Mexican Culture & Traditions

The Mexican culture is largely influenced by the infusion of the Spanish, Mayan and Aztec cultures.

Family

The Mexicans consider family to be of utmost importance. It is the core groundings of every household. The extended family is considered to be equally important as the nuclear family as they believe that it is the key to stability. The family size is mostly large except those in the cosmopolitan cities. Therefore, their family bond is very strong and filial piety is largely evident.

Most Mexican families still hold traditional values where fathers are the breadwinner, authority figure and decision maker while mothers are well respected.

Hierarchical importance

Ranking is very important to the Mexicans. Hierarchy is stressed on in relationships. Thus, they respect those ranked above them and look up to them. The Mexicans are sensitive to every hierarchical chain, in the family, among friends or when doing businesses. Therefore, it is important to know the positions of the Mexicans when talking to them or they might regard you as being disrespectful.

Machismo

Machismo means masculinity. Mexican men must uphold their reputation as a male and they will not let their image be ruined.

People

Mexicans are generally warm, friendly and hospitable people with the condition that you respect their culture in return. They greet each other by shaking hands. They shake hands and exchange greetings prior to making a request or before posing a question. When meeting a group of Mexicans, one should address each individual personally, greeting the entire group gives the impression that one is lazy and rude.

Mexican men are flirtatious thus they might whistle or pass teasing comments to women. The women should humbly accept the compliments without picking up an argument.

Art

Mexican Folk Art is influenced by the Spanish and also traditional Indian arts and craft. Folk art is usually based on shared traditions but it is always changing into new forms. Today, an estimated of 8 percent of the Mexican population, many of which are Indians, making a living by making and selling different types of folk art and craft.

The most popular and most ancient form of folk art is Mexican pottery (Mullen, 2004). Michoacan pottery of the Purepecha people can be in the form of dishes, pots, jugs, toys, whistles and whimsical figurines. These people not only make pottery but also textiles, create musical instruments, carved wooden items, prized lacquer ware, etc. The Purepecha art specialize by village, making it more unique. The handcrafted items are sold in cities and towns all over Mexico either in government sponsored shops and fairs. It is recommended to find these treasures in the original villages where they are made to make the experience more memorable.

Another type of folk art is the clothing and textile art. Mullen mentions that weaving dates back to ancient times. During the colonial period, the Spanish brought wool and silk to Mexico. Synthetic fibers and dyes were only introduced later on. The Spanish also introduced the treadle or floor loom to the Mexican weavers who were initially using the backstrap loom. Textile art include the rebozo (a woman’s shawl) and sarapes or large blanket capes worn by Mexican men in the 19^th Century.

 Music

 

Mexican music incorporates many different styles and influences.

Ranchera is a type of music the begun in the mid 19^th century before the Mexican Revolution. The music concentrated on traditional themes of love, patriotism and nature. The songs are usually more than one rhythm. The music is a waltz, polka or bolero. It is also characterised by having an instrumental introduction and conclusion with verse and refrain in the center.

Mariachi is a group of musicians and the mariachi orchestra consists of at least two violinists, two trumpeters, a Spanish guitar player and two other guitars, the vilhuela and guitarron. There is no specific type of genre that the band plays.

Click on the link below to watch the Mexican culture of music and dance 

Mexican Music from Puebla Mexico

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHUh-3k7Hpg&feature=related

 

Dance

The Tlacolorerosis is an agricultural dance perfomed in the state of Guerrero. The name comes from the Aztec Tlacolol, which refers to ‘prepare the land for cultivation’. The dance showcases the burning of the bushes and the cleaning of the corn patch. The dancers will put on burlap tunics, jeans, knee-high thick boots and large interesting marks that represent animals, usually a tiger. The tlacoloreros dance with the accompaniment of violin music, marking the rhythm with their whips which they use to hit each other on their padded left arms to copy the sound of crackling of the fire as it burns the trees. During one point of the dance, the fire goes out and the dancers will go about whipping each other to find out the culprit.

Festivals

Mexican Posadas

‘La Posadas' is a buildup to Christmas Eve and one of the most enjoyable and exclusive Mexican tradition. On 16 December, they celebrate the events in the

voyage of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

In the night of each ‘Posada’, a procession led by two children starts. The children will carry a small-pine decorated platform with models of Joseph and Mary riding a burro. The other people will sing the ‘Litany of the Virgin’ holding lighted long slender candles while reaching the appointed house door of the first ‘Posada’. They will then chant a traditional song and awaken the mast of the house to request lodging for Mary. When the owner of the house understands his guests, he will elatedly open the doors and welcomes them. All of them will kneel around the mander scene, Necimiento, and offer welcoming songs, Ave Marias and a prayer.

Then, the piñata, refreshments and the dancing begin. The piñata is a pottery or paper container that is brightly decorated and stuffed with candy and toys. It is usually hung from the ceiling or a tree where the blindfolded children will turn around and are assisted to strike the piñata with a stick. It may take a few attempts before it is broken. When it breaks, the candies and toys will spill out of the piñata.

On Christmas Eve, an additional verse is added to the Ave Marias, telling Virgin Mary that the awaited night has come. Small children will be dressed as shepherds and stand on either side of the nativity scene while the other people kneel and sing a litany. Then the Christ Child is lulled to sleep with the song ‘ El Rorro’ (Babe in Arms).

At midnight, the birth of Christ is declared through the use of fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles. Worshippers would head to churches to attend the famous ‘Misa de Gallo’ (Mass of the Rooster). After the Mass, families make their way back home for a feast of traditional Mexican foods which differ in each region. However, common items are the ‘tamales’ (meat filling steamed in corn husks), rice, rellenos, ‘atole’ (a sweet traditional drink) and ‘menudo’ which is more sobering than strong coffee.

 

Quinceanera Tradition

This tradition is a famous Hispanic tradition which is the Christian adaptation of the Aztec culture. It represents the beginning of adulthood in an adolescent female, therefore, she has reached sexual maturity and now eligible for marriage. The ceremony includes the mass and a grand reception. Little children wil receive piñatas as gifts and the function will close with a banquet.