Customs

Ancestral customs and identity of Colombians are at the heart of the crafts and parties in Pitalito, we realize the Chivas bus colorful accents typical of carnival in Barranquilla and Cali are masks; villages Cundimarca and Boyaca producing guitars (ple, Bandol), while the Pacific is famous for its drums. Indian communities, the Nasas example, which represent only 1% of the population (but 75% of Colombians are mestizo), managed to wrest from Bogotá relative independence that allowed them to retain their customs and culture. Warning, irrespective of the framework, photographing people – especially alone and in groups – is rarely a good idea. In all cases, ask their permission, and do not insist if they refuse.

Language

The official language is Spanish and with the exception of a few very isolated Indian tribes, the population speaks it. Nearly 75 Indian dialects are still used in the country. English is taught in school, but the Colombians are not proficient and reluctant to speak.

Food

Chicken, pork, potatoes, rice and soup are the basis of Colombian cuisine. Among regional specialties most interesting include the ajiaco Bogota (soup of chicken and potatoes), the hormiga culona Santander (mainly flat-based fried ants) and Lechona Tolima (whole suckling pig roast to pin and stuffed with rice). The markets are full of many different fruits. Finally, if the coffee and beer are correct, the wine is execrable.

Religion

While Catholicism remains the dominant religion, more than three million believers have abandoned the Catholic faith to other faiths (Anglican, Lutheran), or various religious sects (mormonisme).

Arts

Colombia is a veritable mosaic of peoples and this diversity is expressed through culture, folklore, arts and crafts of the country. The influences from Indian, Spanish and African descent have joined forces to give birth to surprising mergers, particularly in crafts, sculpture and music. Stone sculptures, pottery and gold objects carved up the bulk of pre-Columbian art. The art of basketry, weaving and pottery date from the same period but now combines modern and traditional designs. Finally, music, marked by a strong Spanish influence, borrows from both the African rhythms of Caribbean, Cuban salsa and Andean melodies.

Giant literature Colombian Gabriel Garcia Márquez has forged a work which combines myth, dreams and reality, in a style that critics have dubbed the “magic realism”. The author considers his book as documentary evidence on the nature, timing and perception of life in his country. Durán Moreno is considered one of the best South American authors from the literary revival of the 1950s.