Cultural Heritage and Traditions

Cultural Heritage and Traditions

Maria F. Rosario

Soc 315

May 22, 2017

Ketwana Schoos

Introduction

        The Hispanic culture is one of the most prominent and strongest throughout the world as many have chosen to venture out of their native countries in order to experience a better life, escape violence, religious persecution, and to see what the rest of the world has to offer. My family is no exception. The United States has been our home for the past 18 years but we will never forget that Colombia, is our land and what made us the people we are today.

Our Family’s Background

Our family’s history can be traced back in Colombia to the early 1800’s but our race really defines where all of our ancestors came from and how they made their way to what we have called home. Through family stories, we have been able to gather that our ancestors came from Africa and Europe, we had an idea that some were from the north part of Africa and that we may have some German heritage but it was never verified. Just recently, I decided to take a DNA test and see what more define results we could find and really understand our background. The results where astonishing and surprising; 11% African, 52% European – strong ties to the Iberian Peninsula, 3% West Asia, and 34% Native American – strong ties to tribes (Mayans) in South America. ("DNA Origins", 2017). Finding this information out really broadens and explains our family’s story of immigration to South America and how we have learned to take on many of the traditions that the Hispanic culture has and follows.

My family is made up of mostly women, which drives us to be stronger, hardworking, goal driven, and independent people. We have always been taught that all materials things will be gone eventually but something that will always stay with us, is education. My mother and aunts, have pushed my sister, cousins, and I to study beyond high school and obtain our college degrees, in order to be successful in our professional careers. All of my family members in the states have attended and graduated college; there is a psychologist, a teacher, an anthropologist, a graphic designer, a mechanical engineer, and a hotel and restaurant corporate manager in my family.

My Cultural Heritage

        Coming from a Hispanic background, we are taught to be very family oriented and our traditions are passed down from generations to generations. For example, Christmas is a very important holiday; 22 days before Christmas, we, as a family, read the story of the 3 wise men and their journey to the day when encounter and bring gifts to baby Jesus. Each day, we read their daily adventures until the 24th of December, when Jesus is born. We light candles each day, sing traditional Colombian Christmas songs, have a potluck, and share food with friends and family. Another tradition we have is for New Years, each person must eat 12 grapes which symbolize good luck for each month of the year. Also, one must run around the block with an empty suit case and this is to bring an abundance of travel for the coming year. Although this is are not elaborate traditions, they symbolize activities and beliefs that make each holiday that much more important and better.