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The culture of Uruguay is rich, reflecting the amalgam between people of European, African and Indigenous origins dating back to the 16th century.

Contents 1 Art 2 Distinct Music 3 Literature 4 Religion Practiced 5 Food 6 Smoking 7 External links

Juan Manuel Blanes (1830-1901), Uruguay's most famous 19th century artist, painted large canvases depicting the life of the gaucho, the South American cattle herder, and events from Uruguay's history. Pedro Figari (1861-1938) painted detailed scenes of daily life in Montevideo and the countryside. Joaquín Torres García (1874-1949) developed what is known as constructive universalism and influenced a generation of Uruguayan painters. The realistic sculptures of José Belloni (1880-1965) can be seen in public parks and plazas in Montevideo. They depict scenes from Uruguayan life, such as a stagecoach drawn by horses, or a wagon pulled by oxen.

See main article: Music of Uruguay

Uruguayans enjoy music such as tango, folk and waltz, as well as local forms such as murga, candombe and milonga. Uruguay's annual Carnival is an annual major event with many unique features distinguishing it from those of its neighbours. Rock, jazz, pop and other Euro-American styles also enjoy great popularity in Uruguay.

See main article: Uruguayan literature

One of Uruguay's most famous works of literature is Ariel by José Enrique Rodó (1871–1917). Written in 1900, the book deals with the need to maintain spiritual values while pursuing material and technical progress. Florencio Sánchez (1875–1910) wrote plays about social problems that are still performed today. Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (1855–1931) wrote epic poems about Uruguayan history. Juana de Ibarbourou (1895–1979) and Delmira Agustini (1866–1914) were also notable poets. Modern Uruguayan writers include Juan Carlos Onetti (author of No Man's Land and The Shipyard), novelist Mario Benedetti, social critic Eduardo Galeano, Mario Levrero and Jorge Majfud.

Uruguay is South America's most secular country. It has no official religion and church and state are separate. Religious freedom is guaranteed. Sixty-six percent of Uruguayans are Roman Catholics. Most Uruguayans baptise their children and marry in churches but less than half attend church on a regular basis. There is a small Jewish community in Montevideo (about 1% of the population) as well as several evangelical Protestant groups (about 2%). Macumba and Umbanda, religions of Afro-Brazilian origin, are the currently fastest-growing religions in Uruguay.

Spanish is the official language of Uruguay and is spoken by almost all of the population. English is common in the business world though it is a minority language, as are French and Italian. Other languages include Portuguese and Portuñol, a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese. Both are present in northern regions near the Brazilian border.

Uruguayans are known to eat a lot of meat. The parrillada (beef platter), chivito (a substantial steak sandwich), and pasta are the national dishes. The latter is due to Uruguay's many Italian immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Other Uruguayan dishes include morcilla dulce, a type of blood sausage cooked with ground orange peel and walnuts, and milanesa, a breaded veal cutlet. Snacks include olímpicos (club sandwiches), húngaras (spicy sausage in a hot dog roll), and masas surtidas (bite-sized pastries). Typical drinks include mate, tea, clericó (a mixture of white wine and fruit juice), and medio y medio (part sparkling wine and part white wine).

Roughly 1/3 of Uruguayan adults smoke tobacco, according to Uruguayan research groups. [1] On March 1, 2006, a law went into effect banning smoking in all enclosed public spaces in Uruguay, including restaurants and bars. The penalty for businesses that allow smoking is a fine of roughly US $1,100 or a three-day closure. One opinion poll found that 70% of smokers supported the ban. [2] The current President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, is a medical doctor specializing in cancer treatment.

• Uruguayan writers in Centro Virtual Cervantes [3]

• Uruguayan Gay Advocate Experience