The folklore of Nicaragua

For 58 years, UNESCO has established that World Folklore Day has been celebrated on August 22 of each year, because on that date, but in 1846, the Englishman William John Thombs used it for the first time in the London magazine Athenaeum.

The purpose was to define popular knowledge, knowledge, usage, customs, legends, superstitions, music, songs, dances, sayings, proverbs, couplets and songs, transmitted from generation to generation that are incorporated into our customs and whose authorship is unknown.

In the case of Nicaragua, the main examples of folklore are found especially in the Pacific area, with the dances, music of the unmistakable marimba, traditions, and myths and legends of Masaya.

While in Carazo we find one of the greatest dance and musical traditions in the comedy dance Güegüense, which together with the toro huaco form part of the cultural heritage of the inhabitants of this department.

It should be remembered that Masaya has a tradition of marimba players who are the best in the country and possibly in Central America. They, in addition to playing the marimba with singular mastery, are also experts in making it.

Likewise, the various municipalities of this department such as Catarina, San Juan de Oriente, La Concepción and Masaya produce some of the best crafts in Nicaragua based on clay, inherited from the indigenous people of neighborhoods such as Monimbó.

León is known for its myths and legends such as the headless father, the golden crab, the Nahua cart, the crying woman, as well as the famous giantess, who together with the big-headed dwarf and his songs travel the streets, neighborhoods and regions of this and other departments of Nicaragua.

In Chinandega, the mantudos have been part of the dance and religious tradition of San Pascual Bailón, celebrated between May 17 and 18, for more than a hundred years.

While on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, mainly Bluefields, the rhythmic dance of the Palo de Mayo stands out in folklore, which has been danced for more than 150 years to welcome the rain that fertilizes the land.

Gastronomy is part of the folklore, and in Nicaragua there is a great variety, among which the inevitable gallopinto stands out, which in the Caribbean Coast, unlike the rest of Nicaragua, is cooked with coconut oil. Not to mention nacatamal, which is the delight of the weekends throughout the Pacific, central and northern parts of the country.

The old Indian, minced meat or maza de cazuela is a tradition of the Diriambinos, which, like the Güegüense, fills its inhabitants with pride.

Anyone who goes to Masatepe must definitely try the tripe soup, which is often accompanied by a delicious curd with tortilla. There, you can also taste an exquisite tamuga.

But in the north of Nicaragua, the montuca, originally from Pueblo Nuevo, has nothing to envy of any of the typical dishes from the rest of the country. The traditional güirila accompanied by curds and cream is a delight that cannot be rejected.

It is important to remember that in the countries of Mesoamerica, corn is the basis of gastronomy, a heritage of our indigenous peoples. Nicaragua is no exception, and examples of these are some of the dishes we mentioned before, such as nacatamal, tamuga, montuca and indio viejo, which have corn as their main raw material. Added to this are the tamal pisque and the tortilla, which are used as a base.

Other delicacies are made from corn, such as baked goods, especially perrerreques, which can be enjoyed with a glass of tiste, pinol, pinolillo or pozol with milk, which are also drinks made from corn.

Doughnuts are also made from this grain, whether they are from Somoto, Rivas or El Viejo, once you try them they become addictive.

Part of Nicaragua's folklore and traditions are the sweets and desserts that are made throughout the country, such as cajetas or buns made of coconut, milk or zapoyol. Other sweets that delight anyone who tries them are bienmesabes, turrones, crispetas and huevos chimbos.

All of this is what identifies us as Nicaraguans and that is why we feel proud of being what we are. Just as heroes like Rubén Darío, Augusto C. Sandino, José Dolores Estrada and Andrés Castro, who knocked down a filibuster with a well-aimed stone, make us feel proud.

That same pride that confirms our nationality is offered to us by Lake Cocibolca, the San Juan River, the island of Ometepe, Corn Island, the incomparable beaches of Tola and San Juan del Sur and the two beautiful colonial jewels that are the cities of Granada and León.

This is just a part of what Nicaraguans can offer tourists who visit us from different parts of the world. Even though they are not part of the national folklore and traditions, there are two products of worldwide projection that are a delight for tourists who appreciate the good drink and flavor of Flor de Caña rum and the cigars made in Estelí.