Honduras 

     Honduras (hahn-DUR-uhs) is a beautiful, mountainous country in Central America. Lovely Caribbean beaches form its northern coast. Guatemala and El Salvador form its western border. Nicaragua lies to the south.

     Daily Life

     Most of the 6.4 million people in Honduras are mestizos. They descend from both native peoples and Spanish settlers. Those who settle in Honduras from the Caribbean often descend from African slaves.

     Many people are poor. A terrible hurricane in 1998 made conditions worse. Farmers sometimes move to the city to look for work. But the cities often cannot offer these people decent homes or clean water. Life is hard, but Hondurans often seem to be smiling. Despite their problems, they are known as a friendly, happy people.

     The biggest city is the capital, Tegucigalpa (teh-goo-chee-GAHL-pah). But more business takes place in the city of San Pedro Sula. Children in both cities and farmlands must go to school for five years. In addition to reading and writing, farm children raise crops at their schools. City children work in school gardens. The girls sweep the schoolyard and the boys cut the grass. They don't use lawnmowers though. They slash the grass with a sharp blade called a machete. Many children leave school after only a couple of years. About one-quarter of the people cannot read and write.

     Hondurans love soccer. They also enjoy horseback riding, basketball, baseball and biking.

     Language

     Spanish is the official language of Honduras. English can also be heard. Many native languages are still spoken. Most native languages don't have a written form. People often talk with hand gestures, especially when they are excited. Hondurans always make time for pleasantness. Girlfriends greet each other with hugs and kisses. Business letters start with best wishes. Late for a meeting? Hondurans will forgive lateness, but not a late person who fails to say "good day" with a hearty buenos dias! (BWAY-nohs DEE-ahs).   

 Food

     Mealtime also includes polite best wishes. When sitting down to a meal, Hondurans say Buen provecho (BWEN proh-VAY-choh), or "much good may it [the food] do you."

     Everyone eats tortillas. Women may spend much of the day preparing the corn flour and baking them. Corn, beans and rice form much of the Honduran diet. A favorite dish is plato tipico. It's a tortilla stuffed with beef, pork, grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes and more. Fish, shrimp and lobster also make tasty dishes. Bananas are a plentiful, popular and healthy food. Hondurans do a lot of cooking outside. In their hot climate, it makes sense to use big outdoor adobe ovens.

     Dress

     The school day ends. The solemn blue uniforms come off. It's time to dance! Garifuna women sway in long colorful skirts and matching head cloths. Spanish dancers also wear brightly colored skirts. Both men and women wear ruffled shirts.

     Arts & Music

     Hondurans have many chances to wear their dance costumes. There are hundreds of traditional dances. The punta (POON-tah) came to Honduras with African Caribs. Now it's popular with everyone.

     Drums accompany the punta but marimba music remains popular, too. The marimba is played like a xylophone, but it's bigger. Several people play it at the same time.

     Folk art often takes the form of pottery, basket weaving or woodcarving.

     Religion

     Honduras is mainly a Roman Catholic country. People celebrate all the Catholic holidays, including festivals for patron saints. Honduras adds another holiday called the Day of Suyapa, the Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of the whole country. Many girls are named in her honor.

     Other Christian religions are also practiced in Honduras. Many native tribes continue to follow their traditional beliefs.

     Holidays, Traditions & Folklore

     Perhaps Hondurans remain cheerful because they have so many holidays. There is always a large or small celebration going on. Hondurans celebrate Tree Day, Teacher's Day and Flag Day. Kids have both a Children's Day and a Students' Day. And, like most of Central and South America, they celebrate Columbus Day. Bigger holidays include New Year's Eve, Easter and Christmas. Each patron saint has a festival or fair day, too. The celebration includes cockfights.

     The feast of St. Anthony reminds people of a popular duende story. Grandparents often tell youngsters about a rascal who lives in the woods called the duende (DWEHN-day). In the St. Anthony story, the duende tries to lead a young girl astray by distracting her with magical flowers and mysterious whistles. The girl becomes lost. When she decides to give the flowers to St. Anthony, she is miraculously returned to her friends.

Fun Facts

     Honduras is a young country. More than half of the population is under twenty years old. Four out of ten people are children.

     The world's second largest coral reef is located off the coast of Honduras. Divers can see an exciting variety of brightly colored tropical fish.

     No, you didn't take a wrong turn. There really is a city in Honduras named Miami Beach!

 

SIRS DISCOVERER: CULTURE FACTS
June 6, 2002, n.p.

Copyright © 2002, SIRS Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 

Sources

     McGaffey, Leta. Cultures of the World: Honduras. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1999.

     Merrick, Patrick. Faces and Places: Honduras. United States: The Child's World, 2001.

     Peace Corps of the United States of America. Destination: Honduras. World Wise Schools, prod. 1995.

     United States. Dept. of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. Background Notes: Honduras. (June 2002). .