Urbanizing Honduras

The Garinagu

erijnl — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:03:01 +0000

The Garinagu or singular Garifuna people of Central America are a diverse and interesting subculture within Central America and the Caribbean coast primarily inhabiting Belize, Guatemala, St. Vincent, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Descendants of Caribbean, Arawak, and West African people. British Colonial administration used the term “black Carib an Garinagu to distinguish the population from the Amerindian populations that had not intermarried with Africans. “One of the earliest accounts of the ancestors of the Garinagu comes from the 17th-century French missionary Raymond Breton. Living on the island of Saint Vincent in the 1630s, Breton recorded the Black Caribs’ oral history of their migration from South America’s Orinoco region. According to legend, these Arawak-speaking people of the Orinoco came to St. Vincent long before the arrival of Europeans to the New World. They lived along with the Carib men. At some point, two Hispanic ships carrying West African slaves on their way to the Americas arrived on the island. The slaves successfully integrated into the population, adding an African element to the culture. When the British took over Saint Vincent after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, they were opposed by French settlers and their Carib allies. After a series of Carib Wars, which were encouraged and supported by the French, and the death of their leader Satuye (Chatoyer), they surrendered to the British in 1796. The British considered the Black Caribs enemies and deported them to Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras. In the process, the British separated the more African-looking Caribs from the more Amerindian-looking ones. They decided that the former were enemies who had to be deported, while the latter were merely “misled” and were allowed to remain. Five thousand Black Caribs were deported, but only about 2,500 of them survived the voyage to Roatán. Because the island was too small and infertile to support their population, the Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities to be allowed to settle on the mainland. The Spanish employed them, and they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America.” Although they stand, as an individual subculture Garifuna culture is rich and diverse speaking a unique language as well as the official language of the country they inhabit. Besides the Garinagu self-proclaimed language they also celebrate Catholicism as well as a vast heritage of food, music and dance. The strong Caribbean influence throughout the Central American Caribbean coast attribute too much of the regions diversity and culture within all elements of culture and heritage.

“Garifuna -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 08 Dec. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garifuna>.

Honduran Food

erijnl — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:47:01 +0000

Honduran diets consist primarily consist of beans rice and corn like many countries in southern and Central America. The frequent use of the coconut sets Honduran cuisine apart from most of the region. Meat is also a frequent in Honduran diet fish, carne asada, chicken, and pork are often fried or grilled with chimol. Common tropical fruits like papaya, pineapple, plums, zapotes, bananas sometimes prepared while still green and plaintain, often wrapping tamales in banana leaves instead of cornhusk. Starting with a heavy breakfast consisting of fried eggs, fried plaintain, avocado, smashed re-fried beans, sour cream, and slices of cheese. Sometimes including chorizo or other roasted meats, tortillas, and Honduran coffee, this breakfast is so popular even international fast food chains like burger king have adapted there menu. Sopa or soup is also popular among all of Latin American culture including Honduras, Sopa de Caracol, or Sopa Marinera is a representative dish of their specific region. Cooking conch in coconut milk prepares it; this broth is then spiced with yucca, cilantro, and green plaintains known as guineo verde. The soup can be served with a variety of seafood including crab, fish, or shrimp. Carne Asada or Carneada is a national dish and a “plato tipico” of Honduras and many other Southern and Central American countries. Preparing the meat becomes a social event with drinks and music; the meat is usually marinated in sour orange juice, salt, pepper and spices, and is then grilled. Rice and beans are often prepared together and cooked in coconut milk with cilantro and spices. Fried Yojoa Fish is another region specific dish that is specifically found in Yojoa Lake. The fish is spiced and salted and then deep fried and served with pickled onions, jalapenos, red cabbage, and deep fried plaintains. Baleada is a common street dish made of flour tortilla folded and filled with mashed refried beans; quesillo or parmesan cheese and sour cream, often added are roasted meats and scrambled eggs. Yucca con chicharron is another type of side dish made of yucca served with raw cabbage with lemon. On top are chicharrones, which are deep fried season pork fat and skin, tomato hot sauce and mojo (made with oil, garlic, onion, spices such as oregano and bitter orange or limejuice. Finally the most important element served with almost every dish is maiz or corn, which is the main ingredient in tortillas, which are served as a side with almost every dish. Corn comes as a form of inheritance from the Maya-Lenca ancestors; the maya believed the corn to be sacred, and that the father gods created men from it. As for my experience with Honduran cuisine I ate at Honduras Kitchen on 4^th street in Long Beach, Ca. I ordered the plato tipico, which is filled with grilled beef, chorizo sausages, chismol, fried plaintains, refried beans, tortillas, and sour cream. All of which I had eaten before, and enjoyed which was no different then this experience. I also enjoyed a plate of carne asada traditionally prepared and served with plantains, rice, and refried beans, as well as tortillas, which were among the best I have ever had. The portions were gigantic but delicious and because I am already so fond of southern and Central American cooking, I cannot wait to enjoy these delicious sweet and savory flavors again very soon. In addition the restaurant plays Honduran TV shows and plays Honduran music. Overall the experience was on I am very glad to have had.

El Dia de los Muertos and Honduran Celebrations of the Dead

erijnl — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:02:15 +0000

El Dia de los Muertos is a Latin American Celebration of life. Families gather in cemeteries, civic centers, and in privacy to remember and mourn family members who have died. The holiday occurs in connection with the Catholic Holiday of All Saints’ Day on November first and All Souls’ Day on November second. Traditions include private altars, sugar skulls, marigolds, the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these gifts. The origins are traced back to Aztec rituals celebrating the death of ancestors, and became a modern festivity dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl known as “Lady of the Dead” corresponding to the modern Catrina. In specifics the dates originally ran in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar but was later celebrated on November 1 which is primarily dedicated to celebration of children or infants also referred to as Day of the Innocents, and the second reserved to honor the adults. A common symbol of the holiday is the skull or the Calavera that is usually worn in a mask or painted on the face. The traditional folk art and handmade craft is defined signature of the cultures mantra to make death more light hearted, celebratory, in mourning. The Honduran National Dance also facilitates this principle of celebrating death. The traditional dance is called the “Punta” which is preformed at wakes of Garifuna people who are indigenous to the Caribbean Coast. The dance is performed in celebration of ancestry and the person’s life and the thousands more who will now follow after him. It is performed and sung at the end of the wake to the fin de novenario and is played with traditional instruments and like gospel music sounds happy but meanings are often very sad. The rhythm is very complex making the footsteps quick this celebratory dance of death also occurs in Jamaican and West African cultures. The philosophy of celebrating the dead carries through many Central American rituals. Today all around the world you can find Dia de los Muertos celebration, exhibits, and crafts with contemporary meaning. On November 7, 2009 at the Santa Ana artwalk I will be participating in an exhibit of photography and painting of Day of the Dead Catrinas and traditional designs, which I am currently working on right now, ad, have already been involved in the photo shoot.

Works Cited

“Day of the Dead -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Dia De Los Muertos – Welcome. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Garifuna.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Griffin, Wendy. “Expressions of Honduras.” Stanford University. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Santa Ana Artwalk. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Hurricane Mitch

erijnl — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:24:45 +0000

Hurricane Mitch formed on October 22, 1998 in the western Caribbean Sea drifting south west ward and hitting Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The hurricane moved very slowly through Central America dropping Historic amounts of rainfall which accounted for serious damage. Overall an estimated eleven thousand were killed and another eleven thousand left missing, while 2.7 million remained homeless. The estimated total damage was around 6.5 billion 2008 USD. The most severe destruction occurred in Honduras where the highest toll of destruction was caused. As it approached it sent 22’ waves at the coast line and dropped 36 inches in the city of Choluteca where over 18 inches of rain fell in a single day. This storm accounted for an average rainfall of around 212 normal days and estimates of 75 inches of rain in mountain regions. The accounted for widespread flooding across most of the nation as well as mudslide that caused 3.8 billion in total damage that has caused sever socio economic struggle for the nation. Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores claimed it destroyed 50 years in progress for the country in means of transportation, communication, and agriculture. Economically the nation’s sever crop losses which affected more than 300 square miles of the countries arable land and destroyed 70% of the country’s crops of corn, sorghum, rice, beans, banana, sugar cane, melons, African palms, and coffee output. With the large amount of animal loss and near complete destruction of what was a large exporting shrimp industry the nation would take a 2 billion dollar loss in agriculture. With casualties around 6,500 and, over 20% of the population left homeless, and severe crop shortage many villages were left to starvation and a lack of sanitation led to outbreaks of malaria, cholera, and dengue fever. Today Honduras is among the ten poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with a per capita gross domestic product of US$3,100 annually. In addition to the slow growth of the economy the distribution of wealth remains very polarized with average wages remaining very low. At the growth of about 5% a year still approximately 50% about 3.7 million remain below the poverty line. As well as nearly a year ago on the decade anniversary of Hurricane Mitch the 2008 Hurricane season again affected two hundred thousand Hondurans forcing another twenty thousand to flee for shelter. It remains evident that the nation will have to continue to overcome and better sustain the effects of hurricanes.

Works Cited

“Central America After Hurricane Mitch – Honduras.” Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

“Honduras | Lightstalkers.” Journalists, filmmakers, photographers, and professional travelers. | Lightstalkers. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

“Hurricane Mitch -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

“NCDC: Hurricane Mitch.” NCDC: * National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) *. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

“UNICEF – Honduras – Ten years after Hurricane Mitch, Honduran children and families look back.” UNICEF – UNICEF Home. Web. 13 Oct. 2009. .

Introduction of urban and rural Honduras

erijnl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:00:56 +0000

Urbanizing Honduras purpose is to inform and maintain a dialogue consistent with the Central American Country of Honduras. The blog will focus on current affairs, culture, environment and design in this emerging urbanizing nation and contrast its very diverse living conditions, predominately in the nations capital Tegucigalpa as well as the countries other 18 departments. Honduras is Central Americas second largest country and although it’s poverty line is nearly 50% of the population. Hondurans traditional agrarian economy makes it one of the least urbanized central American countries. Sixty percent of Honduran Land still remains densely forested leaving twenty-five percent available for agriculture and pastureland with a low productivity this leads to a low standard of living among much of the rural farm lands, where malnutrition and sanitation problems have been and still are a social norm. This is contrasted by the urban cities that feature all the amenities of any other major city, as well as major companies such as Hondutel a Honduran telecommunications company that have already made promises of free dial up internet with any land telephone line increasing the nations infrastructure. Today also marks the Honduran Independence Day, which celebrates their freedom as an indepedent nation.

Tegucigalpa

Works Cited

“Honduran cuisine -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .

“Honduras.” Honduras.com. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .

“Honduras News.” Honduras News. Web. 11 Sept. 2009. .

Honduras This Week Online. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .

“Honduras.” Wikipedia. 18 Oct. 2001. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .

Merrill, Tim L., ed. Honduras a country study. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C: For Sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 1995. Print.

Meyer, Harvey Kessler. Historical dictionary of Honduras. 2nd ed. Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow, 1994. Print. Ser. 3.

“Search Results [Monocle].” Monocle. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .

“Tegucigalpa -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. .