Figure 1.--This is a wire service news photo from May 1969 featuring yong Salvadoran boys learn to work early in their life. Carrying firewood to their homes for cooking fire in El Salvador. The caption read, "Young Salvadoran boys learn to work early: Young Salvadoran boys learn to work early in life. Thedse youngsters are carrying a heavy burden of firwwod to their home for the cooking fire. Wood is used exclusively for heating and cooking in Salvador due to the lack of coal. Salvasor is easily reached via the globe-girdling routes of Pan American World Airways."

We are just beginning to acquire information about the activities pursued by Salvadoran children. Wl Salvador was a largely agricultural country with most children growing up in the countryside. This mean from an early age that they were involved in farm life and of course chores. We do not have any information on games played by Salvadoran children. The important holidays are religious (Christmas and Eater) and Independence Day. The educational system was poorly developed until after World War II. Most Salvadoran childen are Catholic. Most children have a First Communion. Religion has declined in importance in recent years. There is a small Scouting movement. Sports are also a relastively recent phenomenon. The principal sport in El Salvador is football which has become a national obssession throughout Latim America. Echuberant football fans even touched off a war with Honduras (1969).

Created: 12:57 AM 4/5/2010
Last updated: 12:57 AM 4/5/2010