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.

Mexican city life is not all that different from life in Europe or in the United States, although some Mexican villages still have more traditional ways. Most Mexicans live in large cities and there are more Spanish speaking people in Mexico than in any other country. The Mexican government recognizes over sixty other languages as indigenous Mexican languages.

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

Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 and each city, town, and village celebrates its local patron saint once a year. The people burn candles and pray during religious celebrations. They also decorate the churches with colorful utensils and flowers, hold dance competitions, fireworks, parades and parties. You might see bullfighting, cockfighting, and football during village festivals.

Piatas are seen at Mexican fiestas and these are paper mache shapes made to resemble well-known people, animals or fictional characters. They are filled with candy and small toys and hung from the ceiling. The kids take it in turns to hit the piata until it breaks, then they gather up the candy and toys and share them.

The Most Popular Mexican Cuisine

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 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 all about using clever combinations of herbs and spices as well as the best fresh produce. It is easy to make your own traditional Mexican recipes and find out why Mexican food is so popular all over the globe.