Culture-+P

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Peru has been able to preserve its culture more so than any other south american country.
===Owing thanks to the natural isolation of the region (the Andes Mountains to the West and the Amazon River Basin both discourage travel byu foot into Peru), Peruvians have maintained their culture for thousands of years. ===

= Beliefs = ===Culturally Peru can be seen as drastically divided between indigenous and colonial societies-- the mountains and the city. Elite white creoles trace their bloodlines back to the Spanish Conquest in 1536. Like generations before them, most live in Lima, where a European visitor will feel a comfortable familiarity in the cafes and supermarkets. ===

===On the other side, rural communities now also aspire to ownership of televisions and blue jeans but this comes into conflict with their traditional cultural values. The people of the Andes are maintaining the traditional practices of their ancestors in a rapidly changing world. Their livelihood continues to be based on family-owned fields or charkas which are farmed by hand or with the assistance of draft animals. ===

===This divide can be seen throughout various cultural aspects including and not limited to the belief systems of these groups. While the colonial societies tend to take a European belief system, the traditional indigenous societies associate themselves with more traditional values. These drastic differences are easily kept when considering inequalities in services and living standards. ===

= Traditions =

 Festivals in Peru
===[|Carnivals][|Easter Week] ===

= Food = ===Peru is known for its distinct cuisine. The daily food customs are marked regionally between the coast and the highlands even though both rely heavily on soups and rice as dietary staples. In this manner seafood and plantains are typical of the coastal diet, while different kinds of meat, corn, and potatoes are much more frequently consumed in the highlands. Ceviche, fish marinated in ají, a hot sauce made mainly from spicy peppers, tomato, onions and lemon, is an example of a particular Peruvian delicacy. African dishes such as the cau cau(tripe casserole) and the mazamorra ( chicha drink made from maize) are particular Peruvian dishes that reflect this tradition more than others. Meanwhile, roasted guinea pig is also an Andean delicacy dating most probably to pre-Hispanic days. ===

= Music = ===Music within Peru dates back literally thousands of years, preserved by the local community. Music plays a large part of the culture of Peru, where many locals build their own instruments. Ancient Peruvian instruments were made from a variety of materials including cane, conch shells, horns, precious metals, and even mud! ===

= Art = ===Peru also has an interesting blend of both Inca and Spanish influences with it's art. Peruvian art is known for it's deep ties throughout Peru's history, well distinguished by it's pre-Hispanic shapes and symbols. This ancient Peruvian art has merged with the art style that was brought across the world by the Spanish conquistadors. The resulting art style is known as naïf, and it gives Peru an interesting diversity with it's local arts and crafts that is like no other. ===

= Education = ===According to **Peru Education ** policy, education in Peru is compulsory for children from the age of 7 years to 16 years. === ===Language. Secondary education in the government institutions in Peru is free of cost. Free secondary education was introduced in 1946. According to an estimate in 2000 the adult literacy rate was 10.1% in Peru. Students learn Spanish and other foreign languages in the secondary schools. The Ministry of Education of Peru which is based in Lima looks after the education curricula. It decides on the content of the text books of the schools. Teachers are given great respect in Peru. A profession in teaching is looked at with much respect. College professors are more esteemed in Peru. Higher education is given much importance and people pursuing a post-graduate degree get better job opportunities in Peru. ===

= Religion = ===The religion of Peru is an inheritance of the Spanish conquest, for this reason, it is a mainly Catholic country (more than 75% of the population). Since the 16th century, along with Catholicism, expressions of the native religion, based on the cult of the Sun, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and elements of nature, have also been present. ===

= National Holidays = ===The culture of Peru is also diverse in the way of festivities. Peru celebrates about 3,000 festivities per year, most of which are related to the Christian religion that was brought over by the Spanish conquistadors. However, there are still some festivals which take a Pagan-like twist (such is common among nations which had an existing religion before Christianity). Also, some ancient Inca celebrations are also still practiced. This blend of Christianity and the ancient beliefs are yet another example of the diversity of Peru. ===