RELIGION
The majority of people in Venezuela, about 96%, are Roman Catholic. The Roman
Catholics in Venezuela study at a temple called Mark Dinnee. Islam, Protestantism, and
Judaism are also practiced in Venezuela. The Red Devils of Yare festival is held each
year where people wear beautiful costumed resembling red devils. This festivals plays
out a traditional battle on Corpus Christi Day, which is a battle that always ends with
virtue winning over the devils. This event also signifies Christianity’s win over Satan. Religious influences can be seen within many cultural aspects such as music, art, and literature.
LANGUAGE
About 40 different languages are spoken in Venezuela. However, Spanish is the official language of the country. The most widely spoken indigenous languages are Wayuu, Warao, Piaroa, Yanomami, Kahlihna, Manduhuaca, Panaré, Pemón, Guahibo and Nhengtu. Most of these languages originated in the languages of the Caribs, the Arawaks and the Chibcha.
MUSIC
One of the most popular music genres in Venezuela is joropo, a style that originated in the plains, which was made popular by artists like Juan Vicente Torrealba and Ignacio Figueredo. Another very popular style is gaita which is a traditional style that is popular during Christmas.
Other music genres in Venezuela:
folk, carribean, pop and rock, electronic music, and classical music
DANCE
The two most common forms of dance in Venezuela are Venezeulan Polka, Baile de Tambor and Joropo. The Joropo is the national dance of the country. Joropo is a dance that consists of 36 steps and two people dancing together.
FOOD
Some Staples of Venzuela Cuisine
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Arepa: The most famous dish from Venezuela, and is a cornmeal cake that can be grilled, baked or fried. In Venezuela, this cake is split open and filled with a variety of different cheese and meats. Arepa is a basic part of the Venezuelan diet and is eaten in place of bread in most meals.
Venezuelan cuisine has been influenced by many other cultures such as French, Italian and Spanish recipes. As you travel in Venezuela close to the coastline, the most abundant foods are seafood and shellfish dishes. The more you move into the highlands, the food ingredients tend to have more corn and rice in them. Meats of all types are very important parts of Venezuelan cuisine that you will find in various different dishes.
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Casabe: This type of bread, which is made out of yucca, is considered the oldest bread in the Americas. This bread is very rich in fiber and minerals. Venezuelans consume more than 30,000kg of casabe each year.
Clothing
In cities, men wear lightweight suits or shirts and pants that provide comfort in Venezuela's hot and tropical climate. Women are usually very up to date on fashion trends and dress in popular Western styles. Venezuelans still wear traditional styles of clothing that feature bright colors and patterns as well.
