QUESTIONS17. Which highway runs through all Central

American countries?18. Which C.A. country has English as an official

language?19. What are the cultures present in Belize?20. On what the Guatemalan food is based?21. What are the sports that are played in El

Salvador?

CENTRAL AMERICA

INTRODUCTION• Central America is an isthmus made up of Belize,

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

• The population of Central America is approximately 41,739,000.

• Three-fifths of Central America's population is of mixed European (usually Spanish) and Indian heritage, known as Mestizos. One-fifth is Indian.

• The Pan-American highway runs through all the Central American countries but Belize. 

BELIZE

BELIZE• It’s he only Central American country where

English is the official language, but it is a creole language.

• Belize has the lowest population density in Central America.

• It is the only nation in the region with a British colonial history, and it shares a common colonial history with Anglophone Caribbean countries, sharing Elizabeth II as monarch of other Commonwealth realms in the Caribbean. 

Socializing The Belizean culture is made up of influences

and people from Kriol, Maya, Garifunas, Mestizos, Mennonites (German descendants), and a blend of Chinese and Lebanese.

Courtesy is very important in Belize. They greet each other even if they have never seen each other before.

It’s impolite to greet somone by first name.El Cadejo, La llorona,, La Sucia, y el Duende.

GREETINGS• Maanin! (“Good morning!”)• Weh di go aan? (What is going on?”)• Hey Bali (Hi Buddy!)

• Handshakes, palms and finger touching, etc.• Children: Yes/no, m’am / Sir.

FOOD

• The most popular Belizean dishes are Fry Jacks and Johnny Cake are common in breakfast; Lobster; Crunch Fritters (appetizer),; stew chicken, rice and beans; Hudut (garifuna dish – fried green plantain)

FOOD

CONCH FRITTERS

LOBSTER

Recreation and sports• Soccer and basketball.• Volleyball, track and field, cricket, jai-alai.

Boxing, cycling, and softball.

music• Punta is by the far most popular genre in

Belizean music.• Brukdown is a very popular modern style of

Belizean music related to Calypso.

Guatemala

culture• The Guatemalan people are largely mestizo

and direct Maya descendants.• The multicultural Guatemalan society has

directly influenced the country’s customs, cuisine and people.

• The Guatemalan foods are based on Maya cuisine.

• Other traditional foods include enchiladas, quesadillas, and tamales.

MUSIC• The Guatemalan music is diverse. • The Garifuna people of Afro-Caribbean

descent have their own distinct varieties of popular and folk music.

• Cumbia is also very popular.• In the last two decades, rock has become

popular.• The Marimba

sports• Football is the most popular.• The largest stadium in CA was the Mateo

Flores in Guatemala City.

El salvador

Culture and clothing• It’s very similar to other Central American

countries. • Women: it is common to see elements like a

scapular, a shawl, and a cotton headscarf, a skirt, and a blouse or with a dress. The normal footwear is sandals.

• Men: cotton suit or cotton shirt, modern jeans, sandals or boots, and a cowboy hat.

food• The Salvadorian food has much in common with

that of other CA countries, but there are some specialties.

• Pupusa• Atole and tamalitos de elote• Atol chuco (drink prepared with maize flour)• Levantamuertos (garrobo soup)• Empanada

sports• Football is the most popular., but volleyball

and basketball are also popular.• The largest stadium of the CA is the Estadio

Cuscatlan in San Salvador. • The stadium is the home ground of the El

Salvador national football team, as well as club teams Alianza FC and San Salvador FC

music• The Salvadorian music has a mixture of Pipiil

and Spanish influences. • Popular music in El Salvador uses marimba,

tehpe’ch, flutes, drums, scrapers, and gourds, and guitars.

• The most famous Salvadoran singer is Alvaro Torres.

LINKS• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyp8drVBD

Vg (BELIZE)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3BXJnlpdOE (GUATEMALAN FOLKLORE)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFLSvyQ3ulw (RA)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUxFducYXyk (ES FOLK)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL3VC1308fM (AT)