MEXICAN CULTURE
Written by Yangzhi Xiong
“It is a large, complex hybrid, a bridge between North and South America, between the ancient and the modern, and between the developed and the developing worlds.”
---- Culture and Customs of Mexico
Mexico culture is the child of both native American civilizations and European customs. Its uniqueness stems from the thorough fusion of European and non-European influences. Mexico is a beautiful and diverse place with vibrant communities and cultures. With great climactic diversity and landscapes, it hosts various tourist destinations. Tropical rainforests, mountain forests, deserts, prairies, wetlands, colonial architecture, archaeological zones…, the cities are filled with history and life. From the Riviera Maya and Cozumel in the Caribbean to Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco in the Pacific, there are a lot to explore.
If you wish to get a view of the country, you could click the following YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AATESD_WJ5o
The Mayan and Aztecs culture
Spanish colonization
Spanish is the official language in Mexico, along with 63 officially recognized indigenous languages, with the two most widely spoken being Nahuatl and Maya. In fact, words common in English, such as chocolate, coyote, tomato, and avocado, all originated in Nahuatl. Nowadays, approximately 93.8% of the Mexican population speaks Spanish according to CIA, and many indigenous languages face endangerment due to the long history of marginalization since Charles II banned the use of any languages other than Spanish throughout New Spain in 1696. Religious values and public rituals have long played an important role in Mexican culture. As the Spanish conquistadors built the Mexico City on the ruins of the Aztecs capital and exploited the people through the encomienda system, they also sought for spiritual conquer, forcefully and often brutally converting indigenous population to Roman Catholicism, burning the ceremonial pits (kivas), masks, and other sacred objects of the Pueblos. Although the Spanish relaxed its restrictions by allowing some polytheistic worship after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, Catholicism still has a prominent influence. Nowadays, around 78% Mexicans identified themselves as Catholics, with some incorporating elements of indigenous religion such as the Mayan, though it doesn’t have an official religion.
Festivals
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
When I first watched the Disney film Coco (2017), I was not only attracted by the liveliness of the various celebrations, but also touched by the beautiful way people think about death: one only truly dies when no one left in the living world remember him, that the perish of the physical body is not the end of the story. The movie gained inspirations from Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated each year at Nov. 1 and 2. During this period of time, the dead is believed to leave the spirit world and reunite with their loved ones. Families create ofrendas(altars) decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the deceased, calavera (sugar skulls), and their favorite food and drinks when they were alive. The fragrance of marigold flowers is said to guide the souls of the deceased to their family, the flowers laying a pathway that connects the two worlds. The vibrant orange and yellow color of the flower adds a festive nature to the holiday. Rather than a day of mourning, it is more of a joyous celebration of life. Mexican people would also dress up with painted faces to attend the parades in the streets. The skull painted also have flowers, animals, and other decorations, often with a smile as to mock death itself. The day dedicated to the dead is spent with unexpected light-heartedness, with family reunions and laughter filling the night, but who can say that the dead is not best honored with heart-warming memories and stories passed down from generation to generation till the everlasting?
Posadas
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings’ Day)
Art
When I saw the images of Mexican art, I was immediately captivated by their vibrant color, which leaves an impression that is both striking and holds much energy. In Mexican culture, color holds profound meaning, a powerful inheritance from pre-Columbian ancestors. The affinity for green quetzal feather, the demand of bright red poinsettias, and the love for brilliant flowers dating back to pre-Columbian times speaks into the love for equally bright colors in later generations (Gilmer). The dye colors are created from naturally-occurring sources in Mexico such as plants, insects, and minerals, harvested with the wisdom of the people. Indigo guatemalensis was cultivated extensively for producing what is now known as “Maya Blue”. The bright red dye comes from the small white bugs, called cochineal (co-chen-ee-ah), that grow on prickly pear cactus. The old man’s beard, or Usnea Lichen, is used for yellow, where the color deepens as it is soaked longer (Gilmer). All of them greatly sought after by Spanish colonists before the inventions of chemical dyes, being more valuable than gold at times.
Mexican folk art uses a wide variety of forms and materials: The forms include murals, textile, ceramics, Papier-mâché, street art…; and the materials range from metals, clays, fibers, stones, and wood. Apart from the diverse form or material, the bold use of color and intricate design will amaze you with its creativity and distinctiveness. One can often get a peek into Mexico’s culture and traditions through their distinct styles, with some of traditions dating back to Pre-Columbian period. As Ibarra commented, “Bold hues like cobalt blue, fiery red, and sun-drenched yellow reflect the country's vibrant landscapes, while intricate patterns pay homage to indigenous roots and religious symbolism.”
Nowadays, Mexican popular art is among the richest and most diverse in the world, a mixture of indigenous wisdom and colonial influences. The Mexico For You handbook describe it as such: “The craft of silver-smithing in old mining towns; indigenous ceramic pottery; lacquer pottery with Asian influence; Talavera mosaics with Spanish origin; diverse textile traditions; and basket-weaving are century-old, or even millennia-old, artisanal traditions that continue to thrive in Mexico and that have not given in to mass industrial production.” is also famous for its folk arts, including Alebrijes, Tree of Life, pottery, Oaxacan carvings…
Mexican muralism: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Siqueiros “the rupture” generation
It’d be great if you have the chance to go see the artworks in person! Here are some great places to go:
https://www.munal.mx/en/visita Museo Nacional De Arte (The National Museum of Art) that “offer[s] a global and synthesized vision of Mexican Art between the second half of the XVI century and 1954”, located in the downtown historic center in Mexico City. Address: Tacuba 8, Centro Histórico, Mexico City, 06010
https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/ National Museum of Mexican Art that “capture[s] the wide range of Mexican cultural expressions and art forms, from ancient to modern and on both sides of the border.”, located just south and west of Chicago’s downtown and fee free! Address: 1852 W. 19th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
Cuisine
You probably heard of the famous Mexican Tacos, remember the taco hat on Gru in Despicable Me 2? But Mexican Cuisine is definitely more than that! Tostadas, atole, tamales, and mole are all traditional Mexican dishes originated from pre-Columbian recipes that gradually incorporate foreign ingredients and technology.
“Mexico is known for its tequila, which is made from agave cactus that is well suited to the climate of central Mexico.”
tortilla and other corn derivatives, pepper, tomatoes, and beans. Along with chocolate, avoca do, and pumpkin
If you’re interested in Mexican culture, here are some really good resources to explore:
https://instituteofmexicodc.org/index.php/mexico-for-you/, a 28-page handbook on basic information on Mexican culture and daily life, including its geography, popular sports, education etc.
Culture and Customs of Mexico by Peter Standish and Steven M. Bell, which touched upon the History, Religion, Social Life, Cinema, Literature…of Mexican Culture
References:
Gilmer, Maureen. “What Colors Tell Us about the History of Mexico.” Desert Sun, The Desert Sun, 6 May 2018, www.desertsun.com/story/life/home-garden/maureen-gilmer/2018/05/06/history-colors-mexico/565617002/.
Ibarra, Lilyana. “Unraveling the Vibrant Mystery: Why Is Mexican Pottery so Colorful?” Ibarra Imports, 5 Apr. 2024, ibarraimports.com/blogs/news/unraveling-the-vibrant-mystery-why-is-mexican-pottery-so-colorful. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.