almost all of Venezuelans speak Spanish, the country’s official language. Indians in remote areas speak various tribal languages. Venezuela was named after Venice, Italy, where city streets are really canals. Venezuela means “Little Venice”. Indians lived in Venezuela long before the Spaniards arrived. Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach Venezuela in 1498 landing on the Paria Peninsula. Venezuela became a colony of Spain and in 1523, Spanish colonists founded the town of Cumana. Cumana is the oldest Spanish settlement in South America. Venezuelans were the first South Americans to seek independence from Spain. In 1821, Venezuelans won their independence led by Simon Bolivar. See Exhibit G. At first Venezuela joined with Colombia, Ecuador and Panama to form the Republic of Gran Colombia. Finally, in 1830, Venezuela became a separate country.Traditional Venezuela foods include black beans, cooked bananas and rice which are usually eaten with beef, pork, poultry or fish. The traditional bread is a cornmeal cake called arepa. The national dish is the hallaca, which is a cornmeal dough stuffed and then wrapped in a banana leaf.Venezuela has many official holidays. These holidays, in order from the beginning of the year, are: New Year’s Day, Two days of Carnival, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Declaration of Independence, Labor Day, Battle of Carabobo, Independence Day, Simon Bolivar's Birthday, Columbus Day, All Saint's Day, Death of Simon Bolivar, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Named after Simon Bolivar, the Bolivar is Venezuela’s currency. One American dollar is equal to 14.50 bolivars. Venezuela is one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations. See Exhibit H. Venezuela also mines iron ore, coal, bauxite, diamonds and gold. Factories in Venezuela make steel, aluminum, paper, cloth and machines. Agriculture is part o...
