Click on the flags below to learn more about other countries.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
Mexican Culture
Family Life
Family life is very important in Mexico. In many places, three generations of family live together. Traditionally, men had the most power in the family, but that has changed in recent times. It all depends on the specific family situation. Many women work outside the home, so they share household responsibilities with their husbands more equally. People in rural areas tend to have more children than those living in cities. We call many close friends aunts and uncles; to us family isn’t just a matter of blood relationships. We feel that it is our responsibility to help family members with whatever challenges they face. Children usually stay with their parents until they get married. After they finish school, they are expected to contribute to the family’s finances.
Beliefs
95% of Mexicans are Christian, and the majority of them are Catholic. However, there is no official religion in Mexico, and the constitution guarantees separation of church and state. Just like in the U.S., some people follow their faith more closely than others. Christmas and Easter are very big holidays in Mexico. Some Mexicans choose to send their children to private Christian schools.
Language
Spanish isn’t the official language of Mexico, but it is the language of the government, the schools, and the media. 97% of the population speaks Spanish. However, many Mexicans, especially those of us in North Colonie, actually speak Spanish as a second or even a third language. There are many indigenous languages in Mexico, and for years the use of these languages had been discouraged. In 2003 the government passed a law to help protect these languages. This includes the native language Triqui, which many of us speak. Even though most Mexicans can speak Spanish, many cannot read or write it because they haven’t had the opportunity to go to school. This is particularly true of people who speak Spanish as a second language.
Dress
Mexican teenagers and American teenagers dress pretty much in the same way. We wear jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. However, older people and people who live in rural areas might wear more traditional clothing. Women wear brightly colored full skirts (huipil), blouses, and shawls. They also make beautiful dresses with elaborate embroidery. Men might wear a serape and boots. The sombrero is worn for special celebrations. It is also an important part of many regional dances.
Food
Mexicans eat a lot of the dishes that Americans are familiar with, but they taste very different in Mexico. For example, we eat tamales, enchiladas, tacos, and salsa, but it’s definitely not the same kind of food you can get at Taco Bell or other "Mexican" restaurants. We use a lot of corn in our cooking, and we make it into a special flour called masa. Tortillas go with many of our meals, and they can be made of corn or wheat flour. Posole and menudo are soups that have meats that are hard to find in America. Of course Mexican food is very spicy. We have a lot of different kinds of hot peppers. In addition to corn, beans, squash, and tomatoes are all staples of the Mexican diet.
Recreation
The most popular sport in Mexico is definitely soccer. Kids play it at school and at home, and almost every city has its own soccer team. Kids also like to play basketball and baseball, which is the second most popular sport. We like to have parties and dance. We can watch both Spanish language and American movies. Because America is so close to Mexico, a lot of aspects of American popular culture have traveled to Mexico. For example, when we came to the U.S. a few years ago, it was unusual to see Mexican kids listening to American-style music. Now, almost everyone listens to rock, hip hop, or rap.
