Mexican Culture, Holidays, and Food
Mexican culture is a unique combination of pre-Hispanic, colonial, and postcolonial Mexico. The Mexican people are rightly proud of their history, ethnicity, and culture.
The country has actually changed quite a bit in the past century and contemporary Mexican life is more like European or North American life. Eighty five percent of Mexicans live in big cities and there are more Spanish speaking people in Mexico than in any other country. The Mexican government does recognize another sixty-two indigenous languages as Mexican languages though.
After Brazil, Mexico is the second biggest catholic country in the world. Ninety five percent of Mexicans are catholic and the Spanish colonists introduced the religion.
Mexican Holidays and Celebrations
Every town, village, and city in Mexico has its own patron saint and there is a party held once a year in each place to celebrate the saint days. Independence Day in Mexico is celebrated on September 16. Parties, fireworks, dance contests, and parades are popular during celebrations and you might see cockfighting, bullfighting, or football too. The people burn candles and decorate the churches with colorful utensils and flower arrangements.
No Mexican party is complete without a hanging piata and these paper mache people, animals, or fictional characters contain candy and toys. The kids take it in turns to hit the piata, while wearing blindfolds, and when it breaks and the goodies fall out, the kids share them.
What Do Mexicans Eat and Drink?
Mexican food is known all over the world and is an interesting and delicious blend of European and indigenous cultures. Popular Mexican foods include mole sauce, enchiladas, tacos, atole, pozole, and tamales. Mexican fast food joints are perhaps more ubiquitous than authentic Mexican restaurants but nothing beats real Mexican home cooking or making your own dishes using authentic Mexican recipes.
Chicken, beef, maize, beans, tomatoes, guavas, peanuts, avocados, and potatoes are used in a lot of Mexican recipes. Mescal, beer, fruit juices, tequila, and cinnamon flavored hot chocolate are some of the drinks that Mexicans like. In addition to this, there are some award winning Mexican wineries that make wine and export it to many countries.
Corn is used in many traditional Mexican recipes, as is corn flour. Chili is also widely used in Mexican cuisine. There are Mexican soups, stews and salads as well as the better-known Mexican foods. Mexican desserts are very popular and they combine hot and sweet elements to give interesting flavor and texture sensations in the mouth.
Chili is often used to flavor Mexican candy and corn flavor candy is well liked. Calaveras de Azucar are the sugar skulls made for the Day of the Dead fiesta.
Herbs and spices are cleverly combined with fresh produce to make traditional recipes. Quick authentic Mexican recipes are a great idea if you want to make something different for your family and there are certainly plenty to choose from. By enjoying home cooked Mexican cuisine, you will really appreciate why these foods are so well loved around the world.