French Guatemalan

Last updated
Flag of France.svg French Guatemalan Flag of Guatemala.svg
Français-guatémaltèque
Francés-Guatemalteco
Regions with significant populations
Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala and Quetzaltenango
Languages
Spanish and French
Religion
Roman Catholicism and Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
French people, other Guatemalans

A French Guatemalan is a citizen of Guatemala who has French ancestry. Guatemalans of French descent make up the third largest European-descended group in Guatemala, after the German Guatemalans and Spanish Guatemalans. According to the French embassy, as of 31 December 2010, there are 803 French citizens in Guatemala. [1]

Contents

History

The history of the French in Guatemala is divided into three periods of migratory waves.

The late eighteenth century

After the French Revolution, capitalists and entrepreneurs came to create coffee plantations in several countries of the Americas; in Guatemala, the first of these were situated in the department of San Marcos in the southern highlands. [2]

The French Revolution introduced new political concepts and aims which formed the basis for the platforms of the liberal, radical and democratic parties of most of the world and therefore of Guatemala. These ideas had great influence on revolutionary movements on Hispanic America. [3]

Independence era

French veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and the Spanish American wars of independence (such as Nicolas Raoul, Isidoro Saget, and Henri Terralonge) offered their services during the independence wars. [4] Initial diplomatic contact between France and Central America began in 1827; full diplomatic relations were established in 1830. This led to the arrival of French merchants, professionals, and tradesmen. Many of them married local women, which led to an increase in the number of Guatemalan people of French descent. [4] Later some French politicians moved to Guatemala City during the wars between liberals and conservatives. When the Federal Republic of Central America was divided, some French migrated to Costa Rica and Nicaragua although the majority remained in Guatemala.

Twentieth century

It is estimated that by 1900 there were approximately 8,000 French immigrants in Mesoamerica, three fourths of them in Mexico and nearly a fifth in Guatemala. [5] The presidency of General José María Reina Barrios, who was educated in Paris, began a revival of diplomatic relations between France and Central America. In 1920, after the triumph of the Unionist movement, several Guatemalan families of French origin came together to found a branch the Alliance Francaise in Guatemala City. [4]

Demography

Many Guatemalans of French descent still preserve the French language and customs and traditions of France. A large majority belong to the Catholic religion, though there are Protestant, Jewish and Muslim minorities. Over 800 French people are estimated to live in Guatemala, making it the third largest French community in Central America, behind Panama and Costa Rica.

Notable French Guatemalans

Guatemala–France relations

The language and arts

School Jules Verne in Fraijanes, department of Guatemala. BiblioJV.jpg
School Jules Verne in Fraijanes, department of Guatemala.

The Alliance Française and the Lycée Français Jules Verne are dedicated to the promotion of French culture and Francophonie in Guatemala in its various expressions: performing arts (music, theater, dance), visual arts (exhibitions, performances, film), lectures, discussions (literature, debates) and training (workshops, residences). [7]

The French Embassy in Guatemala

The French Embassy in Guatemala is responsible for maintaining both cultural and diplomatic relations between France and Guatemala. It provides grants and scholarships for study in France. The current French ambassador to Guatemala is Philippe Franc. [8]

French and Franco-Guatemalan associations

There are several associations: [9]

Education

Lycée Français Jules Verne, a French international school, is located in Fraijanes, Guatemala. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Alliance française</i> International network for the promotion of the French language and culture

Alliance française or AF is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. Created in Paris on 21 July 1883 under the name Alliance française pour la propagation de la langue nationale dans les colonies et à l'étranger, known now simply as L'Alliance française, its primary goal is teaching French as a second language. Headquartered in Paris, the Alliance had 850 centers in 137 countries on every inhabited continent in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agency for French Education Abroad</span> French government agency

The Agency for French Education Abroad, or Agency for French Teaching Abroad,, is a national public agency under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France that assures the quality of schools teaching the French national curriculum outside France. The AEFE has 495 schools in its worldwide network, with French as the primary language of instruction in most schools.

Fraijanes is a town, with a population of 60,288, and a municipality in the Guatemala department of Guatemala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Mexicans</span> Ethnic group

French Mexicans are Mexican citizens of full or partial French ancestry. French nationals make up the second largest European immigrant group in Mexico, after Spaniards.

There is a small but recognizable community of French people in Madagascar, of whom the vast majority are born in Madagascar and are descended from former settlers and colonists from France who settled in Madagascar during the 19th and 20th centuries. They constitute a minority ethnic group of Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liceo Francés Jules Supervielle</span> Private, bilingual school

Lycée Français Jules Supervielle is a French private school. It is located at Benigno Paiva 1160, in Buceo, Montevideo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycée Français de Barcelone</span> School in Barcelona, Spain

The Lycée français de Barcelone is a French international school in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The school was founded in 1924, and is directly operated by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), an agency of the French government. It has classes from maternelle (preschool) to lycée.

Lycée Jules Verne (LJV) or Lycée français Jules-Verne may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycée Français Jules Verne (Guatemala)</span> K-12 school in Fraijanes, Guatemala

The Lycée français Jules Verne (Spanish: Colegio Julio Verne is a French international school in Fraijanes, Guatemala. It serves levels maternelle to lycée.

Irene de Peyré or Irene Oliveros de Peyré was a Guatemalan educator and feminist. She attended the teacher's training school, Instituto Normal Central para Señoritas Belén In 1920, she established La Alianza Francesa de Guatemala to preserve the culture of French Guatemalans and in 1921, in order promote learning she established the Liceo Francés.

Lycée Français de Málaga is a French international school in Málaga, Spain. It serves levels petite section through terminale, the final year of lycée. It occupies a former sports club.

Lycée Français International de Tenerife "Jules Verne" is a French international school in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. A part of the Mission Laïque Française (MiLF) network, it serves maternelle (preschool) through lycée. It offers the "bachibac".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycée Français International Molière de Madrid</span> School in Spain

The Lycée Français International Molière de Madrid, formerly Lycée Français Molière de Villanueva de la Cañada is a French international school in Villanueva de la Cañada, Community of Madrid, Spain. It is governed by the rules of foreign system schools in Spain, and French national Education.

Lycée Français Bel-Air Garraf, formerly École Française Bel Air is a French international school in Sant Pere de Ribes, Province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It serves petite section through terminale. The classes at the lycée are taught with the National Centre for Distance Education (CNED) distance education programme. Garraf is a Catalan comarca.

Collège français Jules-Verne is a French international school in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. It serves levels primaire through lycée. Collège and lycée students use the National Centre for Distance Education (CNED) distance education programme. Preschool and elementary school are directly taught. The school was established in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chile–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

Chile–France relations are the diplomatic relations between Chile and France. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuba–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

Cuba–France relations are the diplomatic relations between Cuba and France. Both nations are members of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France–Peru relations</span> Bilateral relations

France–Peru relations are the diplomatic relations between the French Republic and the Republic of Peru. Both nations are members of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Salvador–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

El Salvador–France relations are the current and historical relations between the Republic of El Salvador and the French Republic. Both nations are members of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance Française de Lima</span> Franco-Peruvian non-profit organisation in Lima, Peru

The Alliance Française de Lima is a non-profit, non governmental cultural and educational association in Peru. Its mission is to promote the French language and Francophone cultures in the country, as well as intercultural exchanges, within the context of the international network of the Alliance Française.

References

  1. Répartition par pays de la population française inscrite au registre au 31 décembre 2010 Archived 2015-06-26 at the Wayback Machine Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement international
  2. Wagner, Regina (noviembre de 2001). Histoire café du Guatemala. Bogota, D,C, Colombie: Anacafe. pp. 203, 207. ISBN   958-96982-8-X.
  3. Valenzuela Guzmán, Maribel Alejandrina (October 2008). "La Revolución francesa" (PDF). Biblioteca Central, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
  4. 1 2 3 Asociación para el Fomento de los Estudios Históricos en Centroamérica (AFEHC) Relaciones entre Francia y Guatemala (1823-1954) Archived 2017-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Guatemala, 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. México-France. ISBN   968-6029-78-8
  6. Fajardo, Edwin (9 February 2016). "Wálter Claverí es un pedagogo por excelencia". Prensa Libre.
  7. French Culture in Guatemala-French Alliance Retrieved.16/04/2015
  8. The French embassy in Guatemala
  9. "The French and Franco-Guatemalans Associations". Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  10. "Lieu et accès." Lycée Français Jules Verne. Retrieved on 18 January 2015. ""1a Avenida 2-62 Zona1, Aldea Don Justo Km. 18.5 a San Jose Pinula 01062 FRAIJANES"