Culture of Valle de Angeles
The municipality of Valle de Ángeles is a community closely linked to its traditions and rich in them, so much so that these are what have become its main attraction, among which we can mention its gastronomy, crafts, patron saint festival among many others.
Myths and Beliefs
- When the waterfalls of Las Chorreras make noise, a weather change is approaching.
- When the house dog rolls over several times, visitors are coming.
- The howling of dogs and/or the hooting of the Owl is a sign that something bad will happen.
- It is believed that the movements of the Moon have effects on the planting and harvesting of crops, as well as on animal births. This aspect is not dismissed by modern science.
- It is believed that baptizing children at an early age is necessary to prevent them from being chased by the Ciguanaba.
- Belief in the existence of the Cadejo that pursues men and the Duende that enchants single ladies.
- It is believed that the presence of a black butterfly in the house is an announcement of the death of a family member, as well as when a dog howls.
- Placing a broom behind the door serves to make unwanted visitors leave the house quickly.
- Belief in the existence of the devil and scares.
Traditions and Customs
Among the practical traditions and customs deeply rooted in the municipality, the following stand out:
- During Holy Week, some residents avoid consuming meat, especially red meat.
- Celebration and crowning of the Day of the Deceased, which means visiting the cemetery on November 2nd of each year to crown the graves. Additionally, on this day, residents go out to ask for ayote (a type of squash) from neighboring houses.
- Praying the novena for the dead.
- Celebration of end-of-year festivities with typical food and dance parties.
- The famous «Bien te Veo» tree, according to local knowledge, releases pollen that causes severe skin damage. This tree is large and has leaves very similar to plum tree leaves. It grows near water sources. According to tradition, a person protects themselves by looking at it, and if they are going to pass close to the tree, they say loudly: «Ya te vi, bien te veo» (I see you, I see you well), and the tree doesn’t cause them any problems (Some people may insult it).
Popular Festivals
- On January 1st, the inauguration of the first Municipal Corporation is celebrated in the municipality, presided over by Mr. Baltazar Medrano on January 1st, 1865.
- The patron saint festival of the municipality of Valle de Ángeles is on October 4th, in honor of San Francisco, an important figure in Catholicism.
Traditional Foods and Drinks
In the municipality of Valle de Ángeles, there is a diversity of gastronomy, among which the famous pupusas can be mentioned. Pupusas are corn tortillas cooked on a griddle with lard and filled with ingredients such as quesillo (cheese), chicharrón (fried pork rinds), and loroco (a type of edible flower). The quintessential typical dish in many municipalities, including Valle de Ángeles, is grilled meat, accompanied by beans, fried plantains, chismol (a tomato and onion salsa), cheese or curd, rice, and the delicious and irreplaceable corn tortillas. Another characteristic food in our culinary culture is the delicious Honduran-style corn on the cob (corn with butter and cheese).
Among the typical drinks, natural orange juice and other fruit juices such as tamarind, blackberry, and lemon, as well as horchata and pozol, are mentioned. These are delicious typical beverages enjoyed by Hondurans, as they are also derived from corn and rice.
Cultural Center
The Cultural Center is a dream and idea of the former Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Mr. Germán Allan Payett, who worked to make this dream a reality.
The land that houses the Cultural Center was the site of the CESAMO health center for many years, but the center moved to new facilities. Between 2000 and 2001, the necessary arrangements began, with Mr. Julio Cesar Torres as the municipal mayor. During that period, all the paperwork for the land, as well as the agreements and legal procedures between the municipal government and the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports, were carried out.
On October 12, 2002, the Cultural Center was inaugurated, with the constitutional president of the Republic being Mr. Ricardo Maduro Joest and Ms. Mireya Batres Mejía serving as the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports. An inauguration event called «A Day with the Angels» was prepared and organized by the visual artist Julio Vizquerra.
The Cultural Center has a main exhibition hall, a small amphitheater, two offices, and the municipal library, which is equipped with books on general culture. It also has two computers that can be used by students for their work.
The Cultural Center organizes cultural events, focuses on preserving and promoting culture and art in general, and conducts research on tangible and intangible cultural heritage. They collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports. In the community, they serve all students in the library and provide meeting rooms to different organizations for their gatherings.
Santamaría History Museum
The Santamaría History, Art, and Culture Museum of Valle de Ángeles was founded on October 2, 2006, by Mr. Roberto Andonie Medina, who decided, together with his wife and children, to share a variety of collections of different objects, such as monograms, keychains, antique photographs, antiques, banknotes, Victrolas, radios, watches, machines, antique weapons, paintings, telephones, among other objects.
Sources: Casa de La Cultura, Lic. Lenin Romero, Municipal City Hall, and some residents.
