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CultureGrams
Kids Edition
(Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
2014
Venezuela
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Spanish colonizers named the area Venezuela (“Little Venice”) because homes along the shores of Lake
Maracaibo were built on stilts, reminding them of Venice, Italy.
Venezuela was one of the original members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an
organization that helps determine the supply and price of oil available worldwide.
Venezuela has the highest waterfall in the world: Angel Falls is 3,212 feet (979 meters) high.
In December, some Venezuelans make life–sized dolls to represent the problems of the past year. Then at
midnight on New Year’s Eve, these dolls are burned to mark the beginning of the coming year.
One can ask the price of an item, or request payment, by rubbing the thumb and the index finger while rotating the
palm upward.
Venezuela is home to the world’s largest rodent, the capybara. These furry mammals can weigh as much as 140
pounds (64kg). They live in the forest and near rivers, ponds, and lakes. They eat grasses, fruit, and tree bark.
Flag
Venezuela’s flag was adopted in February 2006. The arc of eight white stars represents
the early provinces (similar to states) that supported the fight for independence. Yellow
stands for richness of the land, blue for the sea separating them from Spain, and red for
the blood sacrificed by patriots during the war for independence.
National Image
Venezuela’s national flower is the Flor de Mayo (May flower), a type of orchid that was
first found in 1839. Its scientific name is Cattleya mossiae. Native to the coastal
mountain range of Venezuela, the Flor de Mayo was adopted as a national flower on 23
May 1951.
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 352,145
Area (sq. km.): 912,050
Venezuela, located on the northern coast of South America, is around the same size as
Nigeria, or slightly larger than the states of Texas and Oklahoma combined. This
tropical country can be divided into four regions: the Maracaibo lowlands, the northern
mountains, the Central Orinoco llanos (plains), and the Guyana Highlands in the
southeast. The Maracaibo lowlands are located in northwestern Venezuela. This
region is surrounded by mountains and is also where the country’s oilfields are found.
The northern mountains are part of the Andes, much of which is permanently covered
with snow. The llanos are vast grasslands that cover about one–third of the country.
South of the Orinoco River are the Guyana Highlands. Not many people live in this
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region. It features mountains, plateaus (high, flat areas), and dense tropical forests.
Most of Venezuela’s largest cities are located in the north and along the coast.
There are two seasons in most of Venezuela: wet and dry. The rainy season lasts from
May to November. Temperatures average 70–85°F (21–29°C), but the mountains are
usually cooler.
Population
Population: 28,459,085
Nearly 90 percent of Venezuelans live in cities and towns, one of the highest
percentages in South America. Caracas, the capital, has more than 3 million
inhabitants. Venezuela’s other major cities include Maracaibo, Valencia, and Maracay.
In general the population is racially mixed. The majority of the population (about 67
percent) is of mixed European and native or black heritage. About 21 percent is of
white, European (mostly Italian or Spanish) descent. About 10 percent of the population
is black. Two percent of the population is made of native peoples, including the
Goajiros, who live in the west, and the Yanomamis, who live in the south.
Language
Almost everyone in Venezuela speaks Spanish, the country’s official language. Other languages are spoken by the
various native groups who live in more remote parts of the country. As more Venezuelans move to the cities to live,
some of these native languages are dying out because no one speaks them anymore. Italian, Portuguese, Chinese,
Arabic, and English are the most common foreign languages spoken in the country. Students are required to take
English courses in high school.
The Spanish spoke in Venezuela is known for its many unique words and phrases. Chévere means “cool.” Estar
pelado (to be bald) and estar limpio (to be clean) can also mean “to be broke,” or out of money. Ponerse las pilas (to
insert batteries) means “to be aware” or “watch out.”
Can You Say It in Spanish?
Hello
Hola
(OH–lah)
Good–bye
Chao
(chow)
Please
Por favor
(pohr fa–VOHR)
Thank you
Gracias
(GRAH–see–ahs)
Yes
Sí
(see)
No
No
(noh)
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Religion
Over 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, and Catholicism is an important influence on Venezuelan culture.
Catholicism was brought by Spanish missionaries during the colonial period. Although many Venezuelan Catholics do
not attend church services regularly, most claim a belief in God, the Catholic saints, and the Virgin Mary. Protestant and
other Christian churches are growing. Venezuelans who live in smaller towns tend to be more religious than those who
live in big cities.
Time Line
1400
1498
Christopher Columbus is the first European to visit the area
1499
Alonso de Ojeda names the area Venezuela, meaning “Little Venice”
1500
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1521
Spain begins to set up colonies on the northern coast of Venezuela
1567
Caracas, the capital, is founded
1600
1620s
Cocoa becomes Venezuela’s most important export (product sold to
another country)
1681
The Spanish monarchy takes over control of the Venezuelan colonies
1800
1811
Venezuela declares independence from Spain but does not gain its
freedom until later
1819
Venezuela becomes part of Gran Colombia (a republic that includes
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama)
1821
Spain is defeated by the forces of Simón Bolívar in the battle of
Carabobo, paving the way for Venezuelan independence
1830
Venezuela separates from Gran Colombia and becomes an
independent country
1900
1920s
Venezuela discovers oil
1958
A freely elected president comes to power for the first time
1960
Venezuela is part of the first group of countries to join the Organization
of Petroleum Exporting States (OPEC)
1989
Carlos Andrés Pérez becomes president and introduces economic
reforms
1990s
Low oil prices deepen Venezuela’s economic crisis
1993
Pérez is impeached (removed from office) for misusing government
funds; Rafael Caldera, a former president, is elected once again
1998
Hugo Chávez is elected president
1999
Severe flooding and mudslides in the north lead to the deaths of
thousands of Venezuelans
2000
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2002
President Chávez is briefly removed from office by a coup (overthrow
of the government) but returns to power two days later
2007
President Chávez announces that the government will take control of
important energy and telecommunications companies
2009
In a referendum (a special election), voters decide to get rid of term
limits for elected officials, allowing President Chávez to run for another
term
2013
Chávez dies
PRESENT
Early Inhabitants
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish at the end of the 15th century, the earliest inhabitants
of the land we now call Venezuela were native tribes. These included the Carib,
Arawak, and Chibcha. Some groups such as the Arawak were farmers. Because the
mountainous area where they lived wasn't flat, the people had to cut terraces (flat,
step–like ridges) into the hillsides to grow their crops. Other tribes relied more on fishing
and hunting.
Spanish Colonization and Slavery
In 1498, Christopher Columbus became the first European to see Venezuela and the
frist to set foot in South America. The following year, another explorer gave Venezuela
its name (“Little Venice”) because the native huts built along the shores of Lake
Maracaibo were on stilts, reminding him of the buildings and canals of Venice, Italy.
Many of these early explorers were drawn to Venezuela in hopes of finding great wealth
for themselves and their native countries. Some had even heard stories of a legendary
city of gold called El Dorado. But they did not find the riches they were looking for in
Venezuela.
The Spanish began conquering the islands and coastal regions of Venezuela before
long. Although the native inhabitants fought hard against the invaders, they were
unable to defeat the Spanish. Many of the natives were killed or enslaved. Some slaves
were sent to work in other Spanish colonies in the region. Others were forced to help
grow crops such as tobacco and cocoa. When there weren’t enough natives to work,
the Spanish brought in Africans as slaves. Venezuela remained a Spanish colony for
more than three hundred years.
Liberation
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Venezuelans tried to break free of Spanish rule a number of times, but the attempts
failed. In 1811, however, Venezuela became the first South American country to
declare independence from Spain. But freedom wouldn’t come until later. It wasn’t until
1821 that a young Venezuelan by the name of Simón Bólivar led his troops to victory
over the Spanish at the Battle of Carabobo. Bólivar (called “The Great Liberator”) also
helped free Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia from Spanish rule. At first, Venezuela
was part of a country called Gran Colombia, which included Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, and Panama, but the republic was dissolved in 1830 and Venezuela became
an independent nation.
Dictators
After it gained independence, Venezuela endured many years of political instability.
Initially, things went fairly well under the leadership of President José Antonio Páez.
Páez encouraged trade, helped modernize the country, and showed respect for his
political opponents. For 16 years, Venezuela experienced a time of peace and
prosperity. But the century that followed was marked by conflict. The country was ruled
by a series of dictators (absolute rulers), called caudillos. One after another, these
caudillos would take over the government, only to be overthrown soon afterwards.
Although some of these leaders did some good things, such as encouraging foreign
investment and developing the country’s natural resources, most of the caudillos were
mainly concerned with staying in power.
Venezuela Today
In 1958, General Marcos Pérez Jímenez, Venezuela’s last dictator (absolute ruler), was
forced to resign, and the first freely–elected president was chosen. Democratic
(government by the people) elections have taken place ever since. For a time,
Venezuela was the most stable South American country and was also one of the
wealthiest in the region. It has some of the world’s largest oil reserves outside the
Persian Gulf, and it benefited from high oil prices in the 1970s and 1980s. But in the
mid–1980s, world oil prices began to decrease, so there was a lot less money coming
into the country. Poverty has now become a much bigger problem. Claiming he represented the poor
people of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998. Promising to reform
the political system, Chávez passed a new constitution that gave greater powers to the
president. He also took government control of the nation's telecommunications and
energy industries. In 2011, President Chávez was diagnosed with cancer but went on to
win a third term in office the next year. Chávez died in 2013.
Games and Sports
Baseball is Venezuela’s national game and most popular sport. Every city and town in
the country has at least one baseball field where young and old can compete. Some of
the players get to be very good. In fact, in 2000, a team from Venezuela won the Little
League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Many young players hope to be
good enough one day to play professional baseball in the United States. Venezuelans also play soccer, but soccer isn’t as popular in Venezuela as it is in other
Latin American countries. Other sports that Venezuelans enjoy include basketball,
fishing, swimming, cycling, karate, and tennis. Many women enjoy walking, cycling, and
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playing softball.
Bolas criollas is a popular game similar to lawn bowling. One player throws a target
ball out onto a flat surface and then all the players take turns trying to throw balls as
close as possible to the target ball. The player who get closest to the target ball wins.
Kids also like to play with dominoes, marbles, and wooden spinning tops.
Holidays
Most towns and cities in Venezuela have a patron saint (a divine figure who is believed
to watch over people), and they hold annual ferias (festivals) to honor their local patron
saint. The three most important ferias include the Feria de San Sebastian, in San
Cristóbal; the Feria de Sol, in Mérida; and the Feria de la Chinita, in Maracaibo.
Festivities include bullfighting, street dances, craft exhibits, and beauty contests.
Flowers are important in Venezuelan celebrations. During each holiday, statues of
Simón Bólivar, the father of Venezuela, are decorated with colorful wreaths.
An especially important religious holiday is the day of the Culto del Nazareno (Cult of
the Nazarene). On Holy Wednesday (the Wednesday before Easter), and image of
Jesus is taken on procession through town while the worshippers come to pay their
respect and give thanks for the blessings they have received.
One of the most popular parties in Venezuela is Carnival. It is celebrated in January or
February with dance, music, balloons, family festivities, fancy costumes and parades,
and a great deal of joy.
Food
Venezuelan food has strong ties to its European ancestry (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese,
and French) as well as to its African and Native American roots. Common foods in
Venezuela include pasta, rice, beans, plantains, white cheese, chicken, potatoes, and
fish. Corn is the basis for many dishes, and fried foods are popular. One favorite is the
arepa, a deep–fried thick pancake made from white corn flour and sometimes filled with
butter, meat, and cheese. Hallacas are similar to arepas but are stuffed with stewed
meat, potatoes, olives, raisins, and spices. Hallacas are especially popular at
Christmastime. Venezuelans also like casseroles, meat pies, meatloaf, and stews. Meat
is sometimes less common because it is expensive and not everyone can afford it on a
regular basis, although Venezuelans love to prepare parrillas (barbequed meat)
whenever possible. One of the most popular national dishes is Pabellón criollo (rice and
beans), which is prepared with shredded beef, stewed black beans, sweet plantain
(similar to a banana), and rice.
In most cities, open–air markets provide a large variety of tropical fruits and fresh
vegetables. Popular fruits include mangoes, lechoza (papaya), bananas, and
watermelon. These may be eaten or made in batidos de fruta (fruit shakes), which are
sold on the street at refresquerias (fruit–and–drink stands). Raspaitos (shaved ice) are
another common treat. Soda and coffee are popular drinks, and children especially like
to drink their soda with a package of cheese balls for a treat. Chocolate is also a
much–loved snack. In places where the temperatures are cooler, hot chocolate is
common.
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Schools
Adult Literacy: 93%
Most Venezuelan kids go to primary (elementary) school between the ages of seven
and sixteen. About three–fourths of all students complete primary school (nine years),
and many of those children go on to secondary (high) school (two years). However,
about two–thirds of the overall school–age population does not attend a secondary
school, many because they cannot afford the books and transportation. Students in secondary school can choose to focus on science, the humanities, or a
technical field of study. The school year begins in September and ends in June of the
following year. After secondary school, students may choose from a variety of
three-year vocational (job-training) schools or take an aptitude test to enter the
university. All education in Venezuela, including the university level, is free for students
who attend public institutions. The government has worked hard to improve the number
of people who are able to read.
Life as a Kid
Kids in Venezuela enjoy many of the same activities that kids do in other countries.
They enjoy technological gadgets such as Nintendo and Wii and other computer
games. In cities, parents often sign their children up for after-school educational
activities. Rural (countryside) children enjoy riding bicycles and playing football (soccer)
and baseball in open spaces. It is also common for kids to work to help their parents
financially. Young Venezuelans learn about politics and economics from listening and
talking to their parents at mealtime. They hope for good leaders and safe places to play
and grow.
Trompo, a game played with spinning tops, is a popular traditional game that boys and
girls in Venezuela enjoy playing. Families sometimes get together to build a papagayo
(kite) for the children to fly.
Government
Capital: Caracas
Head of State: Pres. Nicolás Maduro
Head of Government: Pres. Nicolás Maduro
Venezuela is led by a president who serves a six–year term. The president governs with a Council of Ministers. The
country’s legislature (lawmaking body) consists of a single 165–seat Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly).
Members are elected by popular vote. Venezuela is divided into 23 states, each of which has its own governor and
legislature. The voting age is 18.
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Money and Economy
Currency: Bolívar
Venezuela is one of the world’s leading oil–producing countries, and oil is its most
valuable natural resource. The country is a member of OPEC (Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries). However, not everyone benefits from the sale of oil.
Many Venezuelans live in poverty. They have difficulty finding good jobs, getting health
care, and affording the basic items they need to live. Also, Venezuela’s economy only
does well as long as the price of oil is high. If the price drops, the entire economy
suffers. So the government is trying to find other ways of bringing money into the
economy, such as tourism. The country has other mineral resources as well—coal,
steel, iron, and aluminum. Agriculture doesn’t make up a very large share of the
economy, but farmers grow grains, sugar cane, fruits, and coffee.
Getting Around
Many Venezuelans cannot afford to own their own car, so they rely on public
transportation. Buses and taxis are also common ways to travel, but the por puesto is
the most popular and cheapest way to get around. With the por puesto, which is a cross
between a bus system and a taxi service, cars travel a regular route throughout the city,
like a bus, picking up and letting off passengers along the way. The vehicles cost less
than a taxi but more than a bus. Caracas, the capital, and Los Teques also have
modern subway systems.
Music
The most typical Venezuelan music is joropo, which is played with harp, bandola
(similar to a guitar), cuatro (a smaller four–stringed instrument), and maracas (shakers).
Joropo bands often play the gaita, a very popular music that is played using a cuatro,
maracas, and furro, a drum made with a goat skin top that is played by rubbing the top
of the drum with one’s hand or other object.
Many Venezuelans listen to American pop music, salsa (a musical style from Cuba),
merengue (a musical style from the Dominican Republic), and reggaeton, which is a
combination of reggae (a style of music from the West Indies), salsa, and other styles.
Musical tastes vary from region to region, and each part of the country has its favorites.
Whenever there is a party, a family reunion, a wedding, or a quinceañera (a girl's
fifteenth birthday celebration), Venezuelans love to include music and dancing.
Teenagers turn up the volume on the radios in their cars to have fun.
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Learn More
Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela, 1099 30th Street NW, Washington DC 20007; phone (202) 342-2214; web site
venezuela-us.org.
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to
copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any
means without strict written permission from ProQuest.
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