Mexican Culture

Living in California, we become exposed to the Mexican culture through friends, neighbors and business associates. Wether its Mexican food, festivals, dances, music, clothes, language etc. When it comes to Mexico as a country, besides its beautiful resorts, Mexico displays rich history, excellent cuisine, Spanish colonial attraction, indigenous wisdom, and hospitality. Mexico has hosted civilizations like Olmecs, Teotihuacans, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Mayas, and Aztecs. Olmecs being the oldest of the pre-colonial civilizations, the period spanned from around 1500 BC to the last civilization of Aztecs in 1521. Olmecs centered around todays Veracruz and Tobasco states. They invented mathematical language and calendar system. Teotihuacans was formed
In 1810, Father Manuel Hidalgo, a criollos (spaniard born in Mexico) started an independence war in which he lost his life. The independency came in 1821 with a joint force of Vicente Guerrero and Agustin de Iturbide. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana overthrew Iturbide when he declared himself as the emperor of Mexico and serve as a president between 1823-1836. By 1848 Mexico lost Northwest part of the country to America. Mid 1800s during French occupation, Porfirio Diaz, a mestizo (Indian-European mix) modernized and progressed the country. However he ruled oppressively. Inequitable income and power distribution led the country to the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Peasants revolt under the leadership of Emiliano Zapata, a land reform called ejido system begins in 1934. Lazaro Cardenas distributes farmlands to people for agriculture. It helped the country’s economy along with the industrial
“The cuisine that cooks in Mexico’s heartland have perfected over centuries, born of native traditions, fused with Spanish know-how, and polished by generations of practiced hands.” Corn is used in making of tortillas, enchilada, quesadillas, and tacos. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, corn and tortillas are the top staple food in Mexico (Juarez, 2016). However, the recent increase of food prices especially on corn and tortillas strikes the poorest areas like Chipas at 47% (Juarez, 2016). Climate change impacts the grain prices for the people. The central and northern areas have more drought like conditions than the southeast area which gets more intense rainfall. But the main one is the globalization of the Mexican food sector. Big transnational food companies taking over the local traditional food lines and marketing Tex-Mex (Pilcher,