Culture
Food
The Nicaraguan culinary art dates back to the pre-Colombian times, as you can tell by the names of the most known plates. Back then, during colonial times, the peculiar, creative, and varied Creole menu was the result of the union of these two races. In this type of food, ranging from soups and meats to a diversity of sweets, interesting ingredients are used. Following are some dishes eaten on the daily bases.
The Most Famous Plates There are a lot traditional Nicaraguan dishes. Each region, according to geographical and cultural characteristics, produced various dishes, drinks, and sweets. Throughout the years, those dishes became known in the whole country. Some cities still are still known as the one that originated the idea of some food and they still specialize in creating this food, but most of the dishes passed to be national dishes. Below you will find an overview of the most famous Nicaraguan dishes.
Gallo Pinto: most people in Nicaragua eat this almost daily and it is considered a national symbol. It is composed of a mixture of fried rice with onion and sweet pepper, red beans boiled with garlic. They are mixed and fried all together.
Nacatamal: a dough which is prepared with ground corn and butter. This is then filled up with small pieces of pork or chicken, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, sweet pepper (all in slices). This mixture is packed in leaves of plantain trees (not edible), tightened with a small thread, that makes it look like a tiny pillow. It is then cooked inside the leaves and boiled during five hours.
Vigorón: originally from Granada, where it is deliciously prepared. A plate is covered with a part of a plantain tree leaf, on top of which yucca, chicharrón and a salad made out of cabbage and tomato is placed.
Indio Viejo: meat is prepared with onions, garlic, sweet pepper and tomato. In addition, some tortillas are put into water and this has to be ground until they form dough. The meat is shredded and then fried with vegetables, the dough, and orange juice. Finally, you add broth.
Quesillo: originally from La Paz Centro and Nagarote, in the department of León. The quesillo is easy to prepare. A piece of cheese (which is named quesillo) is placed inside a tortilla. This is then wrapped up in a plastic bag. Onions and vinegar are added, and the finishing touch is to put fresh cream and a bit of salt on top.
Sopa de Mondongo: this soup is the specialty of Masatepe, in the department of Masaya. The mondongo is washed with a lot of bicarbonate, orange, and lemon. Next step is to cut it in small pieces and cook it with onion, sweet pepper, and garlic. When the mondongo is soft enough, grind rice is added, as well as vegetables in pieces, such as quequisque, chayote, sweet pepper, onion, corn. This should be kept cooking until the soup is ready. You can eat this with avocado and cheese.
Arroz-con-Piña Drink: for this drink you boil a “four leaf clover”, a pineapple and rice, until the rice is soft enough. The drink is then being cooled and blended, adding water. Afterwards, remove the solid part, leaving only the liquid part. Add a little bit of vanilla, strawberry and sugar, as you desire.
Chicha-de Maíz: this drink needs a process of a couple of days. The corn is left in water for an entire night so it gets soft. Grind it the next day and then place it in water, adding red colorant. The next step is to cook it. When it cools, you add a type of candy called “dulce” and more water. The next day, you add more water and sugar.
Tres Leches: this is a dessert prepared with milk, condensed milk and cream. This is where the name comes from (three milks). You prepare a cake with flour and eggs, and then you add the mixture of these three milks. Finally, place a crown of meringue.
Cajeta de Coco: to do this use coconut, the coconut’s water, yucca and a candy called “dulce”. The coconut and the yucca are cut in thin strings. The water and the “dulce” are cooked until they make up a kind of honey, to which you add the strings of coconuts and yucca. You then mix those and that's it!
Rosquillas: These appetizers are the specialty of Somoto, in the department of Madriz. Corn dough is combined with cheese, egg, butter and lard. You give them a circular form and you bake them until they toast.
Caribbean Flavors In Nicaragua, culture changes from one coast to the other, and the Caribbean Coast also has its part in traditional dishes. Here other important ingredients such as coconut are used.
Rondon: traditionally from Bluefields. Rondon is prepared with turtle meat, fish, and red meat or pork. Sometimes you combine two of these meats. When preparing, cook the meat with pepper, hot pepper, a herb named nargan, onion, sweet pepper, banana, yucca and quequisque.
Gaubul: this is a typical drink in the Nicaraguan Caribbean, almost unknown in the Pacific and center of the country. To create this drink, make a mixture of green banana (cooked beforehand and mashed in water), milk and coconut water, and a little bit of sugar.
Rice and Beans: this is the same as Gallo Pinto and it is prepared in the same way, using rice and red beans. The only difference is that it is fried with oil made out of coconut, which gives the plate a different and special flavor.
The Most Famous Plates There are a lot traditional Nicaraguan dishes. Each region, according to geographical and cultural characteristics, produced various dishes, drinks, and sweets. Throughout the years, those dishes became known in the whole country. Some cities still are still known as the one that originated the idea of some food and they still specialize in creating this food, but most of the dishes passed to be national dishes. Below you will find an overview of the most famous Nicaraguan dishes.
Gallo Pinto: most people in Nicaragua eat this almost daily and it is considered a national symbol. It is composed of a mixture of fried rice with onion and sweet pepper, red beans boiled with garlic. They are mixed and fried all together.
Nacatamal: a dough which is prepared with ground corn and butter. This is then filled up with small pieces of pork or chicken, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, sweet pepper (all in slices). This mixture is packed in leaves of plantain trees (not edible), tightened with a small thread, that makes it look like a tiny pillow. It is then cooked inside the leaves and boiled during five hours.
Vigorón: originally from Granada, where it is deliciously prepared. A plate is covered with a part of a plantain tree leaf, on top of which yucca, chicharrón and a salad made out of cabbage and tomato is placed.
Indio Viejo: meat is prepared with onions, garlic, sweet pepper and tomato. In addition, some tortillas are put into water and this has to be ground until they form dough. The meat is shredded and then fried with vegetables, the dough, and orange juice. Finally, you add broth.
Quesillo: originally from La Paz Centro and Nagarote, in the department of León. The quesillo is easy to prepare. A piece of cheese (which is named quesillo) is placed inside a tortilla. This is then wrapped up in a plastic bag. Onions and vinegar are added, and the finishing touch is to put fresh cream and a bit of salt on top.
Sopa de Mondongo: this soup is the specialty of Masatepe, in the department of Masaya. The mondongo is washed with a lot of bicarbonate, orange, and lemon. Next step is to cut it in small pieces and cook it with onion, sweet pepper, and garlic. When the mondongo is soft enough, grind rice is added, as well as vegetables in pieces, such as quequisque, chayote, sweet pepper, onion, corn. This should be kept cooking until the soup is ready. You can eat this with avocado and cheese.
Arroz-con-Piña Drink: for this drink you boil a “four leaf clover”, a pineapple and rice, until the rice is soft enough. The drink is then being cooled and blended, adding water. Afterwards, remove the solid part, leaving only the liquid part. Add a little bit of vanilla, strawberry and sugar, as you desire.
Chicha-de Maíz: this drink needs a process of a couple of days. The corn is left in water for an entire night so it gets soft. Grind it the next day and then place it in water, adding red colorant. The next step is to cook it. When it cools, you add a type of candy called “dulce” and more water. The next day, you add more water and sugar.
Tres Leches: this is a dessert prepared with milk, condensed milk and cream. This is where the name comes from (three milks). You prepare a cake with flour and eggs, and then you add the mixture of these three milks. Finally, place a crown of meringue.
Cajeta de Coco: to do this use coconut, the coconut’s water, yucca and a candy called “dulce”. The coconut and the yucca are cut in thin strings. The water and the “dulce” are cooked until they make up a kind of honey, to which you add the strings of coconuts and yucca. You then mix those and that's it!
Rosquillas: These appetizers are the specialty of Somoto, in the department of Madriz. Corn dough is combined with cheese, egg, butter and lard. You give them a circular form and you bake them until they toast.
Caribbean Flavors In Nicaragua, culture changes from one coast to the other, and the Caribbean Coast also has its part in traditional dishes. Here other important ingredients such as coconut are used.
Rondon: traditionally from Bluefields. Rondon is prepared with turtle meat, fish, and red meat or pork. Sometimes you combine two of these meats. When preparing, cook the meat with pepper, hot pepper, a herb named nargan, onion, sweet pepper, banana, yucca and quequisque.
Gaubul: this is a typical drink in the Nicaraguan Caribbean, almost unknown in the Pacific and center of the country. To create this drink, make a mixture of green banana (cooked beforehand and mashed in water), milk and coconut water, and a little bit of sugar.
Rice and Beans: this is the same as Gallo Pinto and it is prepared in the same way, using rice and red beans. The only difference is that it is fried with oil made out of coconut, which gives the plate a different and special flavor.
Music
Nicaragua’s music and dances represent unmistakably the deep cultural roots of the country. The music comes in all different forms and shapes, narrating unique tales and stories of local renowned personalities, places or historical events. Another way of expressing the country’s culture is through traditional dances, some autochthonous and other ones characterized by the crossbreeding of different ethnicities; in Nicaragua’s case this happened between Pre-Columbian groups and Europeans.Bachata, Merengue, Salsa and Cumbia have gained prominence in cultural centers such as Managua, Leon and Granada. Cumbia dancing has grown popular with the introduction of Nicaraguan artists, including Gustavo Leyton, on Ometepe Island and in Managua. Salsa dancing has become extremely popular in Managua's nightclubs. With various influences, the form of salsa dancing varies in Nicaragua. New York
style and Cuban Salsa (Salsa Casino) elements have gained popularity
across the country. Following is a traditional style of music._
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnqFXK3Vh0
El Gueguense
__
Inhabited by indigenous and mestizo
people, a comedy play of high cultural value was born. Expressed in the play
was a rejection of the Spanish domination in a mocking, ingenious, and creative
way.January 17 to the 27th._
Holy Week
In Nicaragua, the combination of strong traditions and a celebrative character maked the Holy Week celebrations one of the most commemorative events of the year for many Nicaraguans. It is a moment of interesting, massive processions, as well as a period of summer vacations during which diversion and relaxation form the main priorities. Year 2012: April 2-9
Literature
Nicaraguan literature has historically been an important source of poetry in the Spanish-speaking world, with internationally renowned contributors such as Rubén Darío, who is regarded as the most important literary figure in Nicaragua. He is called the "Father of Modernism" for leading the modernismo literary movement at the end of the 19th century.
Noble People who influenced Nicaraguan culture;
literary figures include Carlos Martinez Rivas, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Alberto Cuadra Mejia, Manolo Cuadra, Pablo Alberto Cuadra Arguello, Orlando Cuadra Downing, Alfredo Alegría Rosales, Sergio Ramirez Mercado, Ernesto Cardenal, Gioconda Belli, Claribel Alegría and José Coronel Urtecho, among others
Legend
Legends of bloodsucking creatures are present all over the world and throughout history. Seven years ago, I read in La Prensa that a young man was lost on Vulcan Concepcion. He had attempted to climb the volcano without a guide and was ill-prepared for the dangerous trek. Those foolish enough to scale the 1610 meter slopes without assistance are usually seriously wounded, lost, or as in the case of the 24-year-old Salvadoran, eaten by El Cupacabra.
Noble People who influenced Nicaraguan culture;
literary figures include Carlos Martinez Rivas, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Alberto Cuadra Mejia, Manolo Cuadra, Pablo Alberto Cuadra Arguello, Orlando Cuadra Downing, Alfredo Alegría Rosales, Sergio Ramirez Mercado, Ernesto Cardenal, Gioconda Belli, Claribel Alegría and José Coronel Urtecho, among others
Legend
Legends of bloodsucking creatures are present all over the world and throughout history. Seven years ago, I read in La Prensa that a young man was lost on Vulcan Concepcion. He had attempted to climb the volcano without a guide and was ill-prepared for the dangerous trek. Those foolish enough to scale the 1610 meter slopes without assistance are usually seriously wounded, lost, or as in the case of the 24-year-old Salvadoran, eaten by El Cupacabra.
Other Noble People of Nicaragua
Entertainment
- Pedro Miguel Arce (1976), actor, notable roles include Land of the Dead and Get Rich or Die Tryin'.
- Maurice Benard (1963), actor on American soap operas All My Children and General Hospital.
- Barbara Carrera (1951), film, TV actress, former model.
- Oswaldo Castillo, actor, most notable role includes the one in The Hammer.
- Edward'O, notable astroanalyst and co-host of Telemundo's dating show, 12 Corazones.
- Jade Jagger (1971), model
- Mari Ramos, weather anchor for CNN.
- Gabriel Traversari, actor, director, writer, singer, songwriter and painter.
- Omar D'Leon, Modern Painter
- Xiomara Blandino (1984), Miss Nicaragua 2007, model
- Cristiana Frixione (1984), Miss Nicaragua 2006, model
- Iva Grijalva Pashova
- Thelma Rodríguez, Miss Nicaragua 2008
- José Cardenal (1940), businessman
- Michael Cordúa (1961), restaurateur, entrepreneur, businessman, award winning self-taught chef.
- Carlos Reynaldo Lacayo, businessman
- Alfonso Robelo (1939), businessman, politician, diplomat who served as ambassador to Costa Rica.
- Lya Barrioz, singer and actress
- Katia Cardenal, singer/song writer from Duo Guardabarranco.
- Dimension Costeña, musicians
- Luis Enrique (1962), salsa singer and music composer.
- Carlos Mejia Godoy (1943), musician, composer, singer.
- T-Bone, rapper.
- Tony Melendez (1962), guitar player, singer and Christian rock songwriter who was born without arms.
- Maria Mena. Norwegian/Nicaraguan Pop Singer.
- Torombolo (1985), reggaeton and hip hop singer.
- J Smooth, bilingual Hip Hop and Reggaeton singer.
- José Areas, percussionist, former drummer for Santana.
- Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), singer and Nicaraguan folklore poet.
- Donald Vega, jazz musician and composer.
- Hernaldo Zúñiga (1955), singer and music composer.
- DJ Craze, only DJ in history to win 3 consecutive World DMC Champion titles.
- Jorge Salazar Argüello-(1939–1980), a Nicaraguan coffee grower and popular leader of UPANIC (Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua – Unión de Productores Agropecuarios de Nicaragua), seemed poised to become the leader of the opposition to the Sandinista government, until his death at the hands of State Security forces.
- Reinaldo Aguado Montealegre, President of the International Society for Human Rights in Nicaragua.
- Arnoldo Alemán (1946), former President of Nicaragua from 1997–2002. Mr. Aleman has been one of the most corrupt Presidents Nicaragua ever had. He stole more than US $200,000,000 from the Nicaraguan Treasury
- Leonardo Arguello Barreto (1895–1947), former President of Nicaragua (1947)
- Fernando Agüero (1920), politician
- Juan Bautista Sacasa (1874–1946) , former President of Nicaragua from 1933–1936
- Claudia Bermúdez, Nicaragua-American politician and entrepreneur; first Nicaraguan American to be the nominee of a major party for a seat in the United States Congress.
- Enrique Bermúdez (1932–1991), military and political leader of the Nicaraguan contras from 1979–1991.
- Enrique Bolaños (1928), former President of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007. Enrique Bolaños was a very ineffective President, he was not able to accomplish anything during his Presidency
- Róger Calero (1969), Nicaraguan American who ran for U.S. President in the 2004 elections.
- Adolfo Calero (1931), leader of the Contra-Revolutionary Movement
- Emiliano Chamorro (1871–1966), former President of Nicaragua from 1917–1920 and part of 1926
- Fernando Chamorro Alfaro (1824–1863), General and member of the governing junta of Nicaragua (1860–1863).
- Fruto Chamorro (1804–1855), first President of Nicaragua 1854–1855
- Manuel Coronel Kautz, vice minister of foreign relations.
- Arturo Cruz (1923), politician and diplomat
- Pedro Chamorro (1875–1879), former President of Nicaragua from 1875–1879.
- Violeta Chamorro (1929), first female president in Latin America, second in North America and 48th President of Nicaragua
- Adolfo Díaz (1875–1964), President of Nicaragua in 1911–1917 and 1926–1929
- Aminta Granera, Sandinista and Police chief of Nicaragua
- George William Albert Hendy (1879–1888), Hereditary Chief of Miskito Nation.
- Edmundo Jarquín (1946), politician, candidate for president of Nicaragua in 2006.
- Máximo Jerez (1818), politician, lawyer, and military leader in 19th century Nicaragua.
- Herty Lewites (1939–2006), politician
- Eduardo Montealegre (1955), politician, businessman
- Oldman (?-1687), King of the Miskito Nation from 1625–1687
- Daniel Ortega (1945), current President of Nicaragua, leader of the FSLN
- Edén Pastora (1937), politician
- Mariano Prado, lawyer and a four-time, liberal chief of state of El Salvador.
- Sergio Ramírez (1943), Vice President of Nicaragua during the Junta, writer, intellectual
- José Santos Zelaya (1853–1919), former President of Nicaragua from 1893–1909
- Hilda Solis, U.S. congresswoman.
- Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), dictator, 34th and 39th President of Nicaragua
- Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–1980), 44th and 45th Dictator of Nicaragua from 1967 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1979. Member of the Somoza Dictatorial Family
- Luis Somoza Debayle (1922–1967), 40th President of Nicaragua from 1956–1963, but was effectively dictator from 1956 until his death.
- Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero (1951), former commander of the National Guard. His Dictatorial regime lasted many years, until he was executed for Crimes Against Humanity by Mr. Rigoberto Lopez Perez
- Bianca Jagger; Political activist.
- Patrick Argüello (1943–1970), considered a martyr of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP
- Nora Astorga (1948–1988), Sandinista revolutionary, lawyer, politician, judge and Nicaraguan ambassador to the UN
- Antonio Cardenal Caldera (1951–1991), also known by the nom de guerre Jesus Rojas, major leader of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front.
- Arturo Cruz, Jr. (1954), revolutionary, writer, professor and diplomat
- Rigoberto Cruz, one of the founder of the FSLN
- Ajax Delgado, martyr of the Sandinista revolution
- José Dolores Estrada (1792–1869), national hero, famed for his part in the battle Hacienda San Jacinto in 1856
- Idania Fernandez (1952–1979), Martyr of the Sandinista Revolution.
- Carlos Fonseca (1936–1976), teacher, founder of FSLN
- Augusto César Sandino (1895–1934), revolutionary, symbol of the FSLN
- Arlen Siu (1952–1972), martyr of the Sandinista revolution
- Dora María Téllez (1947), Comandante during the Sandinista revolution, founded the MRS, historian
- Bianca Jagger (1945), social and political activist, former wife of Mick Jagger
- José Alfaro, boxer, world champion.
- Rosendo Alvarez (1970), boxer, former world champion, only person to hold the undefeated flyweight champion to a draw.
- Alexis Argüello (1952), boxer, former world champion.
- Julio Gamboa, lightweight boxer.
- Eddie Gazo, super welterweight boxer.
- Ricardo Mayorga (1973), boxer, former WBA/WBC Welterweight champion and WBC Junior Middleweight world champion.
- David Obregon (1978), professional boxer.
- Juan Palacios, professional boxer, reigning WBC Interim Minimumweight World Champion.
- Luis Alberto Pérez (1978), boxer, current IBF world junior-bantamweight champion.
- Adonis Rivas (1972), boxer, former world champion.
- Porfi Altamirano (1952), former Major League Baseball player.
- Marvin Benard (1970), former Major League Baseball player.
- Tony Chévez, Major League Baseball player.
- David Green (1960), former Major League Baseball player.
- Devern Hansack (1978), current Major League Baseball player.
- Oswaldo Mairena, Major League Baseball player.
- Dennis Martínez (1955), first Nicaraguan to play in Major League Baseball, pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history.
- Vicente Padilla (1977), current Major League Baseball player.
- Armando Collado (1985), professional soccer player.
- Denis Espinoza (1983), professional soccer player.
- Shawn Hasani Martin (1987), professional soccer player.
- Lester Meléndez (1981), professional soccer player for the University of Miami.
- Emilio Palacios, professional soccer player, Nicaraguan to score a hat-trick in an international competition.
- Wilber Sanchez, professional soccer player.
- Samuel Wilson (1983), professional soccer player who currently plays for Atletico Olanchano.
- Jessica Aguilera (1985), a track and field sprint athlete, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Diana López, Olympic bronze medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
- Mark López, Olympic silver medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
- Steven López (1978), first official Olympic gold medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
- Karla Moreno (1988), weightlifter, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Claudia Poll (1972), swimmer, won the Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Silvia Poll (1970), swimmer, won the silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Eve Torres (1984), professional wrestler, dancer, model and actress.
- Claribel Alegría (1924), poet, she received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2006.
- Emilio Álvarez Lejarza (1884–1969), writer
- Emilio Álvarez Montalván (1919), political writer
- Eugenio Batres Garcia (1941) noted newscaster and journalist, writer, author and poet.
- Gioconda Belli (1948), poet
- Yolanda Blanco (1954), poet and translator.
- Tomás Borge (1930), writer, poet, and essayist.
- Omar Cabezas (1950), writer
- Ernesto Cardenal (1925), poet
- Blanca Castellón (1958), poet
- Xavier Chamorro Cardenal, co-founder, director and editor of El Nuevo Diario.
- José Coronel Urtecho (1906–1994), poet, translator, essayist, critic, narrator, playwright and historian.
- Alfonso Cortés (1893–1969), poet
- Arturo Cruz (1954), writer
- Pablo Antonio Cuadra (1912–2002), poet
- Rubén Darío (1867–1916), poet, referred to as The Father of Modernism
- Salomón Ibarra Mayorga (1887–1985), poet and lyricist of "Salve a ti, Nicaragua", the Nicaraguan national anthem
- Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), poet and composer.
- Danilo López (1954), poet
- Rigoberto López Pérez (1929–1936), poet and writer
- Francisco Mayorga (1949), writer
- Christianne Meneses Jacobs (1971), writer, editor, and publisher
- Rosario Murillo (1951), poet
- Daniel Ortega (1945), poet
- Azarías H. Pallais (1884–1954), poet
- Rafael Pallais (1952), writer
- Joaquín Pasos (1914–1947), poet
- Horacio Peña (1946), writer and poet
- Sergio Ramírez (1942), writer
- Mariana Sansón Argüello (1918), poet
- Arlen Siu (?-1972), essayist
- Julio Valle Castillo (1952), poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic and art critic
- Daisy Zamora (1950), poet
- Omar D'Leon, a painter and poet.
- Franck de Las Mercedes, painter
- Armando Morales, painter
- Hugo Palma-Ibarra, artist
- Julio Valle Castillo, poet, novelist, painter, essayist, and a critic of literature and art
- Laura Baez, painter
- Miguel D'Escoto, Roman Catholic priest, former foreign minister of Nicaragua, received the Lenin Peace Prize, in 1985.
- Uriel Molina, ordained as a Franciscan.
- Pablo Antonio Vega Mantilla (1919–2007), Roman Catholic Bishop and Bishop Emeritus.
- Maria Romero Meneses (1902–1977), Roman Catholic nun.
- Miguel Obando y Bravo (1926) Former Cardinal of Central America and voted for popeship
- Lila T. Abaunza First Lady of Nicaragua (2002–2007).
- Harry Brautigam (1948), an economist, banker and academic.
- Aubry Campbell Ingram, former Baseball player who helped found the Asociación de Scouts de Nicaragua.
- Ajax Delgado
- Joseph A. Harrison (1883–1964), Moravian Pastor who helped him start the first scout troop in Nicaragua.
- Jorge Salazar, coffee grower and popular leader of UPANIC.
- Aristides Sánchez, key figure among the Contras.
- Reinaldo Aguado Montealegre, President of the International Society for Human Rights in Nicaragua.
- Clodomiro Picado Twight (1887–1944), scientist