Mexican culture is very interesting and combines features from the prehispanic past and the Spanish colonial period. Mexicans are justifiably proud of their culture, history, and ethnicity.

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.

Mexican Food 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.

Beef, beans, chicken, maize, peanuts, tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, and guavas feature in many Mexican recipes. Fruit juice, Mexican beer, cinnamon flavored hot chocolate, and mescal are all favored by Mexicans too. There are also several Mexican wineries, which have won awards for their great quality wine, which is enjoyed in Mexico and exported as well.

Corn and chili both feature in Mexican recipes and you can get soups, stews, and salads in a Mexican style as well as the more well known dishes. Mexican desserts are excellent and they combine sweet and hot elements for maximum flavor sensation.

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.

Mexican food is one of the special things about Mexico, which stands out in many people’s minds. Far from being all tacos and burritos, Mexicans focus on using fresh produce and a clever combination of herbs and spices to make their dishes mouthwateringly good and wonderfully unique. By using authentic Mexican food recipes, you can find out why this tasty cuisine is loved the world over.

'http%3A%2F%2Fdiettips.org%2Feverything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-mexican-culture%2F', 'Everything+You+Ever+Wanted+to+Know+About+Mexican+Culture'); return false;" title="E-mail this, post to del.icio.us, etc." id="akst_link_448" class="akst_share_link" rel="nofollow">Funer Guvf