Spanish Culture Vs American Culture Essay

Spanish, Hispanic, and Latin American cultures vary from American culture. Many of these cultural differences revolve around everyday life, oddities, special occasions, and food.Whether they be about strong family bonds, a memorial island in the backwoods of Mexico, wedding traditions, or meal-times, these cultural aspects help make every nationality unique. On the whole, life in Spanish speaking countries operates differently than in America.

Hispanic cultures value their families differently than American cultures. However, there are also some similarities between Hispanic and American family life. For example, often those who are strangers to an American or Hispanic family are slow to be trusted. Also, both cultures have a strong emphasis on the basic structure of family and look to their families as

security and support. In addition, Hispanic youth also have similar life priorities to American youth, such as, making a career and having children. On the other hand, in Hispanic culture, the extended family is treated and honored the same as the immediate family. Godparents, aunts, and uncles are expected to help financially with their family’s expenses. Also, Hispanic families gather on Sundays for a big meal with the whole family. In America, we do not value Sunday dinners to that extent. Furthermore, Spanish children stay up until 10:00 pm to participate in family events, even on school nights. In America, it is customary that young children have a set early bed time, somewhere around 8:00 pm. To continue, Latin American godparents are valued highly. They are involved in many aspects of their godchild’s life and create a special bond with them during their upbringing. They are expected to attend family gatherings, help their families in difficult times, and purchase their godchild annual gifts. All in all, Hispanic cultures value family in different ways than that of American cultures.
Mexico’s Island of the Dolls is a unique landmark, known for its strange inhabitants. Julian Santana Barrera left his home in Mexico and traveled to a wooded area in Xochimilco, Mexico City. He discovered the corpse of a young girl floating in a nearby canal. Looking closer, he discovered there was a doll floating on the surface next to the girl’s body. After he buried the girl, he hung her doll in a tree. At night, he claimed he heard footsteps and the wails of a woman. For 50 years, Barrera has continued to hang dolls in the trees surrounding the canal. He collected about 1,500 dolls in total. Barrera built the Island of the Dolls to honor the life of the girl who drowned there. It was his way of creating a memorial service that would please the little girl’s spirit. Most people say that the Island is haunted and frightening, yet I would like to visit it some day. I would want to go during the day, and stay only for a short time, mostly because I don’t entirely like dolls. However, my curiosity draws me in, especially because I love to write and I think the Island of the Dolls could be a creative spot to explore in storytelling. Overall, the Island of the Dolls is one of Mexico’s unique landmarks.
Spanish and Latin American weddings consist of different traditions than American weddings. Most Spanish and Latin American wedding ceremonies start around 7:00 pm and continue into the early hours of the morning. Traditional brides wear black dresses to symbolize their commitment to their spouse till death do them part. Additionally, Spanish and Latin American weddings do not include bridesmen or groomsmen and there are no speeches given at the reception. Also, the wedding bands are worn on the ring finger of the right hand, rather the ring finger of the left. When brides walk down the aisle they give their bouquets to someone to hold and carry their rosary and bible instead. During the ceremony, las arras are given to the bride. Las arras are 13 gold coins that represent Jesus and his 12 apostles. The coins are blessed by the priest and given to the bride with the groom’s promise to care and support his partner. Seguidillas manchegas is a money dance performed at the wedding reception. The dance symbolizes prosperity and financial security for the newlyweds. To sum up, Spanish and Latin American weddings often have different traditions than American weddings.
In Spain and Latin America, meal-taking practices and traditions are different than in the United States.

For instance, meals in Spain are eaten at different times than meals in the U.S. Breakfast in Spain is at 8:00 am and most people enjoy a pastry and coffee. At 11:00 am, a mid-morning snack of spanish tortilla is eaten. Then, at 2:00 pm a large three course lunch is served. This meal might consist of a starter salad, a meat plate, and coffee or pudding for dessert. At 5:30 pm, children will enjoy fresh fruit or a churro with hot chocolate. Finally, at 9:30 pm a light dinner is eaten consisting of a salad, sandwich, or a selection of tapas. In Latin America, foods that many Americans may consider bizarre, are considered delicacies. Some of these include: cow tongue, pork feet, grasshoppers, corn fungus, and Mondongo, a stew made out of tripe which is cow stomach. Additionally, children in Spain often have an after school snack consisting of fruit, yogurt, or a sweet pastry. I like to have a cup of coffee with a cookie or pastry, or nuts and fruit after school. In brief, Spanish and Latin American meal-taking practices vary from American meal-taking

practices.
In conclusion, there are many important parts to Spanish speaking cultures, that distinctly determine their nationalities. As I have noted, family life and values differ between Spanish speaking cultures and American culture. Equally important, unique landmarks like the Island of the Dolls, also help to define a one of a kind location. Wedding traditions and meal-taking practices also help to define various Spanish speaking cultures.These details help the world to celebrate diversity and cultural differences with respect and honor for every culture.