Culture —– Latin American’s are Serious about their #1 Pastime
As it is in so many other parts of the mundo (world), soccer is the “número uno” favorite pastime and sport in Latin America. Latin American’s take soccer very seriously, and many fans are fanatical about their soccer teams.
In Spanish the word for soccer is “fútbol”. It is very similar to the English word “football”. But, if you are referring to United States-style “football”, you would say “fútbol americano” rather than “fútbol” which, as I mentioned, means “soccer” in español.
Like I mencioné, Latin Americans are very serioso about their favorite sport and pastime “fútbol”. After many of their partidos (games), the fans will gang up with each other afuera (outside). The fans from one equipo (team) will be against the fans from the other equipo and they almost always get into a physical pelea (fight). It just isn’t enough for the partido to be decided by the final score; the fans want to show who really won the game by getting in a pelea after the partidos. Sometimes the fights can become very dangerous!
They don’t speak Spanish in Brazil, but they are very integrated into the Latin American culture because their country is surrounded on most sides by countries that speak español. There are more people who speak Spanish in the world anyway so you might as well learn Spanish. Anyway, a couple of years ago, Brazil’s equipo nacional (national team) was in competición for the world title and their goal keeper missed an important stop. Some fans were extremely enojados (angry) when their team returned to Brazil. The fans found the goal keeper who missed that key stop and it wasn’t a pretty site. As I mencioné earlier, they are very serioso about their favorite sport fútbol.
Professional deportes in the United States generally don’t get serios enough that fans physically fight and injure each other or the atletas (athletes) of their team. If it is this way in other parts of the mundo (world), please write a comment on the blog and let me know.
In the United States, Latins are also very serios about their fútbol. If the games they want to watch aren’t on their televisión at home, they will usually pay a lot of dinero to watch partidos on a big screen televisión at a Latin/Spanish restaurant or casa of un amigo (friend).
Moral of the historia: If you are in Latin America, and you are by a estadio (stadium) just after a game, take cover or get out of there fast (or be sure to wear a bullet-proof vest). Or — just stay away from that area altogether. Also, if you are friends with Latin people, it is nice to be aware of how serios they take “fútbol”. You might want to ask them about their equipo favorito (favorite team), or how the copa mundial (world cup soccer) is coming along.
Sneak peek at next week: Personal visit to someone in Latin America.
¡Hasta la próxima semana! (Until Next Week!)
David S. Clark — President / Director
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