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Salvadorans enjoy socializing and are extremely hospitable.

It is rude to leave immediately after eating; you are expected to stay for at least an hour after dinner to converse with your hosts and the other guests.

Never arrive on time when invited to a home. Although it may sound strange you should arrive a little later than invited, i.e. 30 -45 minutes late.

Dress well as this affords the host respect.

Don’t discuss business at social events unless prompted to.

It is considered good manners to reciprocate any social invitation.

Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

Guests are served first.

The host says "buen provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") as an invitation to start eating.

Food is always eaten with utensils. Even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork.

It is considered polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating.

Meals are social occasions and can be quite lengthy.

Expect lively conversation during the meal.

Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink.

The host makes the first toast. The most common toast is "Salud!"

When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted.

If you do not want to drink more, leave your glass one-quarter full.

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Salvadorians give gifts for birthdays, Christmas or New Year, as well as religious events in a person’s life.

A young girl’s 15th birthday is considered a special date and is much celebrated.

If invited to an Ecuadorian home, bring flowers, good quality spirits, pastries, imported sweets for the hosts.

A bouquet of roses is always well received.

Do not give lilies or marigolds as they are used at funerals.

Do not give scissors or knives as they indicate you want to sever the relationship.

If you know the person well, perfume is an excellent gift.

Gifts are generally opened when received.

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Salvadoran women often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder, rather than shake hands.

Close friends may hug and kiss on the right cheek.

Men shake hands with other men and with women, although they wait for the woman to extend her hand.

While shaking hands, use the appropriate greeting for the time of day: "buenos dias"(good morning), "buenas tardes" (good afternoon), or "buenas noches" (good evening).

In many ways El Salvador is a formal culture where only close friends and family use first names.

Refer to people by the appropriate honorific title (Senor or Senora) and their surname until invited to move to a first name basis.

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August 3rd to 6th. The August Festivities

The August festivities in El Salvador are some of the most festive days in the nation’s capital and the country. These days are the patron saint festivities of the capital city, San Salvador; they are in honor of the Divine Savior of the World. From August 3rd to the 5th, San Salvador holds special events in different parts of the city.

September 15th. Independence Day

September 15 is a National Holiday in El Salvador; this day marks the commemoration of the freedom and sovereignty of the Republic of El Salvador from Spain obtained in 1821. On this day, all over the country, local educational and government institutions have events and parades to commemorate this day.

October 1st. Children’s Day

Children’s day is an observed holiday in honor of all the Salvadoran children. Also, it is a celebration that seeks to encourage children to strive for much more. Furthermore, on this day, recreational activities are organized to motivate children to enjoy their childhood.

National Pupusa Day. “Second Sunday in November”

Yes, El Salvador has a national pupusa day that is celebrated on the second Sunday in November. Indeed, Salvadoran Pupusas are one of the most typical Salvador food the country has. This day is dedicated to enjoying one of the most representative typical dishes of El Salvador, the pupusas.

The San Miguel Carnival. Last Weekend in November

The San Miguel carnival is a weekend party that includes live music, parades, and dancing. It takes place on the last weekend in November; it is part of the celebrations in honor of the San Miguel patron saint.

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January 16th. The Signing of the Peace Accords

This day commemorates the end of the Salvadoran civil war; both the government and the FMLN guerillas signed the peace accords in Mexico. This is an observed holiday in El Salvador; businesses work their regular hours.

March 8th. Women’s Day

Women’s day is not a public holiday; it is an observed holiday only. Businesses have regular opening hours. Organizations that fight for the freedom and rights of women have activities or marches during this day.

May 7th. Soldier Day

This day marks the anniversary of the Legion of Liberty; it was created by General Manuel Jose Arce in 1824. Soldier day commemorates the courage, commitment, and love for the country shown by the men and women who have sworn to defend it. In many cities across the country, you will see parades and special events to show appreciation to all Salvadoran soldiers.

July 17th to 26th. The July Festivities

The July festivities are not one of the National Holidays in El Salvador. Nevertheless, they are included here because of their popularity. They are the patron saint festivities of the city of Santa Ana, which honors its patron saint, our lady of Saint Anne. Without a doubt, there are one of the most outstanding festivities in the country.

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Salvadoran Cumbia is a staple in Salvadoran music. Groups such as Orquesta San Vicente who sing (Soy Salvadoreño), the Bravo group who sing (Sabrosa Cumbia) and the Hermanos Flores group who sing (Mi País) are three well known cumbia music groups in El Salvador.

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El Salvador's well known folk dance is known as Xuc which originated in Cojutepeque, Cuscatlan. Other musical repertoire consists of danza, pasillo, marcha and canciones.

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Like many other Latin American countries, El Salvador has a prevalent religious affiliation and some areas can be conservative in dress. Generally speaking jeans, maxi skirts, or sundresses that come close to your knees are all appropriate when visiting small towns.

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Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in El Salvador and is played throughout the country. Internationally renowned players include Jorge (“El Mágico”) González, who is considered one of the most accomplished footballers in the history of the Central American game, and Jaime (“La Chelona”) Rodríguez, who, with González, led the national team’s memorable run in the 1982 World Cup.

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Fried Tortillas with Toppings

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Three-Milk Cake

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Grilled Meat

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Rice Pudding

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French Sweet Toast

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Sweet Rice and Seed Beverage

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Deep-Fried Cassava

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Stuffed Tortillas / Flatbread

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50% of the overall population of El Salvador are Roman Catholics. Since the 1990s Evangelical Protestantism has made inroads, particularly among the poor, and by the 2010s more than one-third of Salvadorans were Protestants. There are also smaller groups who practice other faiths.

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Although Spanish is the official language in the country, before there are two more Dialects spoken during Precolonial epoch. These are Nahuatl, which is spoken in the central part of the country and Poton, spoken in the east region of the country.

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Spanish is the official language used by the country El Salvador. The video above give us an idea how Salvadorian Spanish sounds like.

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The Sound of the Salvadoran Spanish dialect (Numbers, Phrases, Words & Story)