Chile's Culture

Cuisine

Chilean cuisine stems mainly from the combination of Spanish cuisine with traditional Chilean ingredients, with later influences from other European cuisines, particularly from Germany, Italy, Croatia, France and the Middle East. The food tradition and recipes in Chile stand out due to the varieties in flavors and colors. The country's long coastline and the Chilean peoples' relationship with the sea adds an immense array of ocean products to the variety of the food in Chile. The country's waters are home to unique species of fish and shellfish such as the Chilean sea bass, loco and picoroco. In addition, many Chilean recipes are enhanced and accompanied by wine, owing to the fact that Chile is one of the world's largest producers of wine. The country's immense geographical diversity allows for a wide range of crops and fruits to be present in Chilean food.

Music and dance

Chile's national dance is the cueca. The dance is a story of a man pursuing a woman who plays coy hiding behind her handkerchief. You will see the dance performed at every important festival in Chile, and especially on the Chilean National Day on the 18th of September. Dancers dress in the traditional costumes of the Chilean huaso and wave their white handkerchiefs in the air.

The most important music movement is from the 1960's. The "nueva canción" (new song) movement put emphasis on the guitar sound and also traditional Andean instruments as the troubadour sang politically based songs. The lyrics are not necessarily associated with party politics, but rather focus on the struggle for a change and the value of rural life and beauty. While the music is a bit outdated politically, most Chileans still continue to appreciate the music from groups that continue the traditions today.