What Cultural Traditions Does Mexico Have?

Mexican cultural traditions are one of the most famous cultures in North America. Mexican culture is known for its vibrant colors, rich traditions, and cultural diversity. Mexican traditions are celebrated worldwide for their cultural diversity.

Spain ruled for more than 300 years thus Spanish Cultural influence is more on Mexico and has been shaped by indigenous traditions. Western and Native American civilizations also influenced the Mexican cultures. This blog post will take you through some of the most captivating cultural traditions that define Mexico’s identity.

Architecture of Mexican cultural traditions

UNESCO added 34 sites to the list of world heritage of Mexico, which shows the rich heritage of Mexico from ancient to modern Mexico. Most of the sites pertain to Mexico’s history. For Example, Mesoamerican architecture is best known for its public, ceremonial, and urban monumental buildings.

Another popular architecture of Mexico is New Spanish Baroque, during the 17th century one of Mexico’s most popular architectural styles was Mexican Churrigueresque.

The Academy of San Carlos, which was founded in 1788 is the finest art of architecture. The academy promoted Neoclassicism, focusing on Greek and Roman art.

Day of the Dead: A Time of Remembrance and Celebration

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is the tradition of the Mexican culture. In these traditions, Mexican people give honor and remember to loved ones who are not alive. They celebrate the souls of the deceased relatives who return to visit their living families for a brief reunion.

Traditional Altars

It is known as the heart of the Mexican Day of the Dead culture. It fills the gap between the living and the deceased and helps to guide the spirits back to our world.

The holiday is a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion, and Spanish culture, and it is celebrated from October 31 to November 2 every year.

The holiday has its roots in the ancient Aztec belief that death is a part of life and that the souls of the dead travel to the Land of the Dead after a long and challenging journey.

Sugar skulls

It is made with the names of departed family members and friends. It symbolizes the sweetness of life and joy for those who have passed.

The holiday involves various traditions and symbols, such as building ofrendas (altars) with food, flowers, candles, and other offerings for the dead, wearing skull masks and eating sugar skulls, and displaying calacas (skeletons) and Calaveras (skulls) in art and costumes.

Marigolds

It also known as cempasúchil, is a vibrant orange flower. It is believed that marigolds attract the spirits with their color and fragrance. These flowers are used to decorate altars and cemeteries during the celebration.

The holiday has evolved and has become more popular and recognized in other countries, especially in the United States, where many people of Mexican heritage live. It has also been influenced by pop culture, such as movies, parades, and music.

Mariachi Music: The Beauty of Mexican Culture

It is the internal part of the Mexican communities and is celebrated at Mexican festivals.

Origins and History of Mariachi Music

It is originated from the Western countries state of Jalisco and influenced by the Soanic traditions. Spain ruled for over 300 years in Mexico so most of the cultural traditions are influenced by the Spanish people. And, some part of this art form is influenced by African musical traditions.

Traditional Instruments

It is a traditional Mariachi band that uses instruments such as guitarrón, vihuela, and trumpet. Every instrument has its role.

Mexican Cuisine

Every Culture has its own foods and cuisine culture. Mexican Foods is one of the most popular in the World, and available around the world. Mexico’s cuisine boasts a variety of famous dishes, each with regional variations that showcase diverse flavors and ingredients.

1. Tacos

It is a popular Mexican dish, available in numerous variations across the country. In Mexico City, al pastor tacos are popular, made with marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit

2. Enchiladas

It is rolled and filled with various ingredients. It is known for spicy and uses the spicy red chili sauce. The cheese and chicken are used for their fillings.

3. Ceviche

Ceviche is a yummy seafood dish that uses local ingredients found along Mexico’s coasts. In Baja California, they make it with fish, and in Veracruz, they use shrimp and tomato sauce. Lime or bitter orange juice is used to “cook” the seafood, making it a delicious appetizer.

Literature

Juana Inés de la Cruz was a great and colonial Mexican writer, philosopher, and poet. She was amongst the main American-born contributors to the Spanish Golden Age.

Mexican literature started with the writing of the indigenous people in Mesoamerica and the Europeans who came later.

Modern Literature was influenced by the Spanish culture. The most famous colonial writers and poets were Juan Ruiz de Alarcón and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

Mexican Music and dance

Mexican music has its roots in the indigenous sounds and heritage of the country. The original inhabitants of Mexico used drums, flutes, rattles, conches, and their voices to create music and dances.

These were often performed during celebrations like Netotiliztli. Some parts of Mexico still play this ancient music, but a lot of the traditional contemporary music was written during and after the Spanish colonial period.

These songs incorporated instruments influenced by the old world. Many traditional instruments, like the Mexican vihuela used in Mariachi music, were adapted from their old-world counterparts and are now considered distinctly Mexican.