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Mexican Culture - Customs and Traditions

The culture of Mexico varies widely throughout the country but is largely defined by traditional family values. Families are usually large, with parents commanding great respect and extensive involvement from extended family who assist one another daily. Spanish is the dominant language, though many indigenous languages persist, contributing words to Spanish and other languages. Mexican cuisine also varies regionally but is universally based on native corn, beans, chilies and other crops, along with influences from Spain. Arts like pottery, textiles, and the mariachi musical tradition reflect millennia of cultural development. Major holidays revolve around religious observances like Day of the Dead and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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451 views2 pages

Mexican Culture - Customs and Traditions

The culture of Mexico varies widely throughout the country but is largely defined by traditional family values. Families are usually large, with parents commanding great respect and extensive involvement from extended family who assist one another daily. Spanish is the dominant language, though many indigenous languages persist, contributing words to Spanish and other languages. Mexican cuisine also varies regionally but is universally based on native corn, beans, chilies and other crops, along with influences from Spain. Arts like pottery, textiles, and the mariachi musical tradition reflect millennia of cultural development. Major holidays revolve around religious observances like Day of the Dead and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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ENGL6128 English in Focus

Mid Exam Material

Mexican Culture: Customs and


Traditions
The culture of Mexico has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past few
decades and it varies widely throughout the country. Many Mexicans live in cities, but
smaller rural communities still play a strong role in defining the country's collective
vibrant community.

Mexico is the 12th most populous country in the world, with over 123 million people in
a July 2016 estimate, according to the Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook.
According to the CIA, Mexico consists of several ethnic groups. The mestizo
(Amerindian-Spanish) group accounts for 62 percent of the population. Amerindian
people or predominantly Amerindian people account for 21 percent, while 10 percent
of the population is white. These groups create a culture that is unique to Mexico.
Here is a brief overview of Mexican culture.

Languages of Mexico
The overwhelming majority of Mexicans today speak Spanish. Spanish is spoken by
92.7 percent of the Mexican population. About 6 percent of the population speaks
Spanish as well as indigenous languages, such as Mayan, Nahuatl and other regional
languages. Indigenous Mexican words have even become common in other
languages, including English. For example, chocolate, coyote, tomato and avocado all
originated in Nahuatl.

Values of the Mexican People


Family is one of the most important elements in Mexican society. Especially outside
of cities, families are typically large and Mexicans are very conscious of their
responsibilities to immediate family members and extended family such as cousins
and even close friends.
Hosting parties at their homes plays a large part of Mexican life and making visitors
feel comfortable is a large part of the values and customs of the country.

"Family units are usually large, with traditional gender roles and extensive family
involvement from the external members who assist one another in day to day life,"
Wagner told Live Science. There is a strong connection among family members.
"Parents are treated with a high degree of respect, as is the family in general and there
may be constant struggle, especially for the growing children between individual wants
and needs and those wants and needs of the family," added Wagner.

On large event in a Mexican family is the quinceañera. This is a celebration of a young


lady's 15th birthday. It signifies the girl's journey from childhood to womanhood. The
party includes an elaborate dress for the girl of honor, food, dancing, friends and
families. Before the party there is often a mass at the girl's church. The girl is
accompanied throughout the festivities by her damas (maids of honor) and
chambelánes (chamberlains).
ENGL6128 English in Focus
Mid Exam Material
Food
Mexican cuisine varies widely between regions, as each town has its own culinary
traditions. Tortillas and other food made from corn are common everywhere, though,
as are pepper, tomatoes and beans. Rice is also a staple. Many foods that originated
in Mexico are popular worldwide, including avocadoes, chocolate and pumpkins.

Mexico is known for its tequila, which is made from agave cactus that is well suited to
the climate of central Mexico. Soda is a very popular drink in Mexico, as the country
has a well-developed beverage industry.

Arts
Clay pottery, embroidered cotton garments, wool shawls and outer garments with
angular designs, colorful baskets and rugs are some of the common items associated
with Mexican folk art. Millennia-old traditions continue in silver-smithing, mosaics,
textiles, pottery and basket-weaving.

The country is closely associated with the Mariachi style of folk music. Originated in
the southern part of the state of Jalisco sometime in the 19th century, it involves a
group of musicians — playing violins, guitars, basses, vihuelas (a five-string guitar)
and trumpets — and wearing silver-studded charro suits and elaborate hats. "La
Cucaracha" is a well-known Mariachi staple.

Two of Mexico's most famous artists are Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Their paintings
include vibrant colors and depictions of life in Mexico. Rivera was a pioneer of
Muralism, a movement that used expansive wall art to educate the people.

Holidays and celebrations


The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is celebrated on Dec. 12, is a major
Mexican holiday celebrating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man in the
first years of Spanish rule. She is the patron saint of the country. This is followed
closely by Posadas, a nine-day celebration in which people re-enact Mary and
Joseph's journey to Bethlehem to search for a place to stay. Families go from door to
door carrying candles and singing, asking for shelter until the owners open the door,
at which point the party begins.

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), celebrated on Nov. 2, is a day set aside to
remember and honor those who have died. Carnival is also celebrated in many
communities throughout Mexico to mark the period before Lent.

Independence Day, marking the country's separation from Spain in 1810, is celebrated
on Sept. 16. Cinco de Mayo, which marks a Mexican military victory over the French
in 1862, is more widely celebrated in the United States (as a beer promotion) than it
is in Mexico.

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