Cultural Awareness Of El Salvador

Cultural Awareness of El Salvador

When we think of culture, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many of us begin to define a mental picture of how certain people or countries carry themselves. Whether it is in the way they cook, dress, celebrate certain holidays, or just other beliefs in general. Picture a country whose wars are so bad and constant, it is a norm for women to cook for soldiers who passing by their homes. It isn’t frowned upon to have a corrupted government because that is something they are used to, and children as young as the age of seven are militants walking around with weapons in their hands, becoming social terrors. At least during the 1980’s this was the norm and what was culturally accepted in El Salvador.
The numbers of volcanoes (23 of them currently still active) located within this country are so many they separate the land into the southern coastal belt as explained by Every Culture (2017). Thus, being known as the Land of Volcanoes. These volcanoes and mountains allow for there to be different cultural variations throughout the country. Initially being home to many tribes such as the Aztecs and Incas who occupied it during the 11th Century roamed freely through this mountainous terrain. Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado conquered El Salvador after winning the war against the Aztecs in 1525 as it is explained by Info Please (2017). The Aztecs spoke in an indigenous language, converting over to Spanish when Spain invaded. It wasn’t until September 15, 1821 that El Salvador was able to declare
Currently, there is a huge gang problem throughout El Salvador. The government has set strict punishments for anyone that is a pledged gang member, but the gangs are so established that most of the members are un-phased and look forward to a life as lucrative beings, just to put food on their table. The Mara Salvatrucha or MS 13, is one of the most popular gangs throughout the world, and in its own way has sewn itself in the stitching of the Salvadorian culture. You can’t mention MS 13 to anyone on the streets in El Salvador without expecting them to not show up at some point by the end of that conversation. The poverty and the rural nature of the country also play a big role on why people choose to leave as well. The country is so poor, only a small percentage of inhabitants can attend school, leaving many to struggle not only for education, but jobs as well due to lack of education. The civil war and growing gang violence my family endured along with many other Salvadorian families caused them to flee their beloved country. Leaving everything, just to be able to experience a better life. There was a big influx of Salvadorians into the United States during the civil war looking for a better life and the opportunity in the land of the free. Since the civil war in 1982, the country has come a long way and now has a thriving