The heart of understanding the Hispanic culture as it has developed in the Americas is to understand it from it's roots. Unlike so many other descendants of other races that have come to the Americas and lost the essence of their origins, the Hispanic Americans have not. Many of the people we encounter see us as one people, but we are not. Many of the people we encounter can not define the differences in our ways and cultures, but they are vast and many. To know who the people of these great and many nations, one must know and understand the very foundations and cultures that have come together to form the people and cultures represented today.
When I began writing the forum for Hispanic Culture, I decided I wished to research and study the cultural make-up of the many diverse and wonderful nationalities and cultures the Hispanic Americas has to offer. To spend time learning the root of what contributed to the recipe of the different cultures and what contributions that in return they have given to the world. From the islands to the mainlands, throughout the cities of the Americas and across the world, the Hispanic culture has integrated into the societies where it has found itself and melded with those people. Yet at the same time the Hispanics have hung on to their language and their culture. They have passed on the Hispanic culture to their children and grandchildren. Hispanic Americans have told their children the stories of the way things used to be and where their forefathers came from.
Think of the beauty of the land and many would automatically think of warm and sunny places. Yet their are places in South America that are cool as the Northern States and Canada. Think of the foods and many might automatically think of Mexican or Cuban cuisine, yet their are many diverse foods that are enjoyed in the homes of Hispanic's that are virtually unknown to the outside world. If you think of the clothes a Hispanic might wear, maybe to your mind comes the thought of bright colorful outfits with ruffles or daring black sleek clothing of the Gypsy, yet the very idea of the practicality of this as the everyday attire seems unlikely at best.
So how does one get to know what Hispanic Culture is really about? How do you get to understand why Hispanic Culture seems so rich and colorful? By getting to know it from the inside out. Know where the origins of it all is and how it all came together to make these wonderful and diverse nations and cultures we are privileged to share today.
There are many many differences in our nations. I will begin from the first nations of my people and of those who have first nations. The Hispanic American's of today still hold and honor the ways of the elders. The culture we have is very much rooted in the ways of the past. Their are wars still being fought by the Indigenous people against those that would see as invaders. Their are other areas that have embraced and accepted with pride the foundation of the forefathers of the First Nations. In some countries in the Hispanic Culture the stigmata of skin color marking a person as good or bad still very much exists, where in other areas it is looked upon as a mark of beauty to look as though you were more a child of this continent than of European decent. Many of the worlds famous musicians, designers, writers and artists, to name a few professions, were either from the Hispanic Culture or inspired by it. They are those who took time to get to know the Hispanic Culture inside out or are born to it. I hope that you would get to know the Hispanic Culture for all it's beauty by getting to know the complex heart of the culture. Take the adventure and come visit the lands. If only in dreaming and studying, let the passion and complexity of the Hispanic Culture inspire you as it has so many before.
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Lamentations of the Caves By Rebecca Cuevas De Caissie
