Systems of Social Organization
Family:
Until recently, Chileans lived in very large families. Now, the average urban middle-class family has 2 or 3 children. It is also not unusual for a widowed grandparent to live with a married son or daughter. Divorce has only recently been an option, partially because of the majority of their religion.
Other:
Women can work.
Customs and Traditions
Important Holidays include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Curpus Christi, National Unity Day, Independence Day, All Saints Day, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas Day.
When in Santiago, and greeting someone formally, you are to shake hands, but if with friends, a kiss on the cheek for either a man or woman is acceptable.
When in Santiago, and greeting someone formally, you are to shake hands, but if with friends, a kiss on the cheek for either a man or woman is acceptable.
Clothing
People in Santiago wear Western style clothes, which basically means men wearing suits, and women with office jobs wearing suits and dresses, though trousers are also accepted.
Food:
Pastel de choclo (baked corn paste) is a typical Chilean dish served in Santiago. A favorite soup of portotos grandados or in english, white bean soup.
Recipe for Pastel de Choclo
Ingredients for the pastel --
12 Large corn on the cob
4 pounds of PINO
4 broiled chicken breasts no skin, no fat cut into 12 pieces
2 TBS of salted butter
1 TBS of Oil
3 TBS of Sugar
1 litre of Milk
4 hardboiled eggs cut into slices
4 large basil leaves
1 ½ tsp of salt
Ingredients for the Pino --
4 lbs minced meat
4 large onions finely chopped
3 tbs oil
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
about 24 black olives
1 1/2 cups of seeded raisins
How to make the pastel --
Peel the corn, and cut the corn off the cob with a knife.
Once you have all the corn off, put it into blender.
In a pot, mix the butter and the oil melt.
Put in the corn paste you’ve already blended and cook, slowly always stirring.
As it thickens, start to slowly add the milk, the salt, the sugar and the finely chopped basil.
Once it’s really thickened, you can put it aside to use to top the pastel.
How to make the Pino --
Heat the oil in a pot.
Add the onions and fry until onions become clear in color.A
dd the spices and salt, and cook for a couple more minutes.
Add the raisins, and cook for two minutes.
Add the meat and fry until well done.
Put it together --
Preheat the oven to 375 Celsius.
Oil the individual clay bakers.
Fill to about half way up with the Pino.
Add two slices of egg, a piece of chicken, and a few olives.
Top with the corn filling to just below the top.
Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar.
Put into the preheated oven, and bake until the top becomes golden brown and hard.
12 Large corn on the cob
4 pounds of PINO
4 broiled chicken breasts no skin, no fat cut into 12 pieces
2 TBS of salted butter
1 TBS of Oil
3 TBS of Sugar
1 litre of Milk
4 hardboiled eggs cut into slices
4 large basil leaves
1 ½ tsp of salt
Ingredients for the Pino --
4 lbs minced meat
4 large onions finely chopped
3 tbs oil
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
about 24 black olives
1 1/2 cups of seeded raisins
How to make the pastel --
Peel the corn, and cut the corn off the cob with a knife.
Once you have all the corn off, put it into blender.
In a pot, mix the butter and the oil melt.
Put in the corn paste you’ve already blended and cook, slowly always stirring.
As it thickens, start to slowly add the milk, the salt, the sugar and the finely chopped basil.
Once it’s really thickened, you can put it aside to use to top the pastel.
How to make the Pino --
Heat the oil in a pot.
Add the onions and fry until onions become clear in color.A
dd the spices and salt, and cook for a couple more minutes.
Add the raisins, and cook for two minutes.
Add the meat and fry until well done.
Put it together --
Preheat the oven to 375 Celsius.
Oil the individual clay bakers.
Fill to about half way up with the Pino.
Add two slices of egg, a piece of chicken, and a few olives.
Top with the corn filling to just below the top.
Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar.
Put into the preheated oven, and bake until the top becomes golden brown and hard.
Language
The main language of Santiago is spanish. Their spanish has a softer sound, and a melodic lilt. English is the second language, mainly because of the tourism. A smaller quantity speak italian, spanish, or german. The remainder of the descendants of the Mapuche tribe speak the Araucan language.
Arts and Literature
Partially because Santiago is the cultural center of the Andean region, they have much folk art. Also, they have many museums, including the 'Palace of Fine Art.' Also, because of the fact of Santiago being the cultural center of the Andean region, they have much folklore. One in important story is this: "There is a lost city that contains fabulous wealth, and the streets are paved of silver and gold. Yet a mist hides this mysterious city from sight. It is said that all who go there lose their memory, and stay there with content. It will supposedly be seen once the world ends." Also, they have the largest library in Chile.
Religion
People in Santiago are mainly Roman Catholic, so they celebrate many Christian holidays. There are also Protestants, and some Mapuche Indians that still practice their traditional religion. Many Chileans in Santiago believe that the spirits of people who have died violently will linger in the area where they died. The living can appeal to them in their prayers, and little shrines with flowers are often set up near where they died. Very religious families practice the nine days of prayer when a person dies. These are held in the home and attended by family and close friends. Also, baptism and first communion are very important milestones.
Forms of Government.
Santiago is a part of Chile, which is a form of republic democracy. People gain suffrage at the age of 18. The current Chief of State and Head of Government is President Sebastian PINERA Echenique since the eleventh of March in 2010. The president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term. The executive branch of the Chilean government is placed in Santiago.
Economic Systems
Santiago's economy is a market-oriented mixed economy. Their currency is Chilean pesos. In 1990, Chile had one of the strongest economies in South America, and entering the 21st century only strengthened it. They're the center of the Chilean economy, the center of the Chilean banking and financial matters, the center of government, and really the center of all off Chile.