La cultura: Chile

1. Chile

Chile is a country rich in ancient history with more than 19 million inhabitants. Its cultural richness is based on the mixture of indigenous cultures such as Mapuche, Quechua, and Aymara with the influence of Spanish colonialism. Chile is a very narrow country, over 4,000 miles long and only about 60 miles wide. It borders Perú and Bolivia to the north, Argentina to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

1a. Datos interesantes (Interesting Facts)

Here are some facts about Chile’s geography and culture:

• Chile is a very long, skinny country sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountain range.
• Easter Island (Isla de Pascua, also known as Rapa Nui) belongs to Chile.
• Divorce was legalized in 2004.
• The Atacama Desert is the second driest desert in the world.
• Chile broke the Guinness World Record for the largest swimming pool in the world, located at San Alfonso del Mar, a private resort in Algarrobo.
• Chile set another world record in 2016 for playing the longest soccer match in history. Over 2,000 amateur and professional players joined forces to play continuously for 120 hours! The final score was 504–505.
• Chile is known as “the country of poets.” Two Chilean poets, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda, won the Nobel prize for literature.
• The longest and most intense earthquake in history happened in Chile in 1960. The quake measured 9.5 on the Richter scale and lasted 12 minutes.
• The oldest mummies in the world were found in Chile and are estimated to date back to 5050 B.C.
• The first player in history to receive a red card during a soccer match was Chilean Carlos Caszely.
• Spanish is the national language of Chile. Various Indigenous languages ​​are also spoken, including Mapudungun, Aymara, southern Quechua, and Rapa Nui.
• The Ojos del Salado volcano on the Chile/Argentina border is the world’s highest volcano.
• Chile has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world.
• La Gran Torre de Santiago is the tallest building in South America.
• Chile is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island.
• Out of Chile’s total population of 19 million people, 6 million live in the capital, Santiago.
• Chile is located within the Ring of Fire, which makes it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
• Chile’s national drink is pisco, but the country has an ongoing feud with Peru over which country’s pisco is more authentic.
• Cueca is Chile’s national dance.
• Chile is one of the world’s top 10 producers of wine.

1b. Típico y curiosidades (Typical and Interesting Things)

Chilean gastronomy is based on marine products, which are of excellent quality. Chile also produces high-quality fruits, of which Chilean grapes and nectarines stand out.

Here are the names and images of some typical foods and drinks in Chile.

Comidas típicas

Comida (Food)	Picture	Comida (Food)	Picture
COMchile.mp3
porotos granados		cazuela
caldillo de congrio		curanto
chancho en piedra		chorrillana
empanadas de pino		pastel de jaiba
machas a la parmesana		pastel de choclo
ensalada chilena		sopaipillas
milcaos		charquicán
chumbeque		calzones rotos
humitas		leche nevada

Bedidas típicas

Bebida (Drink)	Picture	Bebida (Drink)	Picture
BEBchile.mp3
piscola		pisco chileno
cola de mono		navegado
mote con huesillos		borgoña

1c. Celebraciones (Celebrations)

These are some significant celebrations in Chile:

• La Fiesta de la Vendimia (March–April)
• Semana Santa (March or April)
• Día del Trabajo (May 1)
• Día de las Glorias Navales (May 25)
• Día del Asalto y Toma del Morro de Arica (June 7)
• Día de San Pedro y San Pablo (June 27)
• Carnavales de invierno (July)
• Día de la Virgen del Carmen (July 16)
• Día de la Asunción de la Virgen (August 15)
• Día de la Independencia Nacional (September 18)
• Día de las Glorias del Ejército (September 19)
• Día del Descubrimiento de Dos Mundos (October 10)
• Día de Todos los Santos (November 11)
• Día de la Inmaculada Concepción (December 8)

CULTURAL INSIGHT: LA MINGA

A unique tradition that shows a high degree of collectivism is practiced on the island of Chiloé, located in southern Chile. This tradition, known as la minga, dates back to pre-Columbian times and is still practiced to this day by Chilean farmers.



The tradition of la minga involves moving something from one place to another location through collective effort. This is no small feat, considering that the thing being moved is usually a house or a church! In other words, when the farmers of Chiloé need to relocate from one place to another, they do it in a different way than we are used to: They move the house itself to the new location. Yes, you read that right—in Chiloé, people move their entire house! How is that even possible?

The owner who plans to move the house first calls a meeting of family, friends, and neighbors to inform them of the plan and ask who wants to help out. Once he knows the number of people who are willing to help, the owner proceeds to announce the date when la minga will begin. (Because of the large effort involved, it lasts several days.)

First, the neighbors and relatives must remove the foundation of the house, which is not an easy task. Once the foundation has been removed, the neighbors put the house on wooden beams so that it can slide on the ground like a sled. It should be noted that these houses are made of wood, which is what makes this process possible. Finally, the house is tied to the yoke of a team of strong oxen or bulls. All of the family members, friends, neighbors, and animals join forces and pull the house until they succeed in sliding it to its new destination.

After the house has arrived at its new location, a celebration is held with typical food, folk music, and drinks offered by the owner of the house. The minga participants take this task as an opportunity to celebrate community spirit and solidarity among neighbors.

1d. Personas famosas (Famous People)

Here are some famous people in art, film, music, and other industries who hail from Chile or have Chilean roots:

• Fernando Ubiergo (singer)
• Augusto Pinochet (dictator)
• Eduardo Parra (poet)
• Alejandra Matus (journalist)
• Eduardo “Gato” Alquinta (musician)
• Salvador Allende (former president)
• Pablo Neruda (poet)
• Isabel Allende (writer)
• Pedro Pascal (actor)
• Daniela Vega (actress)
• Víctor Jara (teacher, poet, singer-song writer, activist)
• Roberto Bolaños (novelist)
• Violeta Parra (composer and singer-song writer)
• Alejandro Aravena (architect)
• Mon Laferte (singer)
• Gabriela Mistral (poet)
• Alejandro Jodorowsky (artist and filmmaker)
• Alejandro Amenábar (film director)
• Vicente Huidobro (poet)
• Nicanor Parra (poet and physicist)
• Iván Zamorano (soccer player)