives men greet with an abrazo (a full embrace, while patting each other on the back), and women greet with an abrazo and a kiss on the cheek. Otherwise a handshake is usual. Common greetings include ¡Buenos días! (“Good morning”), ¡Buenas tardes! (“Good afternoon”), and ¡Buenas noches! (“Good evening”). Young people generally use the more casual ¡Hola! (“Hi”). Greetings often include inquiries about a person’s health. Venezuelans tend to stand close to one another and maintain eye contact when in conversation, and to back away or look away may cause offense.
As a symbol of hospitality and a way of extending friendship, visitors to a home, a business, or the office of a government official are often served un cafecito, a black, thick coffee in a very small cup. General conversation usually precedes discussion of business matters. Venezuelans generally invite only close friends to their homes, but they will often invite business contacts and other visitors to dine at a restaurant. While gifts are not expected by hosts, they are appreciated as a gesture of friendship.
Recreation
The most popular spectator sport is baseball—Venezuelan shortstop Luis Aparicio was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Horse racing, bullfighting, and soccer are also enjoyed. Venezuelans like to fish, hunt, swim, and play tennis, basketball, and golf. Private recreational clubs are expensive and are generally open only to the wealthy. For entertainment, Venezuelans like to go dancing, to movies, or to other cultural events. In rural areas, local festivals are important occasions for recreation.
Holidays and Celebrations
Official public holidays include New Year’s Day (1 January), Carnaval (two days before Ash Wednesday), Ash Wednesday, Easter (including Holy Thursday and Good Friday), Declaration of Independence Day (19 April), May Day (1 May), Battle of Carabobo (24 June), Independence Day (5 July), Simón Bolívar’s Birthday (24 July), Public Officials’ Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (12 October), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day (25 December), and New Year’s Eve.
During Carnaval, festivities include water fights, parades, and dancing in the streets.
La Quemada de Judas (“The Burning of Judas”) is a ritual that takes place on Easter night. Judas Iscariot was the disciple who betrayed Jesus. On this night an effigy is made of a local or national public figure and erected in a prominent spot. The townspeople kick, punch, and slap the effigy, and a humorous list of grievances against the figure is read. Then the effigy is set afire and burned. The celebrations afterward involve drinking, dancing, and fireworks.
On Christmas Eve in
During each holiday, statues of the Venezuelan hero Simón Bolívar are decorated with colorful wreaths.
Source: Encarta Interactive World Atlas
