Mexican Heritage: Traditions and Customs

Mexican heritage has changed a lot in recent years, and the effects have been different across the country. While many Mexicans live in big cities, small rural towns still have a big influence on the country’s culture and traditions.

Mexico’s culture has deep roots. It comes partly from the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations that once ruled the region and also from Spain, which colonized Mexico. Many of today’s traditions come from these two parts of its history.

As Peter Standish and Steven M. Bell said in their book Culture and Customs of Mexico (2004), Mexico is different from other Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America because it has worked hard to connect its culture to its deep and dramatic history. It has blended both European and Indigenous influences more completely than any other country in the region.

Population

Mexico ranks as the 10th most populated country in the world, with over 128 million people, based on a U.S. Census Bureau estimate from July 1, 2021. According to Index Mundi, Mexico is home to several ethnic groups. The largest group, making up 62% of the population, is called mestizo—people with both Indigenous Central American and European roots. Around 21% of the population is mainly Indigenous, and about 10% is mostly of European descent. These different groups help shape Mexico’s unique culture. However, Index Mundi also points out that Mexico doesn’t officially collect census data based on ethnicity.
According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI), the median age in Mexico is 29 years, which is a bit higher than in 2015, when it was 27. Index Mundi shares more details: 26% of people in Mexico are under 14, about 17% are between 15 and 24, 41% are between 25 and 54, a little over 8% are 55 to 64, and nearly 8% are 65 or older.

About 81% of Mexicans live in cities. Mexico City is the largest, with almost 22 million people in the surrounding area. That makes it the fifth biggest city in the world, according to Index Mundi.

Related topics you may like to read: American Heritage

Language

Most people in Mexico speak Spanish. According to the CIA, about 93.8% of the population speaks Spanish. Around 5.4% of people speak both Spanish and Indigenous languages like Mayan, Nahuatl, and others. Some words from these Indigenous languages have even become part of other languages, including English. For example, words like chocolate, coyote, tomato, and avocado come from Nahuatl.

Religions

A big part of Mexican culture is based on religion, family, and a sense of togetherness, according to Talia Wagner, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles. About 78% of Mexicans say they are Catholic, according to the CIA. Many people also mix in traditions from their Indigenous Mayan roots as part of their faith. This blending of beliefs started long ago when early colonists tried to combine European and Central American traditions to spread Christianity.

Linda A. Curcio-Nagy, a history professor, explained in The Oxford History of Mexico that public celebrations were important in both Indigenous and Spanish Catholic religions. So, priests used things like plays, music, and festivals to teach people about Christianity, especially during big events like Easter and Corpus Christi, which focus on the Holy Eucharist.

Other Christian groups in Mexico include Presbyterians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and Anglicans. There are also small communities of Muslims, Jews, and Buddhists.

Values 

Especially in rural areas, Mexican families are usually large, and people feel a strong sense of responsibility to their close and extended family, including cousins and even close friends. Throwing parties at home is a big part of Mexican life, and making guests feel welcome is an important custom.

Talia Wagner, a marriage and family therapist, told Live Science that families often follow traditional gender roles, and relatives outside the immediate family are very involved in daily life. Family members are closely connected. Wagner also explained that parents are highly respected, and family needs are often put before individual desires. This can sometimes be a challenge for children as they grow up and try to balance their wants with those of their family.

A major event in Mexican family life is the quinceañera, a celebration for a girl’s 15th birthday. It marks her transition from childhood to adulthood. The party includes a fancy dress, food, music, dancing, and lots of family and friends. Before the celebration, there’s often a church service. The girl is joined by her damas (maids of honor) and chambelanes (male escorts), according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Food

Mexican food is different in each region because every town has its cooking traditions, according to Mexico For You, a publication from the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C. Still, some ingredients are common all over the country—like corn (used to make tortillas and other dishes), chili peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Rice is also a basic part of many meals, according to History.com.

Many foods that came from Mexico are now enjoyed around the world, such as avocados, chocolate, and pumpkins. Mexican food is one of the country’s most famous cultural contributions. As mentioned in Mexico:  An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Culture and History, salsa now sells more than ketchup in the U.S., and about $5 billion worth of tortillas are sold worldwide each year.

Mexico is also famous for its tequila, which is made from the agave plant that grows well in central Mexico. Another popular drink in Mexico is soda, thanks to the country’s strong beverage industry.

Arts

Mexican folk art includes many colorful and traditional items, like clay pottery, embroidered cotton clothes, wool shawls with geometric patterns, baskets, and rugs. These crafts are based on ancient traditions that continue today, such as silver-making, mosaic art, weaving, pottery, and basket-making, according to Mexico For You.

Mexico is also known for Mariachi music, a lively folk style that began in the 1800s in southern Jalisco. Mariachi bands usually include violins, guitars, basses, trumpets, and a special five-string guitar called a vihuela. The musicians wear decorated suits called charro suits and big fancy hats. A famous Mariachi song is "La Cucaracha."

Two of Mexico’s most famous artists are Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Their paintings are full of bright colors and show scenes of Mexican life. Rivera was a leader in the Muralism movement, which used large wall paintings to teach and inspire people. Kahlo’s art reflected her struggles and the deep culture of Mexico. As history professor Helen Delpar explained in The Oxford History of Mexico, Frida’s work is full of Mexican spirit, but it also tells the story of her painful and often lonely life.

Fashion

Many people don’t think of Mexico as a place for high fashion, but several well-known fashion designers come from Mexico, like Jorge Duque and Julia and Renata. Mexico even has its own Fashion Week. In big cities, Mexican fashion is influenced by global trends, so people often dress similarly to those in Europe and the U.S.

Traditional clothing is still an important part of Mexican culture. For women, a common traditional dress is the huipil, a sleeveless, tunic-style dress made from cotton. These dresses used to be simple, with just a bit of color, but now they often feature detailed embroidery with patterns and images that carry special meanings.

For men, one traditional piece of clothing is the sarape, a large, blanket-like cape. Boots are also commonly worn. Another well-known outfit is the charro suit, which comes from the traditional clothing of Mexican cowboys. It’s now strongly connected with Mariachi musicians and can even be worn instead of a tuxedo at formal events. The outfit includes the sombrero, a wide-brimmed hat designed to give plenty of shade.

Business and Working in Mexico

Mexico uses the peso as its currency. According to the CIA, about 65% of the country's economy comes from services, 31% from industry, and only 3.6% from farming. Some of Mexico’s main farm products include sugar cane, corn (maize), milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, chicken, wheat, green chilies/peppers, and eggs.

In Mexican business culture, personal relationships are very important. There is also a strong sense of hierarchy and respect for status, according to Santander. Peter Standish and Steven M. Bell wrote in Culture and Customs of Mexico that before doing any kind of business, it’s common to spend some time socializing first.

Holidays and celebrations

1. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

• It is celebrated on December 12 as an important holiday in Mexico.
• It honors the Virgin Mary's appearance to an Indigenous Mexican during the early years of Spanish rule.
• She is considered the patron saint of Mexico.

2. Las Posadas (December 16–24)

• Right after that is Posadas, a nine-day celebration where people act out Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
• Families go door-to-door with candles, singing, and asking for shelter.
• When the door is opened, the celebration begins.

3. Día de los Muertos (November 2)

• It is celebrated on November 2.
• It’s a special day to remember and honor those who have passed away, according to the University of New Mexico. 

4. Carnival

• Carnival is also celebrated in many Mexican communities before Lent.

5. Mexican Independence Day (September 16)

• celebrates the country’s freedom from Spain in 1810.

6. Cinco de Mayo (May 5)

• Cinco de Mayo celebrates a Mexican victory over the French in 1862.
• It is a big celebration in the United States (often with beer promotions), but it’s not as widely celebrated in Mexico.