For our project the historical background of this country with regard to its influence on its culture and cuisine as it exists today. i.e.: the country’s religion, religious holy days, holidays, traditions, customs, etc starts with our project in 1521 the Spaniards landed on the Yucatan Peninsula which started the mixing of cultures. Mexico stayed under Spanish rule for almost 300 years until a man named Miguel Hidalgo started a revolution by yelling “Mexicanos! Viva Mexico! Viva la independencia!”. For the 100 years that followed the country was full of war and invasions. After the dust settled Mexico was an independent country but far from united. Now there were the native indigenous people, the Spaniards, and the mestizos. The mestizos were the people that were the children from cross marriages between the Spaniards and the natives. It was at this time that the mixing of cultures as well as the mixing of foods began. Some of the basic foods of Mexican culture were corn kernels, beans and many different chilies. The Spaniards brought some things to the table like meats, sugars, and cheese. Between the two of them we get many of the Mexican foods we are used to eating today.
General information on Mexio is that its located in North America bordered by the United States to the North, the Pacific Ocean to the West, Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the Southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico on the East. The Size – 758,249 sq. mi. (1/4 the size of the U.S.) and population is July 2008 – 109,955,400. The capital is Mexico City. The population of Mexico City – 8,836,045 and the Terrain – high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus and desert. Climate – varies from tropical to desert. The Official language – Spanish Religions – Roman Catholic (76%, but only 47% attend regularly), Protestant (6%), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.8%), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1%), Seventh Day Adventist (0.5%), Jewish and Islam.
Mexico has a few traditional dresses that they wear for their culture. They have The China Poblana, The Puebla Dress, Mexican Peasant Dress, and Boho Dress. China Poblana is a name that refers to two elements of the culture of Mexico, which have been related by the name from the end of the 19th century. China Poblana has a legend story behind it which explains a young Indian woman by the name from Miira was brought from the Philippines by a merchant ship to be the viceroy’s personal servant. She was kidnapped by the Portuguese pirates during the travel and was taken to cochin which is located in the south of India. She found a way to escape from the pirates along with others that was also kidnapped and they took refuge in a Jesuit mission, where she got baptized and that changed her name to Catarina de San Juan. Once Mirra got back home to the Philippines, she was kidnapped again by the same pirates and was taken to a different location this time. The location is New Spain and the pirates sold her as a slave to the Pueblan man Miguel de Sosa.
The story brought to the conclusion that the dress she wore was a style from her birth country which is India and the dress was completely wrapped in a sari that covered her entire body. It says that the dress she’s been wearing has given rise to the china dress. Weird and interesting story I would have to say. Other dresses such as Puebla Dress can be purchased now for women and children today. The dress is from Puebla, a city in Mexico that is related with Mexico’s successful second war of independence. It is known today for the traditional dress being handcrafted. Now into Boho Dress, which is stilled being used for to describe puebla dresses and the Mexican Peasant Dress. Which is mostly used for hot summer days and wearing these garments which keep make your body comfortable and cool. Mexican clothing is not different from any other culture today. Mexicans that lives in big cities tend to wear t-shirts, jeans an etc. But if you go into the smaller towns you would see more traditional clothing such as the maya dress, which is a “native” feeling. You can also see the dresses being used for celebrations such as the Day of the Death, and I’ll get into that later.
Mexico is the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. The entertainment is very large has well. Mexico is considered like our Hollywood here because of their strength of its music and television along with its cinema. As we known today we all have seen actors, actress, and singers from Mexico which made it to the American soil. Mexico has some entertainment that is no different than the Americans. Mexico is extremely large on competitive sporting events. They are very big on basketball, baseball, wrestling (lucha libre), boxing, charreria (rodeo), bullfighting, tennis, Basque Pelota, Golf, Ice Hockey, Polo, TaeKwondo, RacquetBall, 400 meter track and field and soccer. Soccer is their main thing in mexico and also considered as their entertainment.
Mexico has been a popular get away to many of the tourists from Canada and the United States, and slowly increasing tourists from Europe. Since spring break is coming up within the next month. One popular destination is Cancun. Many tourists go there to have a great time and to have fun. It attracts most colleagues and its one of the closes destinations. It’s only a 2 hour flight from Mexico City and it provides many activities. Cancun provides a beach and a golf course. You can also go scuba or snorkeling. They have a sports activity center and a museum which is all located at Cedam. El Rey Maya Ruins provide the archeological ruins, and a tomb, burial site. It has a Convention for the meeting planners and an exhibition center. It has a resort for the guests to stay which is known as a relaxation spot.
There are four/five meals consumed daily (in unlimited income families) they are: Breakfast – Tortillas, eggs, meat, leftover beans, wheat bread, pastries, fruit with coffee and hot chocolate
Then a Coffee break with Fruit with coffee and mild lunch A six course meal from soup to dessert
Late afternoon snack such as Sweet rolls, cakes, cookies. They then have a late dinner and meals are usually served family style or from the stove. Stacking is done frequently as well.
The most important social unit is family comes before individual needs. The father heads the family –wife is the homemaker children are special and taught to share and work together grandparents are honored and help with child care girls are raised differently from boys and kept at home to learn
Household skills thus limited and professional goals for women
“Dia De Los Muertos” or Day of the Dead, focuses on the gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November, which also coincides with the Catholic Holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.In Mexico, November 1st is for honoring deceased children and infants while November 2nd is for honoring deceased adults. This is distinguished by refereeing to November 1st as “Día de los Inocentes” (Day of the Innocents), and November 2nd as “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead).Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear their prayers. Families usually clean and decorate graves; most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigolds, In Mexico the term is used “Flor de Muerto” (“Flower of the Dead”). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. Toys are brought to the deceased children and tequila to the adults.
Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the “spiritual essence” of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives.Some families build alters in their homes. These altars usually have the Christian cross statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, many candles, and an ofrenda. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (colloquially called calavera), which celebrants represent in masks and foods such as sugar or chocolate skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes, from plain rounds to skulls.
The traditional actives of the Day of the Dead vary throughout Mexico. In some towns they have a large prosession where people dress in costumes, wear skull shaped masks, and carry candles. In other towns people who have had a loved one die the previous year will accept people into their homes for tamales and atole in exchange for a wax candle to honor the deceased. A more modern tradition is for the children to dress up in costumes and ask for candy and money by knocking on people’s doors and asking people in the streets.
Group Questions
Question #1 :
Where is Mexico Located?
Question #2:
What’s one traditional dress?
Question #3 :
What’s one traditional sport in Mexico?
Question #4 :
What’s one of our items on Today’s Special?
Question #5:
Name a popular destination in Mexico.
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