CULTURE
The nation's society is marked
by pronounced extremes in the conduct of daily life. In the capital
city families live much as they do in the cosmopolitan centres
of Europe, whereas within an hour's drive of the capital are Indians
whose patterns of daily life remain those of past centuries. The
pattern of culture is characterized by sharp contrasts, whether
it be in the language spoken or in matters pertaining to the household,
cuisine, attire, or family affairs.
The contrast between the modern
ways of Guatemala City, the center of Guatemalan cultural activity,
and the traditional customs and crafts of the Maya peoples gives
Guatemala a colorful and dynamic culture. Spanish colonists gave
Guatemala its official language and many architectural and art
treasures. Magnificent buildings of the colonial period remain
at Antigua Guatemala, the colonial capital, located about 40 km
(about 25 mi) from Guatemala City. Contemporary crafts such as
weaving, jewelry making, and ceramics combine indigenous design
and color patterns with Spanish technical skills. Throughout Guatemala,
the marimba remains the typical Guatemalan musical medium, although
it is often challenged now by Mexican ranchera music and North
American rock.
The nation's populace is increasingly
exposed to the intrusion of foreign influences upon their way
of life. All aspects of communication—periodical news, the
comics, soap operas, film—are primarily of foreign origin.
A multitude of products, from soaps and boxed cereals to automobiles
and bottled drinks, bear foreign brand names.
