Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

When I got engaged to Colombian Daddy, one of our early discussions was about me changing my last name. Like most women -- almost 90% of married women in the USA -- I assumed that I would change my name. I clearly remember him saying, "Why do women change their names?" We talked about that being the tradition in most English speaking countries and that most men just assume that their wife will change her name. We talked about how people assume that if a woman keeps her name that she is trying to make some kind of feminist statement. His response, "And they think we are Machistas !" :) But seriously, in Colombia marriage has no impact on either person's surnames. This means that people keep their same surnames their entire life. If you were Lucía Reyes García before you were married, you will continue to be Lucía Reyes García after you are married. In the past, it was customary for a wife to use her husband's first surname (in social situations) ...

Several years ago, I sat in the court room as my husband took the oath as a new American citizen. Just prior to taking that oath, he had been told that he could change his name to anything he wanted. There was mention of dropping one of his two last names. But, as he told me later, "I just kept thinking of my mom. How could I just eliminate her from my name?" So, the change he decided to make was to place a hyphen between his two surnames. With this in mind and fresh off yesterday's discussion, I have an assignment of "required reading" for my readers. While I do not intend to change any American tradition, I do think that it offers a valuable perspective for understanding the feeling that many Latinos have about their two last names. I recommend it for anyone wishing to better understand this unique tradition. The book itself is written by a man from El Salvador -- René Colato Laínez . The name of the book is René Has Two Last Names. In the book, you ...

When I got engaged to Colombian Daddy, one thing that my parents -- born and raised in the good old USA -- wanted to know was why he had 2 last names and which one was his 'real' last name. Actually, in the Hispanic world, there is no such thing as a LAST name. In fact, if you were to directly translate the word LAST NAME into Spanish it would be ÚLTIMO NOMBRE. This phrase would be fairly meaningless in Spanish, and it is possible that you would even get the middle name of the person in response to a petition for a LAST NAME. The word used in Spanish in order to ask for what we call a LAST NAME is APELLIDO, which is more closely translated as SURNAME. In Colombia, as well as all Hispanic countries, most people will have 2 APELLIDOS -- called the FIRST and SECOND APELLIDOS. The person's first surname (apellido) is their father's first surname and the second surname (apellido) is the mother's first surname, what we call "the mother's maiden name in the...

This list covers women of all ages in all of Colombia. Luz Marina -- 153,357 Colombianas share this name. María del Carmen Ana María Claudia Patricia María Elena María Eugenia Martha Cecilia Luz Dary María Isabel María Teresa Again, this list reflect the entire country. There are some pretty big regional variations from this list. In Bogotá, the list looks like this: María del Carmen Luz Marina Sandra Milena Sandra Patricia Diana Marcela Diana Carolina Claudia Patricia María Teresa Ana María Olga Lucía In Medellín, it looks like this: Luz Marina Beatríz Elena Angela María María Eugenia Sandra Milena Luz Elena Paula Andrea Ana María María Elena Claudia Patricia In Cali, the list is: Paola Andrea Luz Marina Martha Cecilia Martha Lucia Sandra Patricia María del Carmen María Fernanda María Eugenia María Elena Claudia Patricia In Barranquilla, Luz Marina María del Carmen Ana María Claudia Patricia Carmen Cecilia Sandra Milena María Concepción Beatríz Elena Angélica María Carmen Alicia

Today and tomorrow will mark the end of our series on names. Here goes. Combined names are very popular in Colombia. When you say combined names you are really saying -- first and middle names. However, unlike here in the states, many people in Colombia use both names all the time. They may use them together: For example, I have a brother-in-law named Julio Cesar. While he is often referred to as Julio, he is just as often referred to as Julio Cesar -- and not just when momma is angry :). "Is Julio Cesar coming?" "What's the news from Julio Cesar?" etc. Combined names may be used separately at different times: Let me illustrate. I have a nephew named Oscar Leonardo. He has been called Oscar and Leonardo (often Leo) at different times, and sometimes at the same family gathering I have heard some people call him Oscar, while others call him Leonardo. The names are interchangeable. Names can be combined to make a new moniker: Take the name Juan Esteba...

Continuing with the theme, here are the most common names among all Colombian women. María -- with 2, 654, 835 women in Colombia sharing this name. Luz -- with only 790, 323 women sharing this name. Ana Sandra Rosa Martha Carmen Diana Gloria Blanca In Bogotá , Claudia replaces Diana on the top 10 list. In Medellín , the list looks exactly the same as the national list, with just Claudia replacing Gloria. In Cali, Claudia replaces Blanca. In Barranquilla, Olga and Claudia replace Blanca and Gloria in the top 10.

Just when you thought that the series on names had ended, there are two more posts coming your way. This time, rather than the most common first names for children born within the last 10 years, it is the most common first names in Colombia --- period. For men, the most common first name among all ages in Colombia is........ JOSÉ -- with 1,679,871 men sporting this name. Luis Carlos Juan Jorge Pedro Jesús Manuel Oscar Miguel In Bogotá , John, Diego, and Jaime made the top 10 replacing Jesús , Manuel, and Miguel. In Medellín , it was Jhon , Francisco, and Jaime. In Cali, it was Diego, John, and Andrés . In Barranquilla, the names Rafael and Julio replace Jesús and Oscar.

According to the Registraduria Nacional del Estado Civil in Colombia, the most common last names in Colombia in 2010 were the following. Rodríguez Gómez González Martínez García López Hernández Sánchez Ramírez Pérez Días Muñoz Rojas Moreno Jiménez While this is a list that covers all of Colombia, there are some regional differences. In Antioquia, the last names Restrepo, Zapata y Álvarez are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th most common names and Montoya 8th, while they are not even in the top 10 in Bogotá, Cali or Barranquilla. The last name Castro is the 10th most popular last name in Barranquilla, however, is it not in the top ten of any other major city's list. Additionally, in Cali, the last name Valencia is in 7th place, while it also does not appear on any other city's list.

Today, the most popular Male Baby Names from 2000 - 2010, according to the Registraduria Nacional. Here are the names that are en vogue in Colombia for little boys. Santiago Sebastian Alejandro Nicolás Samuel Daniel Mateo Alexander Esteban David Here are the top 10 combined names. Juan David Andrés Felipe Juan Sebastian Miguel Angel Juan Camilo Juan Pablo Juan José Juan Esteban Carlos Andrés Juan Diego

For those of you expecting Colombian Daddy's Tunes for Tuesday, you'll have to wait another week. Colombian Daddy will be back next week with his pick #3 for Tunes Most Colombians Will Recognize. For now, enjoy the next entry in our Most Popular Names in Colombia Series. Today, the most popular Female Names from 2000 - 2010, according to the Registraduria Nacional. Here are the names that are en vogue in Colombia for little girls. Valentina Mariana Daniela Natalia Valeria Isabella Sofia Manuela Juliana Alejandra Here are the top 10 combined names. Laura Valentina Maria Camila María José María Fernanda María Alejandra Paula Andrea Ana María Luisa Fernanda Laura Sofia María Paula

I have, on previous occasions, written about the plethora of strange names that can be found in Colombia. This year there are 1,691,862 Colombianos (about 4 % of the entire population of the country) with names that are completely unique to them. Though, I am not sure that this is something to boast about. Here are some SUPER examples that come straight from the lists at the Registraduria Nacional: Teotriste Abalgamar Hildari Migleyxy Leonerso Mingris Mengris To this list of unique names, you can also add the OFFICIALLY longest first names in Colombia. Female: Adriana Clemencia del Corazón de Jesús y de la Santísima Trinidad Male: Fabio Augusto Luis Felipe de Gonzaga y San Mauricio. Unfortunately, these two have 2 additional names that aren't listed -- their last names. Try learning to write that in Kindergarten :) This just adds more laughs to previous posts on the subject. Feel free to check them out: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2009/03/popular-colombian-names....

Fifteen years ago, my husband and I spent several days in rural Boyaca researching his family history -- among the many choice names was one little girl born the day after Christmas named Melchora Gaspara Baltazara. She was very literally named after all Three Kings. Not sure how I missed this one, but last year there was a report about how Christmas names are very popular in Colombia. In fact, the two most popular names are the Spanish version of Joseph (Jose) and Mary (Maria). Just in time for the season, I thought I'd share this with you. In 2009, there were 1,641,274 men with the name José 2,611,793 people (men and women) with the name María 849, 511 with the name of Jesús 619 with the name Melchor 1,643 with the name Gaspar 2,351 with the name Baltazar Read the full report here: http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-6834187

According to Javier Ocampo López , Yuruparí is the god of the indigenous Tucano peoples of Vaupés . He is the product of a pregnancy that occurred when his mother Secuy ate the forbidden fruit of pihycán . After his birth, she hid him in a hollow tree where she would go and breastfeed him several times a day. Eventually, Yuruparí grew and left the tree to seek out his mother. Apparently, he had been blessed with magical powers. His first magical act was to change all curious women into rocks. Even his mother fell victim to this as he caught her spying on the men of the village while they were in a meeting. In an attempt to obtain dominance over all the women, Yuruparí started a new religion where women were not allowed to participate. He used a flute to symbolize membership in the cult. The flute also represented the voice of God and the bones of the mythic hero of his people -- Ualri . Then, Yuruparí was burned up and left nothing but ashes -- from which grew the PACHUBA palm ...

I have posted before about the most common first names in Colombia, but I got an e-mail asking me about the most common last names. And believe it or not, I was able to find the answer. The MOST COMMON LAST NAME IN COLOMBIA IS ........ DRUM ROLL PLEASE. #1 Rodríguez -- with 675,196 Colombianos sharing this last name. #2 Gómez -- 514,497 #3 González -- 506,861 #4 Martínez -- 504,486

Although the largest portion of the population on the Pacific Coast is of African descent (approximately 700,000 rural afrocolombian farmers), there are still large groups of indigenous peoples all along the coast. The largest group is the EMBERA (40,000), followed by the AWÁ (10,000), the WAUNANA (7,000), and the KUNA (600) native peoples. The native peoples accepted the afro colombian encroachment much more readily than that of the white man. There has been some, though not much, mixing of the races and the children of afrocolombian and indigenous people are called Zambos . They make up approximately 2 1/2 -3% of the population. In a book by Javier Ocampo Lopez (a professor at the UPTC in Tunja ), I found an Embera legend about the origin of race that I thought might be interesting to share to close out this week. According to the group of Embera Indians known as the Catios , who live in Choco , there exists the god EUANDAMA , whose body is that of the sun. Euandama mar...

The Pacific Coast of Colombia is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. In fact, the area contains one fifth of the diverse plant species known in Colombia. There are also many different kinds of animal species, including mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians. The major departments located on the Pacific coast are : Chocó (capital Quibdó ), Valle de Cauca (main Coastal city = Buenaventura ), Cauca (main Coastal City = Guapí ), and Nariño (main Coastal city = Tumaco ). The city of Lloro (which happens to mean 'cries'), Colombia, is the wettest zones on the planet, receiving 542 about inches or 13,300 millimeters of rain each year. In spite of being rich in natural resources (water, minerals, forests, and plants and animals), it is typically considered to be the poorest part of Colombia. The majority of the population are the descendants of African slaves who had been brought to the region to work as miners. This brings me to an interesting...

Among the most widely known of the Chibcha myths is the story of BOCHICA -- also called NEMQUETEVA, SADIGUA, or XUÉ (which meant the SUN) . Fray Pedro Simon reported that each one came at a different time and did something different. But, he thought it might have been the same man. Lucas Fernandez de Piedrahita states that they were all the same man. Bochica was a man that appeared on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense riding a strange animal, that by description sounds like a camel. This man was definitely a stranger. He had white skin, white hair, and a long white beard. He carried a Macana (a wooden weapon with sharp flint sides) and he carried a cross. He wore a tunic and had long hair kept in the "style of a Nazarene" as the early Spanish priests identified it. (see footnote #2) He was credited with bringing "civilization" to the Chibchas. He taught them to weave, paint and make ceramics. The blankets, clothing, and pots made by the Indians were considered their grea...

According to Chicbha legend, Humans in general were created by Sugamuxi and Ramiriquí under the direction of Chiminigagua . But where did the Chibchas come from? They also have a creation myth that surrounds their arrival on the Altiplano Cundiboyasense . According to the legend, in the area around Tunja there exists a lake called Iguaque . It is from the waters of this lake that Bachué (bah chewAY ) first appeared. She was surrounded by light and was accompanied by a three year old little boy. She walked down the mountain to the plains and built a hut -- the first Chibcha dwelling -- in the area of what today is the town of Iguaque . When the child grew up, Bachué married him -- the first Chibcha wedding ceremony. The couple was very prolific and Bachué was very fertile. With every pregnancy, she bo re 4 to 6 children. The couple would travel to different areas and in each, they would leave children. This is how they were able to populate the land. When the two were very old,...

Antonio Nariño y Alvarez was born in Santa Fe de Bogotá, on April 17, 1765. He was the child of a Spaniard Vicente Nariño, the official accountant of the King of Spain, and a Bogotá born mother, Catalina Alvarez del Casal. Though his earliest years were spent in school, he eventually left school and became mostly self-taught. Many of his ideas were influenced by the teachings of his uncle, Manuel de Bernardo Alvarez. At 20, he married Magdalena Ortega y Mesa. Just after his marriage, an earthquake shook Bogotá, and Nariño got permission to print a newspaper about the event and its consequences just 3 days after it happened. The report was a huge success and lead to permission for the writing, editing, and printing of a new newspaper called the "Gaceta de la Ciudad de Santa Fe." However, after just three weeks of publication, the Superior Government of Bogotá withdrew its support for the newspaper and all publication was cancelled. At the age of 24, he was elected as one of t...

Francisco José de Caldas was a Colombian naturalist and geographer. Born in Popayán in 1771, he showed impressive intellectual skill from his early childhood. He eventually graduated with a degree in law from the Colegio del Rosario. However, despite his legal studies, his real love was math, science and nature. He made so many discoveries that he earned the nickname "El Sabio" (the Wise man). He participated in many scientific nature expeditions and was part Celestino Mutis and Alexander Von Humbodlt's expeditions. He classified plants and created a large herbarium. He measured mountains and waterfalls, and created several maps. He made observations of the weather. In 1805, Mutis assigned Caldas to be the first director of the Astronomical Observatory in Bogotá. From 1805 -1810, Caldas spent his time equipping the Observatory, performing scientific experiments and writing papers and reports including: "El estado de la geografía del virreinato con relación a la ...