EL SALVADOR CULTURE

EL SALVADOR IS LOCATED BETWEEN GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS AND HAS ABOUT 21,000 SQ KM. SPANISH NAMED IT "THE SAVIOR". IT HAS MOUNTAINS A COASTAL BELT AND CENTRAL VALLEYS AND PLATEAUS. COFFEE IS GROWN IN THE MOUNTAINS AND CANE IS GROWN ON THE COAST TO PROVIDE WITH LABORERS. THE VALLEY HAS AGRICULTURE OR CORN AND BEANS FOR PRIVATE USE. THERE IS INDUSTRY IN THE CAPITOL.

IN 2000 THEIR POPULATION WAS ABOUT 6 MILLION -A DENSELY POPULATED COUNTRY. ALL FOLKS SPEAK SPANISH. BEFORE SPANISH IT WAS INHABITED BY PIPIL INDIANS, AND THEY DISAPPEARED AFTER 1932. SPAIN MASSACRED 30,000 INDIAN PEASANTS! SOME SURVIVORS HID AND CHANGED THEIR IDENTITY.

BEFORE SPAIN'S CONQUEST EL SALVADOR HAD TWO INDIAN STATES. THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT TO CONQUER FAILED AS PIPIL FORCED SPAIN TO RETREAT. IN 1500 GUATEMALA RETAINED AUTHORITY. DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD THE SPANIARDS REPLACED COMMUNAL PROPERTY. THEN INDIANS WORKED FOR THE SPANISH.

MESTIZOS WERE PEOPLE OF MIXED SPANISH AND INDIGENOUS DESCENT WHO HAD SOME RIGHTS. BUT NO PROPERTY OR LAND. THEY WERE MISTREATED. THEY GAINED SUPPORT FROM ALL INDIANS BY THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTIONS BY PROMISING TO END THE ABUSES COMMITTED BY LAND OWNERS. AFTER THE ROAD INDIANS AND PEASANTS REMAINED IMPOVERISHED WITHOUT LAND.

BY THE 1960'S THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PEASANTS FORMED, CHRISTIAN BASED COMMUNITIES AND COOPERATIVES IN THE 60'S AND 70'S. PROGRESSIVE PRIESTS AND NUNS FORMED BIBLE STUDY GROUPS IN LIGHT OF BIBLICAL TEXTS. POLITICAL UPHEAVAL LEAD TO ARMIES IN THE 80'S. FINALLY IN 1992 A CEASEFIRE TOOK EFFECT. DEMOCRATIC VALUES FINALLY HOUSES ARE MADE OF ADOBE WITH A LARGE PORCH. THEY HAVE 7 TO 8 FOLKS WHO MAY LIVE IN KIN OWL OR 2 SMALL ROOMS. URBAN HOUSES IN COLONIAL PERIOD HAD OUTDOOR SPACES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE MAKING IT MORE PRIVATE.

CORN IS A STAPLE OF THE DIET AND IS MORE OF OFTEN MADE INTO TORTILLAS. THEY EAT MORE OFTEN SMALL RED BEANS WITH A DRINK CALLED ATOL OF CORN OF CORN. MANGOS, BANANAS, PAPAYA, TAMARIND, WATERMELON, CUKES, LETTUCE, TOMATOES, AND RADISHES. THEY ALSO EAT RICE, EGGS, CHICKEN, PORK CHICKEN, PORK BEEF, FISH AND SEAFOOD. THEY HAVE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS.

TOMALES ARE EATEN ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS AS IS TURKEY IN A SAUCE. IN 1980'S THE LAND REFORMS TRANSFERRED LAND TO THE POOR. ITS DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN FAMILIES ON SMALL PLOTS OF TO THE POOR. ITS DIFFICULT TO FAMILIES ON SMALL PLOTS OF INFERTILE LAND.

THEIR INDUSTRIES ARE FOOD PROCESSING , BEVERAGES , CHEMICALS, INDUSTRIES, FERTILIZERS, TEXTILES, FURNITURE AND LIGHT MEATS. THEY SUPPORT SUGAR COTTON AND COFFEE. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHING REQUIRES A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION. CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES APPRENTICESHIP.

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