Culture of Mexico
Culture of Mexico is a Latin American culture that reflects the complexity of Mexico's history through the blending of culture from thousands of years of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican civilizations and the culture of Spain, imported during the Spanish colonization of Mexico, which only lasted for a little more than three centuries.
Way of life
The way of life in Mexico includes many features from the nation's long Amerindian past and the Spanish colonial period. The people of Mexico take great pride of their country, culture, ethnicity, lifestyle and economic independence. Mexican culture also exhibits strong family ties, respect, hard working and socializing together in the community.
Mexico has changed rapidly during the 20th century. In many ways, contemporary business life in its largest cities has become similar to that in neighbouring United States and Europe. Most Mexican villagers follow the older way of life more than the city people do. About three-fourths of the people of Mexico live in cities and towns. Large populated urban areas include Mexico City, Netzahualcóyotl, Estado de México, Baja California, Guadalajara, Jalisco and Monterrey, Nuevo León, while rural areas include Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Yucatán and many more.
Religion
The Spanish arrival and colonization brought Roman Catholicism to the country and became the main religion of Mexico. Today, 89% of the population belong to the Catholic faith, making the country as the second largest Catholic nation in the world, after Brazil. [1] Other Christian religions include Evangelical, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.
In the southern areas of the country, which are predominantly of indigenous populations, traditional Amerindian religions are practiced and has been incorporated into the Spanish Catholic faith.
Art
Mexico is known worldwide for its folk art traditions, mostly derived from a combination of the indigenous and Spanish crafts. Particularly notable among handicrafts are the clay pottery made in the valley of Oaxaca and the bird and animal figures made in the village of Tonalá. Colorfully embroidered cotton garments, cotton or wool shawls and outer garments, and colorful baskets and rugs are seen everywhere. Between the Spanish conquest and the early Twentieth Century, Mexican fine arts were largely in imitation of European traditions. After the Mexican Revolution, a new generation of Mexican artists led a vibrant national movement that incorporated political, historic, and folk themes in their work. The painters Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros became world famous for their grand scale murals, often displaying clear social messages. Rufino Tamayo and Frida Kahlo produced more personal works with abstract elements. Mexican art photography was largely fostered by the work of Manuel Álvarez Bravo.
Literature
The literature of Mexico originated from the concepts of the Amerindian and Spanish settlements of Mesoamerica. Outstanding colonial writers and poets include Juan Ruiz de Alarcón and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
Music
The foundation of the music of Mexico comes from its indigenous sounds and heritage. The original inhabitants of the land, used drums, flutes, gourd rattles, sea shells and voices to make music and dances. This ancient music is still played in some parts of Mexico. However, much of the traditional contemporary music of Mexico were written during the Spanish colonial period. Folk songs called corridos have been popular in the country, since the 16th century. It may tell the story about the Mexican Revolution, Pride, Mestizo, Romance, Poverty, Politics and Crime issues.
Today, popular musical groups known as Mariachis perform along streets, festivals and restaurants. A Mariachi group includes singers, guitar, trumpets, violin and marimba players. Folk dances are regarded to be one of the most important features of Mexican culture. The most significant of this dance tradition is the "Mexican hat dance", known as "Jarabe Tapatío". Traditional dancers perform a sequence of hopping steps, heel and toe tapping movements.
National holidays
Mexicans celebrate their independence day from Spain in September 15 and 16, and other holidays with colourful festivals known as "Fiestas". Every Mexican city, town and village holds a yearly festival to commemorate their local patron saints. During these festivities, the people pray and burn candles to honour their saints in churches decorated with flowers and colourful utensils. They also hold large parades, fireworks, dance competitions, beauty pageant contest, party and buy refreshments in the market places and public squares. In the smaller towns and villages, football, boxing, cockfighting and amateur bullfighting are also celebrated during the festivities.
Mexico also celebrates Carnaval (in February 3 to February 8), Semana Santa ("Easter", on March or April), Cinco de Mayo ("5th of May", celebrated on May 5) and Día de los Muertos ("Day Of the Dead", celebrated on October 31 to November 2). Other festivities include Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe ("Guadalupe Day"), Las Posadas ("The Inns", celebrated on December 16 to December 24), Noche Buena ("Holy Night", celebrated on December 24), Navidad ("Christmas", celebrated on December 25) and Año Nuevo ("New Years Day", celebrated on December 31 to January 1). "Guadalupe Day" is regarded by many Mexicans as the most important religious holiday of their country. It honours the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, which is celebrated on December 12. In the last decade, all the celebrations happening from mid December to the beginning of January have been linked together in what has been called the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon.
Cuisine
Mexican cuisine is world-renowned for its blending of indigenous and European cultures. Popular dishes include maize, tortilla, tacos, enchiladas, frijoles, atole, tamales, and pozole. Traditionally the main Mexican ingredients consisted of chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, peppers, chillis, onions, peanuts, avocados and guavas. Popular beverages include water flavoured with a variety of fruit juices, and cinnamon-flavoured hot chocolate prepared with milk or water and blended until it becomes frothed. Alcoholic beverages include mescal, pulque and tequila.
Sport
The traditional national sports of Mexico are Bullfighting and Charreria. Football is also highly appreciated and is regarded to be the most popular contemporary recreation in the country. Most state has its own representative teams. Among the country's significant teams include Club América, Chivas de Guadalajara, Cruz Azul and Pumas de la UNAM. Notable players include Hugo Sánchez, Claudio Suárez, Luis Hernández, Francisco Palencia, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Jared Borgetti, Rafael Márquez, Pavel Pardo, Ramón Ramírez, Jorge Campos and Oswaldo Sánchez.
Mexico is also known for its strong boxing tradition, having produced world champions such as Julio César Chávez, Salvador Sánchez, Érik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Márquez and Jesús Chávez. Other popular recreational activities include lucha libre (Mexican professional wrestling), baseball, fishing, scuba diving, Jai alai, cockfighting, and basketball.
The country also hosted the summer Olympic Games in 1968 and the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986.
See also
References
- ^ "The Largest Catholic Communities." From: adherents.com. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
External links
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