Basic Etiquette In Colombia

When visiting Colombia, learning about customs and traditions are important to remain in good standing in the country

. It is no excuse that you as a foreigner should not respect the etiquette of the country. To be on the safe side always, here are some tips on the etiquette in Colombia.

Greeting. Men shake hand hands with direct eye contact. This is often done with the appropriate time of day greeting. Women grasp forearms instead of shaking hands. Always refer to other individuals with the appropriate honorific title and surname.

Gift Giving. Gifts are mandatory during birthdays, Christmas and the Epiphany or January 6th. When a girl turns fifteen, it is considered as a cause for great celebration and the common gift is any item with gold. When giving gifts, it would be good to bring fruit, a potted plant or chocolates when visiting as a guest in a home. When the occasion merits flowers, they should be sent ahead of the visitors and never use lilies or marigolds. Wines and spirits are considered expensive gifts. Do not expect that your gift be opened right away as it is opened after the guests have left.

Dining. When dining in another home, it is a rather formal experience. Thus, do wait to be seated by the host. Always keep your hands visible when dining and avoid resting your elbows on the table. When the host says buen provecho, it is the signal to start partaking of the meal. When offered an entree, it would be polite to try everything. All the food requires the use of utensils, including fruit. Leaving a small amount of food on the plate is considered polite when done eating. Never use a toothpick at the dining table, which is considered as unhygienic.

Topics. It would be good manners to avoid controversial topics such as politics or the armed conflict as the difference of opinions can lead to clashes. In addition, because of the long deep-seated experience of the tragedy of narcotraffickers and their effect on Colombian society then, it would be respectful to avoid these kinds of sensitive topics. When meeting for the first time, these topics should generally be avoided and are often received with a snide and sarcastic rebuttal. Race is also a laid back issue since there is great homogeneity in Colombian society. Most Colombians are mostly Catholic and are respectful as to ceremonies and other topics related to religion.

As can be seen, there are a lot of things to be learned about culture and customs of the Colombian people. Like their history and natural resources, the people of Colombia are rich and must be observed when in the country.

by: Bobby Castro

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