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We all know that each Latin American country is unique in it's culture. But there are some that are more alike than others. Which group of Latin American countries/territories are most similar culturally?
While there are similarities among Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic (would add Venezuela and the Caribbean coast of Colombia); there are marked differences too.
For example, between the DR and PR there are much similarities, but in parts of the DR there are no similarities with Puerto Rico while in other parts one could be though as an extension of the other (minus that PR has more American like infrastructure in many places and overall is whiter than many areas of the DR). The socialist revolution has left its mark in Cuba. There is a historical to and from influence between the two that began to subside once the USA stuck its nose in the region. lol All three were much more similar in the past too.
In terms of population, you will see more blacks anywhere in the DR than in most places in PR. Cuba is like a mix between the DR (eastern Cuba in particular, they even speak Spanish like Dominicans and eastern Cuba is a much more mixed race society; in many ways eastern Cuba is like an extension if the DR minus the economic system of course) and PR.
Fair enough, if you travel throughout Latin America and then you visit these three, the similarities among them will jump at you almost immediately.
In terms of food, quite frankly the main plates in all three are basically the same. Often they have different names and the seasoning might give a slight different taste in each, but it's the same. The same with sweets. In PR what they call "lechón asado" in the DR its "puerco asado" (though lechón is also used), that's as far as differences go regarding that. lol They all know what mofongo is. They all enjoy tostones fritos, maduros, etc. They all eat moro (in Cuba they call it its original name of moros y cristianos). Etc, etc, etc.
There certainly is much influence of Mexico in Guatemala (well, in much of Central America), but I wouldn't say Mexico and Guatemala are alike other than the typical similarities of bordering countries. With that said, the Chiapas state of Mexico is basically an extension of Guatemala. It makes you wonder how Chiapas ended up becoming part of Mexico. lol
Putting Panama & Colombia in one sentence, while not much of a big deal with Colombians, you simply don't do that with Panamanians. Just don't. lol
Venezuela has more similarities with Caribbean coastal Colombia than say the area surrounding Bogotá (with Venezuelan immigration this could be changing). Certainly, Venezuela has a similar Andean culture, but most of the Venezuelan population lives near the coast while most Colombians are in the Andean part. For example, most Colombians come through as a more reserved people, particularly in Bogotá. Venezuelans are more like people from Puerto Rico, DR, and Cuba; much more expressive and extroverted. One of the things Venezuelans say when they move to Santo Domingo is that the idiosincracy feels so much like Venezuela that they feel as if they never left Venezuela, simply moved to another area within the same country. That is not always what is transmitted by Colombians living in Santo Domingo (Caribbean Colombians see greater similarities with the idiosincracy of the DR than more inland Colombians). Given that, there should be more similarities between Caribbean Colombians and Venezuelans than with say Bogotá Colombians and Venezuelans.
Argentineans like to joke that Uruguay is the Argentinean province that got away. The irony is that a large chunk of Uruguayans move to Argentina for employment opportunities. lol
Peru and Bolivia are quite different if the comparison is the Lima or coastal Peru in general with Bolivia, but they are basically the same when dealing with Andean Peru such as Cuzco. Bolivia itself is quite different between the Andean Bolivia and the Bolivia in the Santa Cruz area. I would put Ecuador in a class of its own.
At the other sxtreme, Paraguay cannot be grouped with anyone
Paraguay has much in common in culture and genetics with the brazilian bordering state of Mato Grosso do sul and northern argentinean provicias as well.
I always felt that Mexico and Honduras were very much alike, with Guatemala the contrasting odd-man-out between them.
Guatemala is much more like Southern Mexico than Honduras is. Everything from the music to the accent is more similar. Mayan culture and ruins etc etc. Dont know why Guatemala would be the odd man out??
Honduras and EL Salvador are very similar. The accent, food, flags etc etc.
Last edited by UrbanLuis; 01-11-2022 at 09:29 AM..
Gonna go with Argentina and Uruguay in front of Cuba, DR and PR. After that is Colombia/ Panama, Colombia/ Venezuela and Mexico/ Guatemala in a three way tie. Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia would be last in this poll for me.
Gonna go with Argentina and Uruguay in front of Cuba, DR and PR. After that is Colombia/ Panama, Colombia/ Venezuela and Mexico/ Guatemala in a three way tie. Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia would be last in this poll for me.
Imho, Ecuador has way more in common with Colombia and Venezuela than Peru and Bolivia.
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