Culture of Honduras
Encyclopedia
The wealth of cultural expression in Honduras
owes its origins primarily to being a part of Latin America
but also to the multi-ethnic nature of the country. The population comprises 90% Mestizo
, 7% Amerindian, 2% Black
and 1% Caucasian
. This influences all facets of the culture: customs, practices, ways of dressing, religion, rituals, codes of behavior and belief systems.
Hondurans celebrate national holidays and special events in the form of carnivals, fairs and parades throughout the year. For instance, in La Ceiba
the annual carnival
is a week-long celebration with music, exhibitions and special food, culminating in the most popular carnival in the country: "The Carnival of Friendship".
The Feria Juniana (June Fair) of San Pedro Sula
includes different musical concerts performed throughout the week. Visitors can also attend sporting events and a variety of exhibitions.
Puerto Cortés
celebrates its fair in August with a "Venice
" theme which includes parades of gondolas and other boats in the bay, and an evening fireworks
display launched from boats.
Being a predominantly Catholic country, Honduras gives special attention to the celebrations of Holy Week
. In some regions of the country, such as Comayagua
, Choluteca, Copán
and Intibucá, procession
s are held, especially during Thursday and Good Friday
. Through these events, Hondurans commemorate the sacrifice they believe Jesus Christ made for humanity by reenacting the events that happened during the week between Palm Sunday and Jesus Christ crucifixion. The most outstanding event is the creation of the sawdust carpets. People will decorate the trail where Jesus will walk through (to his crucifixion) to make the walk less painful for Christ. Some people - particularly the inhabitants of the North and South Coast - use this week as an opportunity to visit beaches, rivers and swimming pools, due to the stifling heat that reigns during this time of year.
Hondurans celebrate Christmas
Eve and New Year
's Eve on the 24th and 31 December respectively. During these celebrations, the majority of Honduran homes cook special dishes to mark the occasion. Favorites include tamales wrapped with banana leaves, roast pigs' legs, and pastries. All of these celebrations are complemented at the end of the night with fireworks and firecrackers.
Other celebrations of special interest to Hondurans include Mothers' Day, Children's Day, Labor Day, Teachers' Day and Friendship Day.
, and others. During the Spanish invasion of the 16th century, the Lenca organized a decade-long war of resistance. Chief Lempira, one of the most important Honduran heroes, was from the Lenca tribe. His death at the hands of Rodrigo Ruiz
allowed the conquest of the final part of Honduran territory by the Spanish.
The Lencas have lost their language and the majority of their religious practices. However, they still make peace agreements in the traditional way, offer gifts to their ancestral gods, and some of their original forms of dress are still preserved. Basic nutrition comes from grains, especially corn, from which they produce a drink called "Chicha
". Pottery
is also an important cultural element for the Lencas artistically and economically.
Honduran Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga was a candidate to replace Pope John Paul II
after his death in 2005.
Salvador Moncada
is a scientist of Honduran origin. He is married to Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium. His principal area of study is pharmacology, especially with respect to the effects of products of the metabolism of diverse acids, as well as the synthesis, action, and degradation of the biological mediator nitric oxide.
America Ferrera
, an American actress, was born in Los Angeles
to Honduran parents. Best known for the lead role in ABC's
"Ugly Betty
", she has also been successful on the big screen with her role in Real Women Have Curves
. She has also won a Golden Globe Award
and received recognition from the Screen Actors Guild
.
David Archuleta
, finalist and runner-up of season 7 of "American Idol
," and Jive Records
artist, was born in Miami, Florida to a Honduran mother, Lupe, and an American father, Jeff. On September 17, 2009 he was awarded Male Music Rising Star at the 2009 ALMA Awards (American Latino Media Arts Awards). David performed "Contigo En La Distancia" on the show, receiving strong praise and recognition from critics and viewers alike. He has also won five Teen Choice Awards
.
Neyda Sandoval
and Satcha Pretto
work with Univisión
of the United States. Renán Almendárez Coello
from Honduras is the morning man on radio station KLAX-FM
of Los Angeles
. He has been active in charity work, assisting the poor of Central America
and Mexico
.
In sports, Hondurans stand out in soccer. Among the most outstanding players are José Cardona
who played for Atlético Madrid in Spain
; Gilberto Yearwood
who played in Elche, Spain; Porfirio Betancourt, who played in France; Carlos Pavón
, who currently plays for Real España; and David Suazo
, current player of Internazionale
, who was named The Most Valuable Foreign Player of the Italian league in 2006. Others include Julio César de León
in Torino, Italy; Edgar Álvarez
in Bari, in Italy; Wilson Palacios
in Tottenham Hotspur of England, Maynor Figueroa
in Wigan
of England; Amado Guevara
in Motagua, Honduras; and Carlo Costly
in SC Valsui of Rumania.
At the international level the musical group Banda Blanca
stands out, with their hits "Sopa De Caracol", "Do you Know Who Came?" and "Fiesta". Although the group produces merengueros
rhythms, the Calypso
and other Caribbean rhythms, their specialty is the Punta style, which they popularized during the 1990s.
Other musical groups include The Professionals, The Gran Banda, The Rolands, the rocker group Black Devils, and Trilogy.
is a representative dish of the Honduran gastronomy
. It consists of a flour tortilla
which is folded and filled with refried beans, quesillo cheese or Parmesan cheese and sour cream. Roast meat or scrambled eggs can be added if desired.
Other popular dishes include grilled meat with chimol (diced tomato, onion and bell pepper); carne asada
(roasted meat); chicken with rice and corn; fried fish with pickled onions; and fried or baked plantain
. In the coastal areas and in the Bay Islands, seafood and meats are sometimes prepared with coconut milk
.
Among the soups the Hondurans enjoy are bean soup, Sopa de mondongo
(tripe soup), seafood soup, and beef soup, all of which are mixed with plaintains, cassava
, cabbage, and other vegetables, and complemented by corn tortillas.
Other typical dishes are montucas (corn tamales filled with meat and vegetables), stuffed tortillas, and tamales wrapped up with banana leaves. Honduran cuisine also features an abundant selection of tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, plums, sapote
s, passion fruits, and bananas, which are prepared in many ways while they are still green.
Honduras enjoys freedom of worship. Hondurans are predominantly Christian with an increasing number practising evangelicalism
.
The second Catholic mass celebrated in continental American territory was carried out on August 14, 1502 in Punta Caxinas, two weeks after the discovery of Honduras by Christopher Columbus
. The Catholic faith is still strong among Hondurans. The Catholic Church in Honduras
is composed of eight dioceses: Tegucigalpa
, Comayagua
, Choluteca
, Olancho, Yoro
, San Pedro Sula
, Trujillo
and Copán
, which are a part of the Conference Espiscopal of Honduras.
Protestant churches are structured into three confederacies: The Shepherds' Association of Honduras, the Evangelical Brotherhood of Honduras and the Apostolic Network of Honduras.
In recent years, both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches, especially the Pentecostal denominations, have experienced growth in the number of new parishioners. The churches make use of TV stations, radio, newspapers, universities and the Internet.
In addition to these Christian religions, there are significant groups who profess Islam
and Judaism
.
by General Francisco Morazán
from Guatemala
. He used it to begin publication in 1830 of The Gazette of the government. Bulletins and informative weekly papers soon followed.
In 1831, the newspaper known as The Beam was born, which had a short duration. At the end of 19th century, The Chronicle commenced publication; next came The Newspaper of Honduras and The People (an official newspaper of the Honduran Liberal Party, which later ceased publication).
Honduras has a good number of newspapers and magazines, through which the Honduran people stay well informed. Of these the oldest is La Prensa, founded on October 26, 1964 in San Pedro Sula
. El Tiempo has been in publication since 1970. In the capital city of Tegucigalpa
, The Tribune and later The Herald appeared in the mid 1970s.
With the Internet came hondudiarioh.com, Proceso Digital and the English weekly paper Honduras This Week. Recently sports magazines such as AS and Diez have appeared, with an emphasis on soccer.
Television arrived in Honduras in 1959 with the arrival of channel 5. Today there are five channels produced in Honduras.
Except for the news and sports programs, for many years these channels transmitted programs produced in Mexico
and Venezuela
. As a result of this, many Honduran were influenced by the cultures of these countries, adopting their sayings and behavior. With the arrival of the cable system, Hondurans have the opportunity to watch programs from Spain
, Argentina
, and the United States
. The cultural impact of these programs remains to be seen.
Radio
also has contributed to the cultural development of Honduras. Major players include Radio America
and HRN, a member of the National System of Broadcasting Stations.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
owes its origins primarily to being a part of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
but also to the multi-ethnic nature of the country. The population comprises 90% Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
, 7% Amerindian, 2% Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
and 1% Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
. This influences all facets of the culture: customs, practices, ways of dressing, religion, rituals, codes of behavior and belief systems.
Popular culture
Popular culture in Honduras, as in most countries, is expressed not so much through sophisticated artistic creations, but rather by popular events that draw big crowds. In Honduras, such artistic and cultural events are held on specific days of the year and through special celebrations. They have a special kind of dance and music the Hondurans hold proudly. They have gatherings to sing and dance; they call it "punta".Hondurans celebrate national holidays and special events in the form of carnivals, fairs and parades throughout the year. For instance, in La Ceiba
La Ceiba
La Ceiba is a port city on the northern coast of Honduras in Central America. It is located on the southern edge of the Caribbean, forming part of the south eastern boundary of the Gulf of Honduras...
the annual carnival
La Ceiba Carnival
The La Ceiba Carnival , is an annual celebration in La Ceiba, Honduras held every 3rd or 4th Saturday of May. The event is in held in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of the city...
is a week-long celebration with music, exhibitions and special food, culminating in the most popular carnival in the country: "The Carnival of Friendship".
The Feria Juniana (June Fair) of San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
includes different musical concerts performed throughout the week. Visitors can also attend sporting events and a variety of exhibitions.
Puerto Cortés
Puerto Cortés
-Geography:It is on the Caribbean Sea coast, north of San Pedro Sula and east of Omoa, at 15.85° N, 87.94° W. It has a natural bay.It is Honduras's main sea port and it is considered the most important seaport in Central America...
celebrates its fair in August with a "Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
" theme which includes parades of gondolas and other boats in the bay, and an evening fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display launched from boats.
Being a predominantly Catholic country, Honduras gives special attention to the celebrations of Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
. In some regions of the country, such as Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, Choluteca, Copán
Copán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
and Intibucá, procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s are held, especially during Thursday and Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
. Through these events, Hondurans commemorate the sacrifice they believe Jesus Christ made for humanity by reenacting the events that happened during the week between Palm Sunday and Jesus Christ crucifixion. The most outstanding event is the creation of the sawdust carpets. People will decorate the trail where Jesus will walk through (to his crucifixion) to make the walk less painful for Christ. Some people - particularly the inhabitants of the North and South Coast - use this week as an opportunity to visit beaches, rivers and swimming pools, due to the stifling heat that reigns during this time of year.
Hondurans celebrate Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Eve and New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
's Eve on the 24th and 31 December respectively. During these celebrations, the majority of Honduran homes cook special dishes to mark the occasion. Favorites include tamales wrapped with banana leaves, roast pigs' legs, and pastries. All of these celebrations are complemented at the end of the night with fireworks and firecrackers.
Other celebrations of special interest to Hondurans include Mothers' Day, Children's Day, Labor Day, Teachers' Day and Friendship Day.
Lenca Culture
About 6% of the Honduran population are indigenous people sub-divided into small groups as follows: Lenca, Xicaques, Miskitos, Payas, the Ch'orti'Ch'orti' people
The Ch'orti' people are one of the indigenous Maya peoples, who primarily reside in communities and towns of southeastern Guatemala, northwestern Honduras, and northern El Salvador. Their indigenous language, also known as Ch'orti', is a survival of Classic Choltian, the language of the...
, and others. During the Spanish invasion of the 16th century, the Lenca organized a decade-long war of resistance. Chief Lempira, one of the most important Honduran heroes, was from the Lenca tribe. His death at the hands of Rodrigo Ruiz
Rodrigo Ruiz
Rodrigo Patricio Ruiz de Barbieri is a Mexican-Chilean footballer. He played for Unión Española, Toros Neza, Santos Laguna, CD Veracruz, and now plays for Estudiantes Tecos of the Primera División de México...
allowed the conquest of the final part of Honduran territory by the Spanish.
The Lencas have lost their language and the majority of their religious practices. However, they still make peace agreements in the traditional way, offer gifts to their ancestral gods, and some of their original forms of dress are still preserved. Basic nutrition comes from grains, especially corn, from which they produce a drink called "Chicha
Chicha
For the musical genre, see Peruvian cumbiaChicha is a term used in some regions of Latin America for several varieties of fermented and non-fermented beverages, rather often to those derived from maize and similar non-alcoholic beverages...
". Pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
is also an important cultural element for the Lencas artistically and economically.
Famous Hondurans
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
after his death in 2005.
Salvador Moncada
Salvador Moncada
Sir Salvador Enrique Moncada, FRS, FRCP, FRCS is a Honduran-British physician and pharmacologist. He is the husband of Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium, who is a member of the Belgian Royal Family.-Background:...
is a scientist of Honduran origin. He is married to Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium. His principal area of study is pharmacology, especially with respect to the effects of products of the metabolism of diverse acids, as well as the synthesis, action, and degradation of the biological mediator nitric oxide.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera
America Georgina Ferrera is an American actress, best known for playing the lead role in the television comedy series Ugly Betty...
, an American actress, was born in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Honduran parents. Best known for the lead role in ABC's
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
"Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
", she has also been successful on the big screen with her role in Real Women Have Curves
Real Women Have Curves
Real Women Have Curves is a 2002 American movie starring America Ferrera. Directed by Patricia Cardoso and produced by George LaVoo from a screenplay by LaVoo and Josefina Lopez , it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in addition to Special Jury Prizes for both...
. She has also won a Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
and received recognition from the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
.
David Archuleta
David Archuleta
David Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
, finalist and runner-up of season 7 of "American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
," and Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
artist, was born in Miami, Florida to a Honduran mother, Lupe, and an American father, Jeff. On September 17, 2009 he was awarded Male Music Rising Star at the 2009 ALMA Awards (American Latino Media Arts Awards). David performed "Contigo En La Distancia" on the show, receiving strong praise and recognition from critics and viewers alike. He has also won five Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
.
Neyda Sandoval
Neyda Sandoval
Neida Sandoval is a journalist and television news anchor.She enjoys horseriding, having grown up in her native Honduras. She is married to an American David Cochran...
and Satcha Pretto
Satcha Pretto
Satcha Pretto is an Emmy award-winning Journalist and news co-anchor of the Univision Network's popular morning show Despierta America.-General information:...
work with Univisión
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
of the United States. Renán Almendárez Coello
Renán Almendárez Coello
Renán Almendárez Coello currently hosts an all day Saturday program on KWKW Radio Los Angeles. He has entered into a multi year agreement to launch a syndicated version of the Saturday show . Prior to KWKW, Renan hosted the morning show on KLAX-FM in Los Angeles, California...
from Honduras is the morning man on radio station KLAX-FM
KLAX-FM
KLAX-FM is an American commercial radio station located in East Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area. KLAX-FM airs a regional Mexican music format branded as "La Raza".-History:...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He has been active in charity work, assisting the poor of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In sports, Hondurans stand out in soccer. Among the most outstanding players are José Cardona
José Cardona
José Enrique Gutiérrez Cardona, more commonly known as Cardona or Indio Cardona or Coneja Cardona, is a retired professional football player born on February 27, 1939 in Potrerillos, Honduras....
who played for Atlético Madrid in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; Gilberto Yearwood
Gilberto Yearwood
Gilberto Gerónimo Yearwood is a retired Honduran football player. He is by many regarded as one of Honduras' best players of all time. Currently, he is coach of Guatemalan side, Xinabajul.- Club career :...
who played in Elche, Spain; Porfirio Betancourt, who played in France; Carlos Pavón
Carlos Pavón
Carlos Alberto Pavón Plummer is a Honduran football striker.He is most costly related to Real C.D. España of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras....
, who currently plays for Real España; and David Suazo
David Suazo
Óscar David Suazo Velázquez is a Honduran football striker who currently plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. He is also a member of the Honduran national team.-Early career:...
, current player of Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, who was named The Most Valuable Foreign Player of the Italian league in 2006. Others include Julio César de León
Julio César de León
Julio César de León Dailey is a Honduran footballer who plays for Shandong Luneng Taishan in the Chinese Super League. He is known for being a free-kick specialist and he is an important key for the Honduras National Football Team.-Early career:...
in Torino, Italy; Edgar Álvarez
Edgar Álvarez
Edgard Anthony Álvarez Reyes is a Honduran footballer. He currently plays for Palermo. He can play anywhere on the right flank.-Career:...
in Bari, in Italy; Wilson Palacios
Wilson Palacios
Wilson Roberto Palacios Suazo is a Honduran footballer who plays in the Premier League for Stoke City.Born in La Ceiba, he played for Victoria and Olimpia in Honduras before moving to England where he played for Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic. In 2009 he joined Tottenham Hotspur, generally...
in Tottenham Hotspur of England, Maynor Figueroa
Maynor Figueroa
Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez is a Honduran footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Wigan Athletic.-Club career:...
in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
of England; Amado Guevara
Amado Guevara
Amado Guevara is a Honduran football player who currently plays for Motagua in the Liga Nacional de Honduras. He is the all-time cap leader for the Honduran national team.-Club:...
in Motagua, Honduras; and Carlo Costly
Carlo Costly
Carlos Yaír "Carlo" Costly Molina is a Honduran footballer who plays as a striker for Houston Dynamo. He is a member of the Honduras national football team. Prior to his transfer to Europe, he played with Club Deportivo Platense where he managed to be the top scorer of Honduras Apertura...
in SC Valsui of Rumania.
Music
Some notable Honduran musicians include Rafael Coello Ramos, Lidia Handal, Victoriano López, Guillermo Anderson, Victor Donaire, Francisco Carranza, Camilo Rivera Guevara, and Moisés Canelo.At the international level the musical group Banda Blanca
Banda Blanca
Banda Blanca is a Honduran musical ensemble formed in January 17, 1971. They began as a rock band, but eventually integrated elements of merengue and punta to their music. The name of the band came after Antonio Lungas wanted a band to perform on the night club named "Garzas Blancas", and...
stands out, with their hits "Sopa De Caracol", "Do you Know Who Came?" and "Fiesta". Although the group produces merengueros
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
rhythms, the Calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
and other Caribbean rhythms, their specialty is the Punta style, which they popularized during the 1990s.
Other musical groups include The Professionals, The Gran Banda, The Rolands, the rocker group Black Devils, and Trilogy.
Cuisine
The baleadaBaleada
Baleadas are one of Honduras's most original and popular foods. A baleada is a wheat flour tortilla, often quite thick, folded in half and filled with mashed fried beans. They originate in El Progreso This is the no-frills baleada. People may also add other ingredients...
is a representative dish of the Honduran gastronomy
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
. It consists of a flour tortilla
Tortilla
In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize...
which is folded and filled with refried beans, quesillo cheese or Parmesan cheese and sour cream. Roast meat or scrambled eggs can be added if desired.
Other popular dishes include grilled meat with chimol (diced tomato, onion and bell pepper); carne asada
Carne asada
In Mexican cuisine, "Carne asada" is an item that consists of thin beef steak. The meat can be marinated by rubbing with olive oil and salt or with spice rubs such as lemon and pepper or garlic salt, lime, or Worcestershire sauce, before being cooked on a grill. The meat can be served alone or...
(roasted meat); chicken with rice and corn; fried fish with pickled onions; and fried or baked plantain
Plantain
Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
. In the coastal areas and in the Bay Islands, seafood and meats are sometimes prepared with coconut milk
Coconut milk
Coconut milk is the water that comes from the grated meat of a coconut. The colour and rich taste of the milk can be attributed to the high oil content. In many parts of the world, the term coconut milk is also used to refer to coconut water, the naturally occurring liquid found inside the hollow...
.
Among the soups the Hondurans enjoy are bean soup, Sopa de mondongo
Sopa de Mondongo
Sopa de mondongo is a soup made from slow-cooked diced tripe and, vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic or root vegetables originating from Latin America and the Caribbean.-Variations:Many variations of sopa de mondongo exist in Latin America...
(tripe soup), seafood soup, and beef soup, all of which are mixed with plaintains, cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, cabbage, and other vegetables, and complemented by corn tortillas.
Other typical dishes are montucas (corn tamales filled with meat and vegetables), stuffed tortillas, and tamales wrapped up with banana leaves. Honduran cuisine also features an abundant selection of tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, plums, sapote
Sapote
Sapote is a term for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America....
s, passion fruits, and bananas, which are prepared in many ways while they are still green.
Religion
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
.
The second Catholic mass celebrated in continental American territory was carried out on August 14, 1502 in Punta Caxinas, two weeks after the discovery of Honduras by Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. The Catholic faith is still strong among Hondurans. The Catholic Church in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
is composed of eight dioceses: Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, Choluteca
Choluteca, Choluteca
Choluteca is a municipality and the capital city of the Honduran department of the same name. Situated in southern Honduras between El Salvador and Nicaragua, the city is generally considered the regional center of southern Honduras and is a major transit point on the Pan-American Highway. It...
, Olancho, Yoro
Yoro
Yoro is the capital city of the Yoro department of Honduras....
, San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
, Trujillo
Trujillo, Colón
Trujillo is a city and a municipality on the northern Caribbean coast of the Honduran department of Colón, of which the city is the capital. The municipality has a population of about 30,000 . The city is located on a bluff overlooking the Bay of Trujillo. Behind the city rise two prominent...
and Copán
Copán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
, which are a part of the Conference Espiscopal of Honduras.
Protestant churches are structured into three confederacies: The Shepherds' Association of Honduras, the Evangelical Brotherhood of Honduras and the Apostolic Network of Honduras.
In recent years, both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches, especially the Pentecostal denominations, have experienced growth in the number of new parishioners. The churches make use of TV stations, radio, newspapers, universities and the Internet.
In addition to these Christian religions, there are significant groups who profess Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
The Press, Television and Radio
The first printing press was brought to HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
by General Francisco Morazán
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. He used it to begin publication in 1830 of The Gazette of the government. Bulletins and informative weekly papers soon followed.
In 1831, the newspaper known as The Beam was born, which had a short duration. At the end of 19th century, The Chronicle commenced publication; next came The Newspaper of Honduras and The People (an official newspaper of the Honduran Liberal Party, which later ceased publication).
Honduras has a good number of newspapers and magazines, through which the Honduran people stay well informed. Of these the oldest is La Prensa, founded on October 26, 1964 in San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
. El Tiempo has been in publication since 1970. In the capital city of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, The Tribune and later The Herald appeared in the mid 1970s.
With the Internet came hondudiarioh.com, Proceso Digital and the English weekly paper Honduras This Week. Recently sports magazines such as AS and Diez have appeared, with an emphasis on soccer.
Television arrived in Honduras in 1959 with the arrival of channel 5. Today there are five channels produced in Honduras.
Except for the news and sports programs, for many years these channels transmitted programs produced in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. As a result of this, many Honduran were influenced by the cultures of these countries, adopting their sayings and behavior. With the arrival of the cable system, Hondurans have the opportunity to watch programs from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The cultural impact of these programs remains to be seen.
Radio
Radio in Honduras
Radio in Honduras began in 1928, when the Tela Railroad Company established Tropical Radio. The first commercial radio station, Radio HRN, began broadcasting in 1933.-History:...
also has contributed to the cultural development of Honduras. Major players include Radio America
Radio America (Honduras)
Radio America is a radio station operating in Honduras since 1948. It currently operates out of both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.-External links:...
and HRN, a member of the National System of Broadcasting Stations.
See also
- Honduran literatureHonduran literatureIn the late 19th and early 20th centuries, famous Honduran literature was written by Froylán Turcios and the modernist poet Juan Ramón Molina. Lucila Gamero is the most important Honduran romantic novelist. Ramón Amaya Amador's Green Prison is the novel that marks the beginning of Honduran social...
- Latin American cultureLatin American cultureLatin American culture is the formal or informal expression of the peoples of Latin America, and includes both high culture and popular culture as well as religion and other customary practices....
- Hispanic culture