Customs and traditions of Mexico

There are in modern Mexico many foreign customs and traditions we have taken and that somehow have enriched our culture, but this does not mean we lose the customs of our country, because these are our roots, our culture and our link with a past full of history, sentiment and love for this wonderful country of Mexico.

According to the times we live in many of these traditions have changed the essence of its meaning becoming commercial holiday that we all hope either for holidays, festivals or celebrations that we make of them and completely forget its true meaning, is why we must teach our children to remember meaning of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, etc. Day of the Dead. and together we preserve this historic legacy, sharing with the world and proud of being Mexican.

The three wise men
Holy Week
Easter
Independence Day
The Day of the Dead
The Mexican Revolution
The Virgin of Guadalupe
Las Posadas
Christmas
The Pastorelas
The Charreria


The three wise men

The origin of this custom goes back to the Spanish missionaries who arrived in Mexico during the sixteenth century and is part of the Catholic tradition, based on the Gospel of Matthew that recounts the arrival of three wise men came from east of whom received the message that would be born the Savior and they should follow the path I mark a star, that guided them to a manger in Bethlehem where they found the newborn, the Magi presented their gifts to him consisted of gold, frankincense and myrrh, three valuable products at the time, and proceeded to worship on their knees like the others. In memory of those present, children in Mexico receive their gifts every year also, on the same date.

Associated with this date we have the traditional Rosca de Reyes, and is from the thread that is oval-shaped bread decorated with dried fruit and contains within it depending on the size of one or more plastic dolls representing the Christ Child, the people who find them are committed to presenting the 2nd of February in the local church of the Birth to Baby Jesus in the house where he used the thread. This date is known in Mexico as Candlemas Day, this tradition has lost its meaning in some regions and now people who find the cartoons should organize a snack consisting of tamales, bread, chocolate or coffee.



Easter

This week that falls between late March and early April each year is very important to most Mexican Catholics, not only because children are out of homes in those days, but because it performs a series of religious activities in the whole family involved, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when carried to the church blessing bunches of palms, which are then placed behind the door of the houses. From Monday to Thursday this week are known as "Holy Days". The following days are Friday of Sorrows, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, the representations made about this are to recreate the last days in the life of Jesus Christ, for this well in advance the people involved in it is prepared both emotionally and physically and that is sometimes so real that real nails used to crucify the participants as well as shock and fatigue that this entails.

The Easter Procession of Silence, in which penitents dressed in black hoods and skirts to the feet secured to the waist by cords of horsehair. To atone for their sins, these faithful walk barefoot on the pavement, some flagellating their backs, other loading chains around his neck, and others carrying herds of brambles on the neck, holding his arms. Despite the seriousness with which the members take this ceremony, this tradition so ingrained is popular among tourism both locally and abroad, who come each year to witness the celebration of Good Friday processions like are made in several places in Mexico.



Easter

Easter Week commencing immediately after Easter is certainly time of festivity and joy, as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. In Mexico, as in many other predominantly Catholic countries, Easter is celebrated big. Formerly it was customary to give Mexican sweets, like happiness, and sweet pepitorias covered all known.

The arrival of the Easter Bunny This little animal that brings a lot of small eggs, chocolate-covered paper in bright colors, always wants us to work because she has the habit of hiding the eggs in homes and gardens and make ourselves go to fetch .


Independence Day

This tradition has its origins in the night of 15 September 1810, when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell in Dolores to bring together all the faithful and announce that the cry "Viva Mexico", "Viva la Virgin of Guadalupe, the Mexican people would fight for their freedom, in the year 1900 marks the ninetieth anniversary and one of Mexico's independence. General Porfirio Díaz, then President of our country, led a big celebration which honors survivors dozen Indians who fought and won in the famous siege of Queretaro during the War of Independence.

Today, with a big dinner at the National Palace is celebrated Independence Day and in the plinth of Mexico City attended by many Mexicans to join the jubilation and the joy of fireworks and food stalls that are typical place to turn the place into a popular verbena, as befits the anniversary of our independence, the next day is celebrated in many parts of Mexico marches or parades.

Many were the heroes who participated in this war of Independence. The names of Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, Abasolo. Jimenez, Vicario and Morelos Mina remind us of the importance of a free and independent. Let us remember the sacrifice of our heroes shouting:

"Viva Mexico", "Long live the Heroes of Independence"

Also in Mexico all embassies abroad are invited to Mexicans, both tourists and residents, to join the celebration that takes place when the ambassador in each country has lifted the Mexican flag and shouted "Viva Mexico "in unison with their countrymen who are far from their homeland. While in Mexico are ringing the bells of the National Palace and the various city halls and offices in the Federal District, to remind us that the work of our countrymen should not be in vain, that freedom must be cared for to preserve and appreciate Mexico free to the War of Independence bequeathed to us.


Day of the Dead

The celebration of Day of the Dead is one of the most typical and representative of our country, and it is time to remember those of our loved ones who have died, and feel that they have not gone at all, in Mexico we celebrate our family and friends departed with a demonstration of love, the cult of death in Mexico is not something new, as already practiced since 1800 BC C., many centuries before the Spanish arrived, as evidenced by the mask stark Tlatilco also in the Aztec calendar, or Tonalamatl, located in the Sala Mexica National Museum of Anthropology and History in the Forest Chapultepec Mexico City, we see that in the 18 months that make up this schedule, there were at least six festivals dedicated to the dead, the two largest taking place in the ninth month or Micailhuitontli, which means "children's festival dead "and in the tenth month, called Hueymicailhuitl, commemoration of the dead adults.

The evangelists accepted in part the traditions of ancient Mexico to introduce Christianity in our country. This celebration is not limited to altars and bring music to the cemeteries. Mazahua in the region, located where the states bordering Mexico and Michoacan, from Angangueo to Zitacuaro and Morelia, monarch butterflies, according to the beliefs Purépecha, representing the spirits of their ancestors. So every year expect Mazahuas with offerings of wax and resin, the arrival of these "messengers of the gods", as they call the monarch butterflies, which fly by millions every year from forests in Canada and U.S. to the forests of our country, to complete their reproductive cycle. The most traditional way of celebrating the Day of the Dead is precisely the offerings for the "dead little ones" and for "large dead" and the contents of each appropriate to the deceased commemorated, for example, in the town of Calcahualco in Totosinapa, Veracruz, on November 1, dedicated to the late children are placed wreaths of marigolds on the door frame, or branches of these same flowers in the corners of the altars that are decorated with candles, pan de muerto (sometimes in the shape of a skull, even), bananas, oranges, guavas, sugar skulls, reeds, tejocotes, water, fruit, bread and coffee.

The marigold flower symbolizes the sun's glare, which as you know was considered the origin of everything. Each flower represents a life, and in the case of late means that this still retains a place within the Whole, and that has not been forgotten by his friends and family. Interestingly, in the town of Huaquechula in the state of Puebla, do not use the marigold flower, but the graves are decorated with cloud and gladiola. In Chiapa de Corzo is being serenaded to cemeteries to celebrate the return of the dead visit their families as well, the little town is covered with flowers and families are responsible for perfectly clean the graves of their loved ones to receive them as deserve. One of the most recognized people's celebration of Day of the Dead is San Andres Mixquic, located in the Federal District Tlahuac delegation. Here, the history of this tradition dates from the time of the Conquest, this place became one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of our country, finding the Miquixtli image of the goddess, the deity who represented death and was adorned by human skulls. It is known that 265 days were sacrificed large groups of prisoners of war in his honor, and that the people were located several bones tzompantlis or walls, the Day of the Dead in Mixquic has gained worldwide fame and today this small village receives each year the visit of tourists from all over who come to admire one of the most typical festivals of the world, this place is believed that at sunset, the souls of the dead enter and spread throughout the town, reaching their old dwellings, and the souls of children leaving the village at midnight. The houses are open for visitors to admire the altars, also, people walking aloft a cardboard calaca the streets of the town, simulating a funeral procession, the celebration of Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro Island is also famous in Internationally, there are offerings lake, ie, placed lighted candles on the lake and marigold flowers floating in the water like little suns, it is also customary to compose rhymes in jest, in which talk of the living and if they were already dead, ndo to mention their habits or personality. These rhymes are known as "skulls" and are very popular, even in newspapers and magazines during the celebration of Day of the Dead.


The Mexican Revolution

One of our most important national holiday is undoubtedly the 20 November, we celebrate the Mexican Revolution, it is said that the differences were so great between social classes, which for a single violation of the law an Indian received 25 lashes, whereas the landowner simply had to pay a fine of 200 pesos, coupled with this and although Porfirio Díaz made great efforts to modernize Mexico to attract foreign investors and to adopt foreign customs and fashions, our government became a dictatorship; addition, railways, oil and the exploitation of coal mines, were in foreign hands that forced the Mexican government to provide them from land use subsidies to huge payments for their advice and collaboration, foreigners paid wages of hungry for our workers and the government's permission, in a nutshell, Mexico was totally dependent on foreign powers for survival over time the dictator was losing control of the government and some of his ambitious colleagues used the opportunity to further exploit the proletariat and improve their own economic and social status no matter how unfair the situation, in this armed struggle took great heroes who lost their lives in pursuit of genuine independence, social justice and a better Mexico, with characters like Francis I. Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa owe today that Mexico is a free and independent nation, with the possibility of progress for the future to really assert their sacrifice we must always look ahead and act with honor and dignity, enlarging our country and keeping our traditions intact through the years


Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe

Legend has it that between 9 and 12 December 1531, ten years after the fall of Tenochtitlan, an Indian named Juan Diego went to Fray Juan de Zumarraga, who was bishop of Mexico, to tell her that while in Tepeyac Hill had appeared very beautiful lady who had reported to be the Virgin Mary, Juan Diego informed the bishop that the Virgin had asked that a temple be erected in his honor at that place, at first the bishop believe him, but Lady appeared three times, and to prove that she was indeed made to Juan Diego spread his cloak (a kind of mantle, part Indian costume of the time) against the bishop, after the third appearance, fell to the ground several roses that Our Lady had ordered cut, moreover, the bishop saw the image of the Virgin imprinted on the cloak of Juan Diego, the first chapel at Tepeyac is built in late 1531, was later other temples erected at the foot of the hill, built in 1976 until the present Basilica of Guadalupe, which fits 40,000 people, this basilica is circular, is made of marble, has a monumental body has seven front doors. The flags of all countries in America permanently waving at the spot where the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego stays modest Cerrito Chapel, dating from 1740, on one side of the basilica is located Pocito Chapel, which was completed in 1791, whose facade is covered with volcanic rock and white v blue tiles, a crowd from all over Mexico is headed in procession to the basilica every year to worship the Virgin, there has established the custom of singing "Las Mañanitas" to celebrate the anniversary of his appearance, in addition, on 12 December each year is made a play in which a girl plays the role of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in this work also involved the characters of Juan Diego, the bishop and the missionaries, is recreated with the Cerro de Guadalupe church, all in wood, in the atrium of the basilica, the people stay right there all night, praying to the Virgin, for those who want take a break or refreshments, outside the basilica are installed dozens of food stalls, selling everything from tamales and gorditas coffee until crackling or cheese, donuts and chocolate all night the dancers dance with bells Santiagueros firmly bound to ankle, to celebrate the patron saint of Mexico.


Las Posadas

An important part of our Christmas celebrations are the famous and fun inns, but did you know that the inns are of religious origin? indeed, the first inns were deeply religious and solemn. Were carried out in the sixteenth century, when St. Ignatius of Loyola suggested a series of prayers or novenas "to celebrate the Christmas of 16 to 23 December, the solemn and dignified atmosphere of the early colonial years began to fade soon by little and, for 1796, the Archbishop of Mexico complained about the noise did not cease during the Mass of Christmas, as Mexicans celebrated the arrival of Jesus into the world with whistles, rattles, Throne of peanut and other fruit as well as happy songs Christmas, which had nothing to do with religion, but all this in full church service, today we celebrate the holiday inns rather than with sentences, but in remembrance of the origins of these Christmas festivities is still common in parts of Mexico and from 16 to 23 December to see children and adults ask for the traditional inn, carrying a small representation of a birth and, holding lighted candles, the main objective is to collect money to celebrate a big feast at which they break piñatas full of fruit , sweet and sometimes coins.

The origin of the piñata. Piñatas originate in China, hence went to Spain and came to Mexico in the seventeenth century, according Artemio de Valle-Arizpe, there was a "piñata Sunday" to be held in Spain immediately after Ash Wednesday. Through the centuries, the piñatas have retained their appeal, although its appearance has changed, the materials used to construct and its content has varied over the years, Mexico is covered with paper used a clay pot and thus form the piñata but so many children destabilized by the potsherds, they began to make pinatas without pot, only cardboard, which are therefore much more difficult to break, and do not represent danger to children.


Christmas

The custom of celebrating Christmas as we do today coming from Spain, with the missionaries in the sixteenth century. The first celebration in any form was organized by Brother Peter of Ghent in the year 1538, a church, was what we know today as "midnight mass," as they trade at 12 pm, and is so popular Mexicans who today remains one of the most respected holiday traditions in the country. The Aztecs, who had a polytheistic religion (worship of many gods), celebrated a kind of Christmas before the Spanish arrived, at this event commemorating the birth of the god Huitzilopochtli with dancing, singing, speeches and special meals, which included small idols of amaranth and honey from cactus, after the Conquest, the number of adherents to Catholicism while for 1587 grew by Fray Diego de Soria, the convent of San Agustin de Acolman, asked his superiors for permission to officiate the first Christmas mass outside the church, on the patio to accommodate all the faithful who wished to attend, the spirit of Christmas is love, forgiveness and love our neighbors, therefore, during the colonial era, 23 December Viceroy of Mexico ran the prisons to release prisoners convicted of lesser crimes and conducting virreina charities in orphanages v monasteries, the tradition of births was initiated by St. Francis of Assisi, who in 1223, being in the convent of Monte Columbo, in Italy, decided to celebrate the arrival of the Redeemer into the world with a natural scene of the birth of Jesus, using a stable with a donkey and a cow authentic tradition began to spread, reaching Spain and finally to the continent American first births in Mexico zumpantle were made of a wood as light as cork and therefore easy to work, the figures were covered with a first layer of gold or silver paint and then with other colors.


The Pastorelas

Theatrical performances are typical of the holiday season, the characters are the shepherds, the devil and the archangel Gabriel, with the ironic humor of Mexico, the devil has the lead role, and the plot is interspersed with songs, jokes and discussions with Michael, these little performances are full of anecdotes and sayings typically Mexican as well as of current situations.


The Charrería

The Charreria is the banner of Mexico to the world, is a quasi-religious ritual for those who practice a code of conduct that not only involves being able to rope a steer or ride a horse superbly, but also bring your hat, sit, treat a lady and talk in a meeting, the golden age of charrería were the last years of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, from the sixteenth century in Mexico there were large estates and ranches where there were a lot of work, having to get off the forest or rangeland bring the vast herds of horses and cattle, to be cured, marked or branded. Thus, landowners joined their pawns to help lasso using lots of charrería sometimes dropped some of the most wives and daughters of the planters were added to the group of charros in equestrian activities to develop field work The practice of charrería requires great skill, obtained by dint of practice and enthusiasm, despite the strenuous exercise, after scoring an animal, building was thrown, the charro was mounted in order to demonstrate his skill as a rider while the animal stood up and began to jump left and right trying to throw its rider, in this dangerous activity known as riders, there were two ways to hustle to mares gross, an era "with tentemozo ", in which the rider clung to a rope that was tied around the belly, the other was" at odds ", which was riding bareback, clutching one of the horse's mane, one of the charro lots more famous is the dangerous "step of death", which involves changing mount a horse to another when in full career, Charra very lucidora other activity, and something that for many years has been essential part of field work is certainly the flourish with the rope to lasso a steer, the cowboy must shake the rope in the air to form a perfect circle within which the animal is trapped, in today's rodeos rodeos and cowboys bloom forming the lariat a circle within which they must jump horizontally and vertically without stirring the rope in the air, and even dance. Charrería is a Mexican tradition unique in the world not to be missed, because doing so would be like losing a good part of our roots and part of our historical past.