A country rich in history, tradition and culture, Mexico is made up of 31 states and one federal

district. It is the third largest country in Latin America and has one of the largest populations—
more than 100 million—making it the home of more Spanish speakers than any other nation in the
world. Despite the political and social changes that have occurred over the centuries, evidence of
past cultures and events are apparent everywhere in Mexico. Many of Mexico’s rural areas are still
inhabited by indigenous people whose lifestyles are quite similar to those of their ancestors. In
addition, many pre-Columbian ruins still exist throughout Mexico, including the ancient city of
Teotihuacán and the Mayan pyramids at Chichén Itzá and Tulum. Reminders of the colonial past
are evident in the architecture of towns like Taxco and Querétaro.

Early History

The Olmec, Mexico's earliest known society, settled on the Gulf coast near what is now Veracruz.
Remembered for the giant head sculptures they carved in native stone, the Olmec had two main
population centers: San Lorenzo, which flourished between 1200 and 900 BC, and La Venta, in
Tabasco, which lasted until about 600 BC.

The Aztecs, the last of pre-Columbian Mexico’s great native civilizations, rose to prominence in the
central valley of Mexico around 1427 by partnering with the Toltecs and Mayans. This triple
alliance conquered smaller cultures to the east and west until the Aztec empire spanned Mexico
from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf Coast. At their height, the Aztecs ruled 5 million people via a
tightly-structured system of self-supporting units called calpulli. Each unit had its own governing
council, schools, army, temple and land but paid tribute to the supreme leader of the empire.
Influenced by earlier Mexican civilizations, the Aztecs conducted extraordinary religious
ceremonies that featured dances, processions and sacrifices.

In recent years, the building of foreign-owned factories and plants (maquiladoras) in some of
Mexico’s rural areas has helped draw the population away from Mexico City and redistribute some
of the country’s wealth. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994 increased
Mexico’s financial ties to the United States and Canada, but the Mexican economy remains fragile.
Despite its problems, the Mexican economy, with its growing industrial base, abundant natural
resources and variety of service industries, remains important to Latin America.

Today, tourism is a major contributor to the Mexican economy. People flock to Mexico from all
over the world to sample the country’s cultural diversity, bask in the lush tropical settings and take
advantage of relatively low prices. U.S. tourists constitute the majority of visitors to the country. In
the past, tourists traveled mainly to Mexico City and the surrounding colonial towns of the Mesa
Central; unfortunately, the capital city’s reputation has suffered due to social and environmental
problems, notably high levels of air pollution and crime. Tourists still flock to the beaches of the
world-famous resorts in Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mazatlán, Cancún and
Puerto Escondido.

Fun Facts

The three colors of Mexico’s flag hold deep significance for the country and its citizens: green
represents hope and victory, white stands for the purity of Mexican ideals and red brings to mind
the blood shed by the nation’s heroes.
The flag’s dramatic emblem is based on the legend of how the Mexicas (or Aztecs) traveled from
Aztlán to find the place where they could establish their empire.

Mexico is the third-largest country in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Mexico’s population surpassed 100 million.

Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world.

Tequila, a liquor for which Mexico is famous, is made from the native blue agave plant.

Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver.

Mexico hosted the Summer Olympics in 1968 and the FIFA World Cup soccer championship in
1970 and 1986.

Holidays

Many Mexican holidays are Christian in origin, such as Pre-Lenten Carnaval; Semana Santa (Easter
week); Christmas, including Las Posadas (the nine–day celebration that begins December 16th);
and Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), which celebrates the Epiphany. Mexican children receive
the bulk of the season’s gifts and toys on Día de los Reyes.

On December 12, El Día de la Virgen De Guadalupe, Mexico honors its patron saint. During
January, the city of Morelia celebrates the fiesta of the Immaculate Conception, and on the 17th of
that month, pets and livestock are adorned with flowers and ribbons for the fiesta of San Antonio
Abad.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which occurs on November 1, has ancient Aztec and
Mesoamerican roots. This day is set aside to remember and honor the lives of the deceased while
celebrating the continuation of life. Halloween (October 31st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd)
are also locally important holidays. During this period, families celebrate the spirits of departed
loved ones in various ways, including erecting ofrendas (small altars) in their houses, decorating
tombs and eating skull-shaped candies(calaveras) and sweet breads. It is a time for celebrating
ancestors–with whom many believe they can communicate during these events–and embracing
death as natural and inevitable rather than as something to be feared.

On October 12 of each year, the Día de la Raza (Race Day) is celebrated in recognition of the
mestizo (mixed) character of Mexico’ s indigenous and European population. Widely celebrated
patriotic events include Independence Day (September 16) and Cinco de Mayo (May 5), which
commemorates the Mexican victory over French invaders in 1862.

Cuisine

Mexican cuisine varies greatly by region but depends heavily on an ancient trinity of staples: corn
(maize), beans and squash.
Another staple, rice, is usually served alongside beans. Mexicans also tend to make liberal use of
avocados (often in the form of guacamole), chili peppers, amaranth, tomatoes, papayas, potatoes,
lentils, plantains and vanilla (a flavoring that is pre-Columbian in origin). Salt and hot peppers
(often served in a red or green sauce) are the most common condiments; maize tortillas
complement most main dishes.

Popular dishes vary by region and individual circumstances, but some of the more widely enjoyed
foods are tortillas (flat bread wraps made from wheat or maize flour), enchiladas, cornmeal
tamales (cooked within corn husks or banana leaves), burritos, soft–shell tacos, tortas (sandwiches
of chicken, pork or cheese and vegetables enclosed in a hard roll), stuffed chili peppers and
quesadillas (tortillas filled with soft cheese and meat). Other favorites are soups and spicy stews
such as menudo (made from beef tripe and fresh vegetables) and pozole (stewed hominy and
pork). Seafood dishes such as pulpo (octopus), chipachole (spicy crab soup) and ceviche (seafood
marinated in lime or lemon juice) are popular in coastal areas. In Oaxaca and a few other states,
fried and spiced chapulines (grasshoppers) are considered a delicacy. A favorite among the
Nahuatl Indians is huitlacoche (corn fungus) served wrapped in fat–fried quesadillas.

Among the preferred desserts are sweet breads, chocolates and dulce de leche (caramelized milk),
which is also called leche quemada or burned milk. On city sidewalks and streets, little bells
announce the approach of paleteros, ambulatory vendors whose small insulated carts are filled
with frozen paletas (popsicle-like treats made from creams or juices) and ice cream. Sugar–
battered flautas (deep–fried filled corn tortillas) are popular with children of all ages.

Meals are often washed down with aguas frescas (watery sweet drinks, usually roselle flowers),
horchata (a milky rice–based drink) and drinks flavored with watermelon or other fresh fruit. Also
popular are licuados (fruit shakes or smoothies). During the Christmas holidays and on the Day of
the Dead, one of the more popular drinks is atole (or atol), a hot combination of corn or rice meal,
water, and spices.

Several well-known alcoholic beverages made in Mexico are derived from the maguey and agave
plants. Maguey–also known as the Century Plant–is used to make pulque, an inexpensive drink.
The plant was cultivated by many small farmers because it could thrive on infertile, rocky soil.
Agave, in particular the blue agave, is used to make tequila, Mexico’s national liquor. The drink
takes its name from Tequila, Jalisco, where it originated. Another alcoholic drink made from agave
is mescal, which is produced primarily in Oaxaca.

Culture: Arts & Music – Theater & Film – Literature

Arts & Music

Art

Post-revolutionary artists Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Rufino Tamayo and
David Alfaro Siqueiros made significant contributions to Mexico’ s artistic and cultural heritage.
Though diverse in their styles and subject matter, each drew upon personal and social experiences
to create their work, which informed the sensibilities of worldwide audiences and inspired
generations of young artists.

Music

popular genre is norteño (northern), which relies on the accordion and 12–string bass guitar for its
characteristic stylizations. More recent musical innovations include banda, which is similar to
norteño music, and cumbia, which is heavily influenced by music from the Caribbean islands.
Becoming increasingly popular among Mexican youths are modern genres such as pop, hip–hop
and rock–musical forms that gained popularity during the last century in the United States.

Theater & Film

Mexico has a strong theatrical tradition kept alive by many professional, academic and indigenous
groups. Although the theater’ s popularity diminished with the rise of television and film, groups
still perform all over the country in large and small venues. In Mexico City, theater lovers can visit
El Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Mexico City’s famous opera house, to see the Ballet Folklorico, a
famous dance performance that blends various types of native music and dance.

Fùtbol (Soccer)

Soccer is the favorite sport of the vast majority of the population. Unlike other Mexican sports,
soccer can emotionally divide the country, especially when Mexican rivals meet each other. People
from all over the country attend matches, which are usually held on Sundays. Winning the coveted
Copa Libertadores, the Latin American equivalent of the European Cup, is an honor that motivates
both players and fans alike.

In 1970, Mexico’s Azteca Stadium was host to the FIFA World Cup finals. This event was one of the
most memorable in sports history as Pele and his Brazilian team won for the third time, making
them the first country ever to win the tournament more than twice. Mexico hosted the event
again in 1986.

Well–known soccer players from Mexico include Hugo Sanchez, Cuahtemoc Blanco, Rafael
Marques, Alberto Medina, Omar Bravo, Enrique Borja, Antonio Carvajal, Manolo Negrete, Jorge
Gutierrez, Luis Flores, Salvador Reyes, Horacio Casarin, Alberto García Aspe, Jorge Campos and Luís
Garcia.
Boxing

Mexico’s boxing tradition is well established and it has been home to some of the world’s most
renowned fighters including: Carlos Zarate, Vincente Saldivar, Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales,
Ricardo Lopez and Julio Cesar Chavez, who is considered one of the greatest sports heroes in
Mexican history. CharreadaA charreada is a Mexican–style rodeo. Unlike American rodeo in which
participants are awarded prizes according to how quickly they perform, charreada focuses
primarily on style and skill. In a circular arena approximately 40 meters (44 yards) in diameter,
Mexican cowboys and cowgirls wearing traditional charro (cowboy) clothing participate in a series
of events involving bulls and horses. Today’s charros are ranchers, business people and
professionals who share an interest in preserving Mexico’s charreada traditions.