A Unique Salvadoran Culture

Having been born in Ecuador and spending significant time in Latin America, I have some sense of familiarity with Latin culture and feel very comfortable here in El Salvador. I notice that my accent in Spanish as an English speaker is almost non-existent, and several people have mistaken me for a Salvadoran. When visiting the local shopping mall on my own, I felt as if I blended in with everyone else. So far, I have found that there are significant differences and similarities between El Salvador and the other areas of Latin America that I have visited.

It is a common misconception in the United States that Spanish speaking countries in Latin America have the same culture. More often than not in the US, I am automatically labeled as being Mexican -American. Ecuador is very different from Mexico; Ecuadorians do not eat spicy foods, they dress differently, listen to different music and practice religion differently. The Inca heritage in the Andes is much different from the Nahuatl, Aztec, or Mayan influence that prevails in Mexico or in Central America.

At the risk of generalizing, I would say that Salvadoran culture is similar to Mexican culture. In El Salvador we have eaten a lot of Mexican food, as traditional Salvadoran food consists of items such as tortillas, jalapenos, and avocado (though the tortillas here are much thicker than the ones in Mexico). The indigenous influence is not so prevalent in El Salvador as in the areas of Mexico I have visited or as it is in Mexico. The above photo was taken at an Aztec indigenous festival in the town of Nahuizalco, one of the few pockets of indigenous culture here in El Salvador.

The vegitation and nature in El Salvador is also different than Ecuador, which is a very mountanous nation lying directly over the Equator. Ecuador has many diverse ecosystems including tropical jungles, beautiful coastal areas, and very high, cold mountains. There are however similarities in Ecuadorian culture which I see in El Salvador. There is a sense of community and togetherness; the people seem to take care of each other and do not wait to help each other. People here depend on others and will stick together. Both nations are also struggling to develop and industrialize.

Though Salvadoran culture is similar to other cultures, it is important to note that El Salvador is very unique and has a culture all its own, very different from even the culture in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico or even Ecuador. El Salvador faced a terrible civil war from 1981-1992, which still affects everyone in the country. The politics here are also very divided, and the country is unsure as to how to proceed with free trade and democratization. As we spend more time here, I feel I will be able to better communicate the intricacies of Salvadoran culture.