<P> Nicaraguan culture has several distinct strands . The Pacific coast has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by European culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavors . The Pacific coast of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish - speaking Latin American countries . The Caribbean coast of the country, on the other hand, was once a British protectorate . English is still predominant in this region and spoken domestically along with Spanish and indigenous languages . Its culture is similar to that of Caribbean nations that were or are British possessions, such as Jamaica, Belize, The Cayman Islands, etc . </P> <P> Nicaraguan music is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish and to a lesser extent German, influences . The latter was a result of the German migration to the central - north regions of Las Segovias where Germans settled and brought with them polka music which influenced and evolved into Nicaraguan mazurka, polka and waltz . The Germans that migrated to Nicaragua are speculated to have been from the regions of Germany which were annexed to present - day Poland following the Second World War; hence the genres of mazurka, polka in addition to the waltz . One of the more famous composers of classical music and Nicaraguan waltz was Jose de la Cruz Mena who was actually not from the northern regions of Nicaragua but rather from the city of Leon in Nicaragua . </P> <P> More nationally identified however, are musical instruments such as the marimba which is also common across Central America . The marimba of Nicaragua is uniquely played by a sitting performer holding the instrument on his knees . It is usually accompanied by a bass fiddle, guitar and guitarrilla (a small guitar like a mandolin). This music is played at social functions as a sort of background music . The marimba is made with hardwood plates, placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths . It is played with two or four hammers . The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is known for a lively, sensual form of dance music called Palo de Mayo . It is especially loud and celebrated during the Palo de Mayo festival in May The Garifuna community exists in Nicaragua and is known for its popular music called Punta . </P> <P> Literature of Nicaragua can be traced to pre-Columbian times with the myths and oral literature that formed the cosmogonic view of the world that indigenous people had . Some of these stories are still know in Nicaragua . Like many Latin American countries, the Spanish conquerors have had the most effect on both the culture and the literature . Nicaraguan literature is among the most important in Spanish language, with world - famous writers such as Rubén Darío who is regarded as the most important literary figure in Nicaragua, referred to as the "Father of Modernism" for leading the modernismo literary movement at the end of the 19th century . </P>

Compare and contrast south america and central america