Monagas: Difference between revisions

| official_name = Monagas

| native_name =

| native_name_lang = es

| settlement_type = [[States of Venezuela|State of Venezuela]]

| image_skyline = Montañas de arboles de pinos en carretera.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| image_flag = Flag of Monagas State.svg

| flag_size =

| flag_alt =

| image_shield = Escudo_de_Monagas.svg

| shield_size = 75px

| shield_alt = State coat of arms

| shield_link = Armorial of Venezuela

| blank_emblem_alt =

| nickname =

| national anthem =

| motto = ''Resistió con valor''<br>({{lang-en|It resisted with courage}})

| anthem = ''[[Monagas State Anthem|Himno del Estado Monagas]]''

| image_map = Monagas in Venezuela.svg

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location within [[Venezuela]]

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|9.43|-63.08|region:VE_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = [[Venezuela]]

| subdivision_type1 =

| subdivision_name1 =

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| established_title = Created

| established_date = 1909

| founder =

| named_for =

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = [[Maturín]]

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_party =

| governing_body = [[List of Venezuela state legislatures|Legislative Council]]

| leader_title = [[List of Governors of States of Venezuela|Governor]]

| leader_name = CosmeErnesto ArzolayLuna<small>(2021&ndash;present)</small>

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 28900

| area_rank = [[Ranked list of Venezuelan states#By area|9th]]

| area_note = 3.15% of Venezuela

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| population_footnotes =

| population_as_of = 2011= census2022

| population_density_km2population_demonym =

| population_demonympopulation_note = 3.15% of Venezuela

| population_notetimezone1 = 3.15%[[Venezuelan Standard ofTime VenezuelaZone|VET]]

| timezone1 utc_offset1 = [[Venezuelan Standard Time Zone|VET]]−4

| utc_offset1 postal_code_type = −4

| postal_code_typepostal_code =

| postal_code area_code_type =

| area_code_typearea_code =

| area_codeiso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:VE|VE-N]]

| iso_codeblank_name_sec1 = [[List of emblematic trees of =Venezuela|Emblematic [[ISO 3166-2:VE|VE-Ntree]]

| footnoteswebsite = http://www.monagas.gob.ve

| leader_name4leader_title4 = [[National Assembly (Venezuela)#Representatives per state, 2016-2021|6Assembly delegation]]

'''Monagas State''' ({{lang-es|Estado Monagas}}, {{IPA-es|esˈtaðo moˈnaɣas|IPA}}) is one of the 23 [[states of Venezuela|states]] of [[Venezuela]].

[[File:Paisaje Caripe.JPG|thumb|ruralRural landscape in Monagas]]

===Pre-colonial stageperiod===

ItMonagas dates back to the settlement of the territory by aboriginesindigenous people of different ethnicitiesethnic groups hundreds of years ago, among which weare canthe mention the[[Warao Waraospeople|Warao]] and Kariña[[Kalina ethnicitiespeople|Kalina]] people, wherewho theymainly were accentuated mainlysettled in the [[Orinoco Delta]], and the {{Ill|Chaima people|es|Chaima|ca|Chaima}} Indianspeople in the north of the Statestate. The first aboriginesaboriginal people to makefound a presence in the northern part of the region were the Chaima Indians,people belonging to the Capaya tribe. The Capuchin missionary Fray Gerónimo de Muro, with the help of the Carib, Cuaca and Chaima Indians, founded the town of San Antonio de Maturín, which is now San Antonio de Capayacuar, on August 7, 1713.

Although the settlement of the territory was slow, archaeological excavations and commentariesobservations by the chroniclers of the Indies point to the existence of a well-developed village in Barrancas in the year 1530, when the Conqueror[[conquistador]] [[Diego de OrdásOrdaz]] passed through the area in search of [[El Dorado]]. Also in the 16th century, missionaries arrived in the highlands and slowly the [[Christianization|Christianisation]] and re-education of the Indians spread to the south; they thus adapted to a more sedentary life.

In the site where Barrancas is located today, archaeological objects and utensils have been found that belonged to the so-called [[Barrancoid people|Barrancoid]] and [[Saladoid]] cultures, the oldest of which have been dated to 1000 years before the Christian era. The archaeological evidence that has been found (and that is still being found) has allowedmade it possible to establish that Barrancas has been uninterruptedly inhabited at least since the 11th century of our era, which makes it the oldest town in Venezuela and one of the oldest in the American continent.

===Spanish Colonizationcolonization===

Diego de Ordaz, a Spanish explorer obsessed with finding the legendary site of El Dorado, arrived in the village in August 1531 after traveling up the Orinoco River via the [[Caño Manamo]]. Impressed by its number of inhabitants -– which he estimated at "more than 400 {{Lang|es|bohíos}}" -('huts') – he decided to go down and meet personally with the [[cacique]] "Naricagua", lord of his territories, whose name of the river "Uyapari" was associated with the village. The chronicler [[Juan de Castellanos]], in his ''[[Elegías de varones ilustres de Indias]]'' ('''Elegies of Illustrious Men of the Indies''<nowiki/>'), describes it as "a powerful town of great people that on the ravines was placed the Cacique of Uyapari lordship".{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

SanThe Antonio[[Order deof CapayacuarFriars was founded on August 7, 1713 by theMinor Capuchin|Capuchin]] missionary FrayFriar Gerónimo de Muro, with the help of the Carib Indians(Kalina), cuacasCuaca and chaimasChaima people, founded the town of {{Ill|San Antonio de Maturín|es|4=fr|6=pt}}, also known as San Antonio de Capayacuar, on 7 August 1713.

On 20 April 20, 1731, the Aragonese Frayfriar Antonio de Blesa founded Santo Domingo de Guzmán de Caycuar,; the area was inhabited by chaimasChaima people and outcasts when the Capuchin missionaries arrived,. thisThe settlement would later be called [[Caicara de Maturín]].

A Catholic mission of Chaima Indians with the Capuchin missionary Pedro de Gelsa, founded the San Miguel Arcangel de Caripe settlement on 12 October 12, 1734, which would later become [[Caripe]].

Maturín was founded on December 7, December 1760 by the Capuchin friar Lucas de Zaragoza.

The territory where [[Aguasay Municipality, Monagas|Aguasay]] is now located was founded in 1769 by Friar Manuel de La Mata.

Uracoa was founded in 1784 by Friar José de Manzanera. In 1799 the German geographer Alejandro[[Alexander devon Humboldt]] and the Frenchman Aimeé[[Aimé Bonpland]] visited Caripe as part of their trip through Venezuela. Other explorers who toured the area were the Italian Agustín[[Agostino Codazzi]] (1835) and the German [[Ferdinand Bellermann]] (1843).

===19th and 20th Centuriescenturies===

In 1856, the Province of Maturín was created, separated from that of [[Cumaná Province|Cumaná]]. By 1864 the Maturín State of Maturín was ratified. But in 1879, Monagas was annexed to the {{Ill|Oriente (Venezuela)|lt=State of Oriente|es|Estado de Oriente}} and, from 1891 to 1898, it belonged to the {{Ill|Bermúdez (Venezuela)|lt=State of Bermúdez|es|Estado Bermúdez}}.

In 1904, Maturín became the capital of the Monagas district of Bermúdez State, whose capital was Cumaná. For a long time, Monagas was an extremely poor state. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the people of the plains and swamps north of the Orinoco, under the rule of the Caribs, made alliances with the French and Dutch as a policy of tenacious resistance against Spanish domination. On ancient maps these lands are called Caribana, kingdom of the Caribs.

The state has many plateaus and savannas located in the southwest. In the northeast and the southeast there are [[deltaic]] savannas in which rivers such as the [[San Juan River (Venezuela)|San Juan]], [[Guanipa River|Guanipa]], [[Caño Manamo|Caño Mánamo]], Ríoand [[Tigre River (Venezuela)|Tigre]] flow into. In the northwest there is a group of mountains belongedbelonging to the eastern mountain range. This mountain range is divided ininto two massifs[[massif]]s: ''the massif of el Turimiquire'' (in which the town of San Antonio is located) and ''the massif of Caripe'' (in which the town of Caripe is located). Cerro Negro (2000 m.) is the highest mountain of Monagas State. The mountain landscape presents afeatures geological material offrom the [[Cretaceous age]], constituted exclusively by sedimentary rocks, predominantly sandstonessandstone, shalesshale and limestoneslimestone, beingwith the main geological formations: being El Cantil, Barranquín, Guayuta and Querecual; it has elevations between {{Convert|400 and 22300|m|abbr=on}} 300above m.a.s.l.sea level, with valleys and depressions.

The weather is hot in the area of the [[Llanos]], while it is cold in the mountains located in the north of the state. The average temperature in the low areas is between {{Convert|25 and 28 °|C|abbr=on}}. In the area of the town of Caripe the cold temperature permits the cultivation of certain kind of typical plants from cold weathersclimates such as roses and strawberries. The level of rainfallsrainfall in the state is between {{Convert|530 and 1400 |mm|abbr=on}} during the year.

DominatedThe region is dominated by a rainy tropical climate with some local variations that respond to various factors such as altitude, wind and proximity to the sea. Most of the state, in the southern strip, has a climate typical of savannahssavannas with dry seasons that can last up to six months, which produces a severe water shortage. The average annual temperature of Monagas is approximately {{Convert|27 °|C|abbr=on}}. In Maturín, Temblador and Uverito, average temperatures are between {{Convert|26° and 27 °|C|abbr=on}}.

The rivers of the state belong to one of the two basins that are located in the state. The basins are, the basin of Atlantic Ocean and the basin ofand the Orinoco River basin. Rivers such as the Guanipa, Río Tigre, [[Morichal Largo River|Morichal Largo]], Caño Mánamo, [[Amana River|Amana]], Tonoro, Tabasca, and Uracoa flow into the Orinoco River. On the other hand, the rivers[[Guarapiche River|Guarapiche]], San Juan, Río de Oro, and Caripe rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The rivers of the Atlantic Ocean basin come from the mountains located in the northwest of the state and the rivers of the Orinoco riverRiver basin come from the many plateaus located in the southwest of Monagas State and from [[Anzoategui State]].

It has an extensive [[Hydrography|hydrographic]] network with a fairly uniform geographical distribution, with the Guarapiche River standing out in the area of the tables.{{Clarify|reason=Cuenta con una extensa red hidrográfica con una distribución geográfica bastante uniforme, destacando el río Guarapiche en el sector de las mesas.|date=September 2022}} The rivers are numerous and of little depth, marking the end of the piedmont in which three river basins arewith locateda withnorth–south course north-southare that arelocated: thatthose of the rivers Amana-Areo, Guarapiche, and Púnceres-[[Aragua River|Aragua]]. From west to east the rivers Tácata, Tonoro, Caris, Guanipa and El Tigre rivers cross the state. Monagas State has a great number of moderate rivers and streams,; among the main ones; are:

*Tigre River.

The area's vegetation is the intertropical one. This vegetationand is adapted to the different altitudes, weathersclimates, and kinds of soil ofin the state. <!-- Typical trees are el araguaney, la ceiba, el jobo, el aceituno, la vera, la palma de moriche and el mangle. --> The State of Monagas has aan very wideextensive biodiversity likecompared to other Venezuelan states in Venezuela. More than 2000 species of vascular flora have been catalogued within the Monagas territory.{{Citation [citationneeded|date=July required]2022}} The most symbolic tree ofin the Morichestate is the [[moriche]] (''Mauritia flexuosa'') along the Morichal Largo River. The dominant vegetation type in the north of Monagas State is the rain forestrainforest, likesuch theas onethat found in the mountainous area of the San Juan River valley and the municipalities of Acosta and Caripe municipalities. In these cold areas, it is possible to grow temperate plants such as strawberries and roses. However, in the flat regions, towards the south-east of the state, intertropical savannahsavanna vegetation dominates, such as thornthorny bushesscrub, grasses, cujíes and other varieties that have adapted to the conditions of the state such as ''[[Ceiba]]'', {{Lang|es|jobo}}, [[Caribbean pine]], [[jabillo]] and [[carob tree]]. Another variation of the vegetation present in Monagas State, can be found along the banks of the main rivers, where extensive forests of mangroves, palms and morichals have been formed.

[[Cueva del Guácharo National Park]], was created in May 1975 by the Venezuelan government to protect the ecosystem surrounding the Guacharo'sGuácharo Cave. The park has a surface area of {{cvt|155|km2}} and coversincludes the mountainous areas of the municipalities of Acosta and Caripe municipalities in Monagas stateState and [[Ribero municipalityMunicipality]] in [[Sucre (state)|Sucre State]].

''AlejandroThe deAlexander von Humboldt National Monument'' can beis located insidein the park El Guácharo. This national monumentIt was created in 1949 to protect the Guacharo'sGuácharo Cave.{{Clarify|reason=the monument was created to protect the cave?|date=September 2022}} This national monument is named after the German explorer [[Alexander von Humboldt]], who visited the Guacharo's cave in 1799.

Another protected area is ''the Guarapiche Forestal Reserve'', which protects the forests located atalong the bankbanks of the Guarapiche and San Juan Rivers.

== DemographyDemographics ==

The population of Monagas State has increased since the 1920s due to the opening of its oil fields. The majority of its inhabitants are ''[[Mestizo|mestizos]];'' that is, they result from the progeny of native Indians, Black Africans and White Europeans. Many people from neighbouring states as Sucre and [[Nueva Esparta]], as well as persons from other countries as Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Syrian, Lebanese and Chinese have immigrated to the state because of the petroleum industry and business opportunities. The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern area of Monagas state. At least fifty percent of inhabitants live in the capital state of Maturín. The most populated cities are: Maturín (514 ,046 inhab.), Punta de Mata (69 ,000 inhab.), Caripe (37 ,350 inhab.), Caripito (52 ,000 inhab.) and Temblador (36 ,000 inhab.).

The main economical activity is the exploitation of oil. Many towns such as Punta de Mata, El Tejero, and Temblador depend on this activity.

Other towns such as Caripe and San Antonio live off agriculture and livestock farming. Coffee is planted in the areas next to the towns of Caripe and San Antonio. Cocoa is being cultivated near Caripito. Maize, tomato, sugar-cane, tobacco, banana, rice, yucca and tropical fruits grow in other areas.

* Puertas de Miraflores: also called Puertas del Guarapiche, it's is a gorge or canyon where the Guarapiche river is bornbegins. It is formed by two rocky walls {{Convert|100 meters|m|abbr=on}} high.

*Spa Miraflores: its waters come from the Guarapiche river and havehas temperatures that oscillate between {{Convert|18&nbsp;°C and 26&nbsp;°|C|abbr=on}}. It has a road that leads theleading travelertravelers to the Gates of Miraflores.

*Río Selva Spa, a spectacular natural space with crystalline waters provided by the waters of the Tabasca and Uracoa Rivers. Located in the town of Tabasca, it has accommodation facilities, bathrooms, air conditioning, restaurant, swimming pool with natural water from morichales, kiosks with grills and dressing rooms.

*Poza de Azufre: Locatedlocated in the Los Morros Sector., Thisthis busy space is suitable for health tourism because of the healing properties of the pool, formed by the outbreak of groundwaterspring with a high content of copper and sulfur. It has a temperature of approximately {{Convert|69&nbsp;°|C|abbr=on}}.

*Cascada el Nazareno: Inin the middle of a tropical forest, there is a waterfall of more than 50 meters high on an immense rock. It is also known as the {{Lang|es|poza el nazareno}}.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

*Morichal Largo River,: it is formed by deltaic plains and forests of galleries that border its margins. The predominant plant species in this rainforest is the moriche tree, whose roots penetrate deep into the underground water reserves, giving rise to the springs that feed the flow of the rivers in the region.

*Yagrumito Volcano: it is a mud volcano located {{Convert|6&nbsp;|km|abbr=on}} southeast of the city of Maturin, is about {{Convert|2 or 3 |m|abbr=on}} in relative height and occupies about {{Convert|2000|m2|abbr=on}}, m² (including mud pools and mudflats without vegetation), although the cone alone should not exceed about {{Convert|400 m²|m2|abbr=on}}. The crater opening is approximately {{Convert|50&nbsp;|cm|abbr=on}} in diameter.

*Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral: a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]]-style Catholic temple.church, Itit is located between Bolivar Avenue and Monagas Street. InauguratedIt was inaugurated in 1981, the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Cathedraland is considered{{by whom|date=January 2020}} one of the most modern cathedrals in Latin America. It has stained glass windows that adorn its interior.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

*San Simón de Maturín Church: it is the oldest Catholic templechurch in Maturín. It was built between 1884 and 1887. It is of neo-Gothic style, with pointed arches in the shape of a warhead. It has a central tower on the façade. It is located on Rojas Street, in front of Bolívar Square.

*WilliamsWilliam H. Phelps Public Library: inaugurated on September 5, September 1948. It was built and donated by [[William H. Phelps Sr.|William H. Phelps Sr]].6

*Mural of the Foundation of San Antonio de Capayacuar: erected in 1987, Itit is located at the entrance of San Antonio.

*Church of San Antonio de Padua ofde San Antonio de Maturín.

*El Playon -– Community "Culantrillar" Parish San Antonio (Acosta)

* Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Church, Caripito: it is the main catholicCatholic temple of the place waschurch, built in 1936.

[[File:Guacharo's Monument - Monumento al Guácharo.JPG|thumb|Guacharo's Monument]]

*Casa de la Cultura Juvenal Ravelo de Caripito: Itit is a cultural house inaugurated in 1974. It has an auditorium, an exhibition hall, dressing rooms, a conference room, a library, multipurpose rooms and an internal recreational square. It is located in the El Bajo sector, Boyacá Avenue. It is named in honor of {{Ill|Juvenal Ravelo|es}}, a native artist from Caripito.

*Monument to the Nazarene: built in 2.05{{Clarify|date=September 2022}} with cement, rods, and galvanized steel meshes,mesh by sculptor Jesus David Martinez, . Itit consists of an image of the Nazarene, {{Convert|20 meters|m|abbr=on}} high, carrying his cross on a slope and dressed in a purple tunic with gold trimmings.

*Caripito's religious museum: it houses life-size images and other religious-type objects.

*Uyapari Museum: Anthropological museum founded in 1984, on the old seat of the National School Uriapara, in front of the Plaza Bolívar. It is the most important center for the diffusion of the BarrancoideBarrancoid culture,{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} the oldest in Venezuela, highlighting the scientific work for the rescue of the archaeological heritage, such as the realization of workshops for the manufacture of replicas of original BarrancoideBarrancoid pieces.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

*Church of San Rafael Arcángel de (Barrancas del Orinoco): Catholic templechurch originally built in [[Bahareque]] style in 1790 by FrayFriar Joaquín de Morata. It was rebuilt in 1931 with a cement structure and in 1984 it was the object of an expansion process that culminated in 1987. The original facadefaçade was kept, although it was reinforced to accommodate a capacity of 3,000 people.

'''In Caripito'''

'''In Maturín'''

* [[Universidad de Oriente]], Núcleo Monagas (UDO-Monagas).

* [[Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela]] (UBV).

* [[Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador|Universidad Pedagógica Experimenta Libertador-]] – Instituto Pedagógico de Maturín (UPEL-IPM).

* [[Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez]] (UNESR).

'''In San Antonio'''

* Núcleo del Instituto Pedagógico de Maturín (UPEL-IPM), was created on 28 July 28, 1983, by Decree No. 2176 of President Campins. The existing public pedagogical institutes in Venezuela (Barquisimeto, Caracas, Maracay and Maturín), which operated autonomously, were integrated into the UPEL as nuclei by Resolution No. 22 dated 28 January 28, 1988.

'''In Caripe'''

* Instituto Universitario Pedagógico Monseñor Arias Blanco.

'''In Maturín'''

* Universidad de Margarita (UNIMAR).

* [[Universidad Santa María (Venezuela)|Universidad Santa María]] (USM).

* Instituto Politécnico Santiago Mariño (IUPSM).

* Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Industrial Rodolfo Loreto Arismendi (IUTIRLA).

* Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Venezuela (IUTV).

'''In Punta de Mata'''

* Instituto Universitario de Tecnología de Cumaná (IUTC).

* Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA).

*Universidad Nacional Abierta (Unidad de Apoyo Temblador).

*Universidad Territorial Deltaica Francisco Tamayo" (Programa Temblador).

Monagas state has a culture very similar to other eastern states of Venezuela. Natives of Monagas share with the population of the eastern states the quick manner of speaking the Spanish language, food, some musical rhythms as the [[galerón]] or [[el Joropojoropo]], typical clothing such as the [[Liquiliquiliqui liqui]] of the [[Llanos]], and veneration forof the [[Virgin of El Valle]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

The Monkey Dance is an indigenous dance in which people hold each other by the waist, one after the other, and form lines. Guided by someone disguised as a monkey, participants walk through the streets in the manner of a human train to the Monkey's Plaza. PreviouslyBeforehand, most of the dancers darken their faces with indigo and soot and dye their clothes with colours. They also play with water, paint, flour, [[Chilean blue crocus]] ({{Lang|es|azulillo}}) and soot in the manner of a carnival-like manner. ThenThe "Elmonkey Mono"then invites those present to join the ritual,; if they don'tdo not, theythe monkey will give a light strapsslap to those who refuse. It is celebrated every year on December 28 December.

The Dance of the Trembler was first performed on 15 November 15, 1989. It consists of dancing with a trembler{{Lang|es|temblador}} (a fish, the [[electric eel]], found in the rivers closest to the town) made of cardboard and cloth. Three people go inside the trembler{{Lang|es|temblador}} and three couplespairs go around it. The instruments used for this dance are a bandolin{{Lang|es|bandolín}}, four''[[Cuatro (Venezuela)|cuatro]]'', a drum and maracas.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

ThisThe name {{Lang|es|sangrito}} is due to the fact that the raw material used for the elaboration of this handicraft is extracted from the roots of a tree that bears its name because when it is cut, its roots tend to bleed; it is easy to mould as it is a very soft and light wood. The Warao Indians use this material to mold animal figures of animals that live in the forests and rivers that they frequent.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

====Warao Craftsmanshipcraftsmanship====

Produced by the Warao Indians, according to the use given to the object, without being separated from the work element. The raw material is plant fibers, mostly moriche and {{Lang|es|sangrito}} wood, with which they carve figures, and animals, alsoas well as makemaking necklaces with peonies, vulture''[[Mucuna]]'' seeds and tears of San[[Job's Pedrotears]], among other materials. In addition, they makeconstruct harpoons, buoys, shields, arrows, candles, roofs, ropes, pitchforks and bridges. The craftsmanship of the Warao reflects their organizational idiosyncrasy, as well as their magical world: nature, spirit, man.

Its main material is clay, which after being molded is baked and painted, makingand figuresused suchfor as:making dolls, vases, facadesfaçades of houses, amongand othersother things. FinallyThe ititems isare taken to themarket sale,and can findingbe itfound in different zonesparts of the Statestate.

Typical dishes of Monagas state are ''[[arepa]]'' (a kind of bread made of maize), ''[[cachapa]]'' (an omelette made of maize), ''[[casabe]]'', ''[[empanada]]'', ''[[mondongo]]'' (a kind of soup), ''[[queso de mano]]'' (a kind of cheese), ''{{Lang|es|jalea de guayaba''}} (guayabaguava jelly), ''and {{Lang|es|carne en vara''}} (meat grilled on a stick). Fish areis a very important food forin the cuisine of astate's native of this statecuisine. In Christmas is traditional to eat ''hallacas[[hallaca]]s'', ''[[pan de jamón]]'' (ham bread), ''[[Tortita negra|torta negra]]'' (black cake), ''{{Lang|es|ensalada de gallina''}} (henchicken salad), and ''{{Ill|Dulce de lechoza|lt=dulce de lechoza|es}}'' (preserved papaya sweet). InDuring theHoly holyWeek, week ''{{Lang|es|cuajado de morrocoy'' is}} (a typical dish formade from [[red-footed tortoise]]) is common due to the belief that it is profane to eat meat inat thesethis daystime. Also in theduring Holy Week, is typical Cuajado{{Lang|es|cuajado de cazon}} made from the [[school shark]] is common in the area of the Easterneastern coast.[[File:Fachada Catedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen.jpg|thumb|Façade of the Cathedral of Maturín, Monagas]]

The predominant religion ofin thisthe state is Christianity. Catholicism is the Christian branch which has the biggestlargest number of followers., Itas is thea consequence of the evangelization madecarried out by catholicCatholic missionersmissionaries, such as the Franciscans, in the 17th and 18th centuries. The capital, Maturín, ishas been the seat of a catholic[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Maturín|Catholic diocese]] since 1958.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

On the other hand, [[religious syncretism]], here the blendingmixture of catholicCatholic rites with the rites of other religionsfaiths likesuch theas Indianindigenous and African[[Yoruba onesreligion|Yoruba]] isreligions, veryis extendedcommon. For example, it is usualcommon to find people who venerate [[María Lionza]], the Indiannative chief [[Guaicaipuro]] and Felipe the Black.

Some Protestant churches have been established in different townsin around the state. Among them are [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]], [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], [[Baptists]], [[Seventh-day Adventists of the Seven Day]], [[Mormons]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]] hashave a church in the Caripe area of Caripe.

[[Islam]] is practiced by some immigrants from Arabic countries, although they do not have a mosque in the state. It is also possible to find in Maturín followers of [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], Methaphysics[[metaphysics]], and other faiths.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

* ''Carnivals'': between February and March.

* ''Holy Week'': between March and April.

* ''Virgin of El Valle Festival'': 8 September.

* ''Christmas’Christmas Eve'': 24 December.

* ''New Year’sYear's Eve'': 31 December.

Apart from that, each town celebrates public festivities in honor of its patron saint when [[Calendar of saints|his/her day]] is held.

Regional anniversaries are:

* ''Battle of Los Godos’Godos Day'': 25 May.

* ''General José Tadeo Monagas’Monagas' Birthday'': 28 October.

* Maturín''Maturín’ss Foundation Day'': 7 December.

It was created by Julius Caesar Adrían, on July 10, July 2002.

The meaning of the shapes and colors included inon the Flagflag is as follows:

*BlueSky skyblue: It representsRepresents the sky.

*Stars: 13 rounded torounding the image of Joan[[Juana Ramírez|Juana Ramírez, the Advancer]], represent the 13 Municipalitiesmunicipalities and the biglarge star in the center identifies the Capitalcapital Municipalitymunicipality.

*Green: Represents the soils, crops, mountains, forests and plains.

*Black: Represents the oil.

*The sun: Represents the aura, life and strength of the people and its seven points symbolize the 7seven original districts that gave way to the 13 current municipalities. The black arch inside the sun represents the weapons of ourthe indigenous people. The sun rises in the middle of the central stripstripe (green) and its maximum height reaches the upper edge of the first stripstripe.

*Sea blue: RepresentRepresents Deltathe delta, Riversrivers, Lakeslakes and Reservoirsreservoirs.

Image: The image of [[Juana RamirezRamírez|Juana LaRamírez, the AvanzadoraAdvancer]] which represents the heroism of the MonaguenseMonagas woman.

*Daggers: The daggers that cross at the bottom of the image of Juana La AvanzadoraRamírez represent the brothers [[José Tadeo Monagas]] and [[José Gregorio Monagas]], both heroes of the Republic. The stripes occupy 30% of the lower part of the separation between them is half the diameter of each strip.{{Clarify|date=September 2022}}<!-- Las franjas ocupan el 30 % de la parte inferior de la separación entre ellas es la mitad del diámetro de cada franja. -->

===Coat of Armsarms===

The coat of arms of the State of Monagas is divided into two quarters: in the upper quarter, inon a green field, there is a plow, a rake and a sickle, which are intertwined with a bundle of spikesears of corn, attributes of agriculture; and in the lower quarter, on the green field representing the plain, and blue background cutintersected by the horizon, there is, in the shade of a large tree, a bull symbolizing breedinganimal husbandry, and in the distance a galley of hills. A silver bar crosses diagonally through both barracksquarters, and on it we readreads: "Resisted with courage". The extremities of four rifles placed inas thea pavilionbanner,<!-- colocados en pabellón --> appear holding the Shieldcoat of arms, and between the bayonets of these a horse's head turned to the right of the Shieldcoat of arms. Under and between the lower part of the rifles, there is a red and black ribbon, representative of the war to the death, and in it a broken key symbolizing that hisits capital was forced, but never surrendered. As an ornament they appear on the flanks of the Shieldcoat of arms, between their crossed feet, are a plainplains palm and a sugar cane stem.

* [[File:Soccerball shade.svg|20px]] [[Monagas Sport Club]] (First Division of Venezuela)

* [[File:Baseball (crop).jpg|Baseball (crop)|20px]] [[Embajadores de Monagas]] (Bolivarian National Baseball League)

* [[File:Basketball Clipart.svg|20px]] {{Ill|Cangrejeros de Monagas|es}} (National Basketball League)

* [[File:Ru ball.svg|20px]] {{Ill|Elite Rugby Club Monagas|es}} (Venezuelan Rugby Club Championship)

*Monagas has had several teams that participate in Venezuela's national leagues, since 2007. It also has the largest statestadium in the country, the Monumental[[Estadio StadiumMonumental ofde MaturinMaturín]], built for the [[2007 America'sCopa CupAmérica]].

*Maturín Sports Complex: It was built for the 1982 National Games. It has several facilities for the practice of sports such as basketball, soccer, minor baseball, indoor soccer, tennis, swimming, cycling and athletics. It is located inon Raúl Leoni Avenue.

*Kartódromo de Viboral: a place offor motocross competition, karting and car tuning exhibitions at national level.

*San Miguel Country Club Golf Course: located in the north of the city.

* [[Rafael Naranjo Ostty]], abogado criminólogolawyer-criminologist

* [[Wilfrida Corvo de López]], educadoraeducator

* [[{{Ill|Juvenal Ravelo]]|es}}, artist

* [[{{Ill|Cherry Navarro]]|es}}, singer

* [[Juana Ramírez]] (a.k.a. {{Lang|es|Juana la Avanzadora}}), heroine of the Venezuelan independence

* [[{{Ill|Leonardo Infante]]|es}}, general of the Venezuelan independence

* [[{{Ill|Andrés Rojas]] (general)|es|Andrés Rojas (militar)}}, general of the Venezuelan independence

* [[Carlos{{Ill|Karl Möhle]]|es}}, musician, composer and dentist

* [[Félix Armando Núñez]], poet, teacher undand dean of Chile'sthe universityUniversity of Chile

* [[Benjamín Rausseo]] (a.k.a. Er{{Lang|es|El Conde del Guácharo}}), television comedian