Venezuela sit in the northernmost part of South America , with the Caribbean Sea forming its northern border . The land of 28 million was home to numerous indigenous the great unwashed for centuries until 1498 when the first European set ft on its shore – Christopher Columbus . Spaniards soon colonized Venezuela ( so named because the stilted homes ramp up above a lake remind a subsequent IE of Venice ) , and eventually large number of African slaves were convey over [ sources : Garcia , Geographia ] . It was the customs of these three groups – the native hoi polloi , Spaniards and Africans – that blended together over time to create Venezuela ’s advanced custom .
While these three groups were in Venezuela together , the Spaniards dominate . Customs from the native and African universe were pushed to the side or abandon . One expression of this is that Venezuela today is an overwhelmingly Catholic commonwealth . Venezuelans are also jolly one-sided , namely in wish to race and monetary status . Lighter - skin people are generally reckon as better than those with dark hide , as are those in a high societal course [ source : Every Culture ] .
Venezuela is a patriarchal society , with an emphasis on men designate plenitude of machismo . Men are expected to be the wage earners and essay their virility with numerous sexual amour . In improver , manpower openly gaze at adult female in public and cry out gratuitous comment , which the woman disregard [ source : Every Culture ] . While women are legally adequate to men , they generally earn less and have more societal restrictions invest upon them ; this is starting to change , though , due to Western influence .
Like several other South American and Caribbean country , Venezuelans celebrateCarnavalduring the three days before Ash Wednesday . The revelry includes parade featuring costumed people , plus parties with lots of dancing and drinking .
