Enjoying the Culture 153CHILEAN CULTURE
On the surface, Chile appears to be not all that different from
the United States or parts of Europe. Yet, once you begin
to dig around, you’ll find a rich culture that makes Chile
unique. Even though the society is relatively homogeneous,
several extremely different traditions come together to
shape Chilean culture. Chileans are very proud of their
customs, many of which go back hundreds of years. If you
make an effort to learn about this special history and are a
willing participant, you will be aptly rewarded.
The Mapuche
Before the Spaniards arrived, the Mapuche ruled a large
portion of the territory now known as Chile, in essence the
entire central section. Although not the only indigenous
group in the country, the Mapuche are perhaps the first
or only native people to come to mind when thinking
of Chile. Originally, the Mapuche—called Araucanos
by the conquistadors—lived on Chiloé Island and the
surrounding mainland to the north and south in both
Chile and Argentina. The term Mapuche (people of the
land) encompasses most of the peoples native to central
Chile including the Williche (people of the south), Pikunche
(people of the north), Puelche (people of the East), the
Lafkenche (people of the coast) and Pehuenche (people of
the Pehuen).