National traditions of Chile. Habits, mentality and the way of living

Such a bright country as Chile owes its uniqueness to the fusion of European trends and the heritage of indigenous peoples. Chileans like to talk about food, wine, family, sports and travel. The first thing Chileans are likely to ask new friends about is their profession and a country where they came from. Chileans often talk more than listen. They tend to demonstrate their knowledge of some particular subject without focusing on what the interlocutor is saying. Gadgets have long become a part of the culture, and most Chileans are active in social networks and the Internet as a whole. Typically, Chileans say what they think. However, at work, they can use non-verbal communication for fear of losing their jobs.

Chilean people usually stand close to their interlocutors. Maintaining eye contact expresses interest, a Chilean can put the hand on the shoulder of the person of the same sex as a mark of goodwill. Men hug younger women, demonstrating care. It is impolite to refuse an offered alcoholic drink. Chileans love chatting, they have a loud voice and eloquent gestures. One must get used to special humor often used in conversations. You can easily insult a person with a bad joke if you don't know him/her well. Although the Chilean humor itself may seem offensive - they often laugh at other people's shortcomings. Chileans say goodbye as follows: two women or a woman and a man kiss each other's right cheeks, two men shake hands.

Most Chileans are Catholics, the influence of religion on the mentality is still significant, although in recent years it has been reduced. On a personal level, many citizens disagree with the Church's position on issues such as sex education in school, abortion, and divorces. In the past decade, citizens of all walks of life have advocated a more open dialogue within and outside the Church. At the same time, respect for religion remains important. Women who make up 51% of the country's population have equal educational opportunities with men. More and more Chilean women are ready to sacrifice their personal lives for the sake of a career. Women who have climbed high on the career ladder on their own are admired by both men and women. However, even working Chilean women are responsible for housework. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

While punctuality is appreciated and expected in the Chilean business culture, in an informal setting, people have a more relaxed approach to the time and may be half an hour late for a meeting or dinner. Locals love horses and often arrange rodeos, which are even more popular than the Chileans' favorite sport - football. Residents of Chile often try to avoid any confrontations but may let aggression out when being stuck in traffic jams.

Acoustic guitar is very popular in Chile. Most locals can play it, and often guitar music is performed during family holidays. Chileans are very patriotic and proud of their famous countrymen. The most famous Chilean author is the poet Pablo Neruda who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973. Books of Isabel Allende, the winner of Chile's National Literature Prize, are translated into more than 20 languages.

In Chile, there is a growing gap between social classes. The upper classes are educated people concentrating resources of Chile in their hands, mostly descendants of those who immigrated to Chile in the 19th-20th centuries. Their children attend private schools and universities. The middle class includes business people engaged in medium and small enterprises, artists, and others. They also consider education important, being open and friendly to representatives of other classes. This group consists mainly of descendants of immigrants from Italy, Spain, and Arab countries. The lowest class - farmers and workers - is less educated. Women are either housewives or serve in the homes of upper-class families. Most of them are descendants of indigenous peoples, as well as Spaniards who arrived in Chile in the 15-18 centuries. Outside big cities, this gap is more conspicuous.