Additional Information
Here are a couple additional resources that provide some interesting perspectives on Mexico's culture.
The first is a website called Kwintessential (http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/mexico-country-profile.html), which gives a brief overview on the basics of Mexican culture. I really appreciate this source because it is easy to follow and understand and offers some really helpful and useful information to potential travelers to Mexico, such as etiquette and national monuments. Due to the fact that tourism is such an integral part of the Mexican economy, I think that a cultural site oriented towards those who plan on visiting Mexico is an excellent idea. This site also offers some interesting information about the languages spoken in Mexico.
Kwintessential. (2010, May 24). Retrieved from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/mexico-country-profile.html
The second is a website called MexicoToday (http://mexicotoday.org/news/culture/all/mosaic), which offers information about the culture of Modern Mexico, an aspect I feel some people overlook. While culture is something that can withstand the test of time, it also has the ability to change as a society grows and changes as well. This is why I think that a website outlining Mexico's current culture is a valuable one. I also just really appreciate the organization and feel of the site. It's modern as well!
Pais, M. (2012, September 12). Mexico today: Current news/culture. Retrieved from http://mexicotoday.org/news/culture/all/mosaic
The first is a website called Kwintessential (http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/mexico-country-profile.html), which gives a brief overview on the basics of Mexican culture. I really appreciate this source because it is easy to follow and understand and offers some really helpful and useful information to potential travelers to Mexico, such as etiquette and national monuments. Due to the fact that tourism is such an integral part of the Mexican economy, I think that a cultural site oriented towards those who plan on visiting Mexico is an excellent idea. This site also offers some interesting information about the languages spoken in Mexico.
Kwintessential. (2010, May 24). Retrieved from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/mexico-country-profile.html
The second is a website called MexicoToday (http://mexicotoday.org/news/culture/all/mosaic), which offers information about the culture of Modern Mexico, an aspect I feel some people overlook. While culture is something that can withstand the test of time, it also has the ability to change as a society grows and changes as well. This is why I think that a website outlining Mexico's current culture is a valuable one. I also just really appreciate the organization and feel of the site. It's modern as well!
Pais, M. (2012, September 12). Mexico today: Current news/culture. Retrieved from http://mexicotoday.org/news/culture/all/mosaic
While Catholicism is still definitely the most popular religion as demonstrated by the map above, Mexico is beginning to slightly diversify it's religious preferences.
Burton, T. (2011, May 27). Religious diversity is increasing in mexico [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://geo-mexico.com/?tag=religion
Burton, T. (2011, May 27). Religious diversity is increasing in mexico [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://geo-mexico.com/?tag=religion
The above image depicts the famous Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Mexico City.
Martinez Blando, C. (n.d.). Catedral de méxico. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catedral_de_México.jpg
Martinez Blando, C. (n.d.). Catedral de méxico. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catedral_de_México.jpg
The above image is of the Virgin Mary, a very important symbol to Catholics, especially in Mexico.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus)
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus)
The colorfully decorated and traditional Calaveras de Azúcar, or the famous Sugar Skulls used to celebrate the Mexican Catholic holiday of Día de los Muertos.
Las calaveras de azúcar. (9, November 07). Retrieved from http://www.gastronomista.com/2011/11/obsession-worthy-sugar-skulls.html
Las calaveras de azúcar. (9, November 07). Retrieved from http://www.gastronomista.com/2011/11/obsession-worthy-sugar-skulls.html
Catholicism in Mexico
Due to the fact that the vast majority of Mexico’s inhabitants identify as being a Roman Catholic (almost 83% of them, in fact), and due to the fact that there are no other significantly defined religions associated with the other 17% of Mexico’s people, I plan to primarily focus on Catholicism in Mexico. I will be begin by discussing exactly how Catholicism became so popular in Mexico. Christianity and Catholicism actually originated in Jerusalem with the death of the prophet Jesus Christ in 30 AD and the religion was soon after perpetuated and spread by his disciples and followers after his death on the cross and resurrection into heaven. The holy text of Christianity and Catholicism is called the Bible, and the scripture includes both the Old Testament (written before the birth and life of Christ) and the New Testament (written after the birth and life of Christ) (Davies-Stofka, 2008). According to Osvaldo Pardo’s research of the history and origins of Catholicism in Mexico specifically, the religion and the belief system associated with it was introduced to the people of Mexico during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire (Osvaldo, 2004). The Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan in 1519 and soon after began to forcibly convert the native people of Mexico into Roman Catholics in order to emulate the ideals of the Spanish Crown (Osvaldo, 2004). After the Mexican revolution and the removal of the Spanish rule, the religion had already been integrated into the culture of Mexico’s people, and it has remained a part of the people of Mexico’s belief system to this day.
Catholicism has played a large role in the social development and culture of Mexico. A lot of the religious holidays have produced very special and unique traditions that are very closely associated with the culture of Mexico. For example, the Catholic holidays that fall directly after Halloween are normally called All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and are usually celebrated simply as a way to remember and respect the dead. However, in Mexico these originally simplistic holidays have transformed into one of the most well-known Mexican celebrations and traditions – el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos has become of the biggest holidays in Mexico and is celebrated with many distinctly Mexican traditions, like the creation of elaborate altars to welcome the departed spirits home, the performance of vigils to commemorate the deceased, and the offering of various foods and sweets to appease the dead (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos has also been the source of some distinctly Mexican foods as well, such as a sweet bread known as “pan de muerto” and las Calaveras – the colorfully decorated sugar skulls that are the customary offering to those that have passed (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos is only one of the cultural influences Catholicism has had on Mexico, there are also many more, probably due to the fact that Catholicism is such a significant part of many of Mexico’s inhabitants lives. The symbol of the Virgin Mary is also a very popular image in Mexican culture, as it represents a very significant element of Catholicism for many of Mexico’s Catholics.
Due to the fact that Catholicism originally began in the Middle East, most of the religion’s associated sacred places are close to its source. For example, some notable locations include Jerusalem, the rumored place of Jesus’ death and the supposed location of some of his later teachings, the Sea of Galilee, which is a place of common biblical reference in that Jesus supposedly produced multiple miracles there, and the town of Bethlehem, the place of Jesus’ birth (Christian sites, 2011). However, while those sacred places are outside of Mexico, there are still some more recent places within Mexico that can be considered just as important or sacred. For example, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Mexico City is one of the biggest and most famous monuments to Catholicism in Mexico today, and is also the oldest and largest Cathedral in the Americas ("Sacred destinations"). It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico and was constructed by the Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega in 1573 ("Sacred destinations").
While there is an official distinction between Mexican government and Catholicism in Mexico, much like the official separation of church and state here in the United States, there has always been a great deal of protection of the people’s right to practice their religion on behalf of the Mexican government. Between the years of 1876 and 1911 the relationship between the Mexican government and the Catholic church were mostly amicable and stable, much like it is now ("Mexico - Church" June). However, there was a period of unrest during the term of Mexican president Porfirio Díaz that coincided with those same years due to his concerns about the United States’ expansionism posing a threat to the Mexican people’s right to practice their religion ("Mexico - Church" June). He famously defended Mexico’s right to determine its own faith, and declared “Persecution of the Church, whether or not the clergy enters into the matter, means war, and such a war, the Government can win it only against its own people through the humiliating, despotic, costly and dangerous support of the United States. Without its religion, Mexico is irretrievably lost” ("Mexico - Church" June). Eventually the United States understood what Díaz was trying to say and stopped pressuring Mexico to deviate from what its people wanted, and now the people of Mexico are free to believe in whatever religion they choose.
Works Cited
(2011). Christian sites in jerusalem. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-christian-sites
Davies-Stofka, B. (2008). Patheos. Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity.html
Eirchsen, G. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/dayofdead.htm
Mexico- church and state relations. (June). Retrieved from http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-8728.html
Osvaldo, P. (2004). The origins of mexican catholicism. (pp. 1-20). University of Michigan. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=UDYXWs7QgPoC&printsec=frontcover
Sacred destinations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-cathedral.htm
Catholicism has played a large role in the social development and culture of Mexico. A lot of the religious holidays have produced very special and unique traditions that are very closely associated with the culture of Mexico. For example, the Catholic holidays that fall directly after Halloween are normally called All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and are usually celebrated simply as a way to remember and respect the dead. However, in Mexico these originally simplistic holidays have transformed into one of the most well-known Mexican celebrations and traditions – el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos has become of the biggest holidays in Mexico and is celebrated with many distinctly Mexican traditions, like the creation of elaborate altars to welcome the departed spirits home, the performance of vigils to commemorate the deceased, and the offering of various foods and sweets to appease the dead (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos has also been the source of some distinctly Mexican foods as well, such as a sweet bread known as “pan de muerto” and las Calaveras – the colorfully decorated sugar skulls that are the customary offering to those that have passed (Eirchsen). Día de los Muertos is only one of the cultural influences Catholicism has had on Mexico, there are also many more, probably due to the fact that Catholicism is such a significant part of many of Mexico’s inhabitants lives. The symbol of the Virgin Mary is also a very popular image in Mexican culture, as it represents a very significant element of Catholicism for many of Mexico’s Catholics.
Due to the fact that Catholicism originally began in the Middle East, most of the religion’s associated sacred places are close to its source. For example, some notable locations include Jerusalem, the rumored place of Jesus’ death and the supposed location of some of his later teachings, the Sea of Galilee, which is a place of common biblical reference in that Jesus supposedly produced multiple miracles there, and the town of Bethlehem, the place of Jesus’ birth (Christian sites, 2011). However, while those sacred places are outside of Mexico, there are still some more recent places within Mexico that can be considered just as important or sacred. For example, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Mexico City is one of the biggest and most famous monuments to Catholicism in Mexico today, and is also the oldest and largest Cathedral in the Americas ("Sacred destinations"). It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico and was constructed by the Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega in 1573 ("Sacred destinations").
While there is an official distinction between Mexican government and Catholicism in Mexico, much like the official separation of church and state here in the United States, there has always been a great deal of protection of the people’s right to practice their religion on behalf of the Mexican government. Between the years of 1876 and 1911 the relationship between the Mexican government and the Catholic church were mostly amicable and stable, much like it is now ("Mexico - Church" June). However, there was a period of unrest during the term of Mexican president Porfirio Díaz that coincided with those same years due to his concerns about the United States’ expansionism posing a threat to the Mexican people’s right to practice their religion ("Mexico - Church" June). He famously defended Mexico’s right to determine its own faith, and declared “Persecution of the Church, whether or not the clergy enters into the matter, means war, and such a war, the Government can win it only against its own people through the humiliating, despotic, costly and dangerous support of the United States. Without its religion, Mexico is irretrievably lost” ("Mexico - Church" June). Eventually the United States understood what Díaz was trying to say and stopped pressuring Mexico to deviate from what its people wanted, and now the people of Mexico are free to believe in whatever religion they choose.
Works Cited
(2011). Christian sites in jerusalem. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-christian-sites
Davies-Stofka, B. (2008). Patheos. Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity.html
Eirchsen, G. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/dayofdead.htm
Mexico- church and state relations. (June). Retrieved from http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-8728.html
Osvaldo, P. (2004). The origins of mexican catholicism. (pp. 1-20). University of Michigan. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=UDYXWs7QgPoC&printsec=frontcover
Sacred destinations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-cathedral.htm
Mexico Through Time
The first graph represents Mexico's increased life expectancy over time, starting from a expected age of about 48 years in 1950 and increasing to an expected age of over 75 years by 2010. This could indicate Mexico's increase in accessibility to healthcare, a decreased impoverished population, or simply a decrease in the amount of early deaths due to things like hunger, disease, or childbirth.
The second graph represents Mexico's increase in income per person over time, starting from about 3,000 dollars per person in 1950 and increasing to about 10,000 dollars per person by 2010. This is indicative of Mexico's increasingly successful economy. It also could be due to inflation, or potentially to an increased amount of tourism, exportation of goods and services, or generally a more equally distributed wealth among the Mexican population.
The final graph represents Mexico's decreased murder rate over time, starting from the recorded 4,300,000 deaths by murder in 1955 and decreasing to only about 1,000,000 deaths by murder by 2005. This could indicate an increase in Mexico's security, perhaps in the police force or in the incarceration system, as well as a decreased crime rate.
SOURCE: Gapminder world: Mexico. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.gapminder.org/world/
The second graph represents Mexico's increase in income per person over time, starting from about 3,000 dollars per person in 1950 and increasing to about 10,000 dollars per person by 2010. This is indicative of Mexico's increasingly successful economy. It also could be due to inflation, or potentially to an increased amount of tourism, exportation of goods and services, or generally a more equally distributed wealth among the Mexican population.
The final graph represents Mexico's decreased murder rate over time, starting from the recorded 4,300,000 deaths by murder in 1955 and decreasing to only about 1,000,000 deaths by murder by 2005. This could indicate an increase in Mexico's security, perhaps in the police force or in the incarceration system, as well as a decreased crime rate.
SOURCE: Gapminder world: Mexico. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.gapminder.org/world/
Is the country experiencing changes in cultural diversity? If so, in what way? Are there efforts to preserve cultures in the country?
While Mexico was once a place filled with a distinctly “Mexican culture”, globalization and the resulting relationships with the United States and other Latin American countries have initiated a recent phenomenon in Mexico known as “Americanization”, or the “assimilation into American culture” (Websters). According to New America contributor Gregory Rodriguez, this “Americanization” of Mexican culture and traditions first began to become a significant or noticeable issue when so many of Mexico’s inhabitants began to migrate to America to seek work (Rodriguez, 10). He claims that the massive amount of newly-American migrants established for Mexico a type of dependent relationship with the U.S. that has since spread to affect a lot of other elements of Mexico – it’s economy, it’s method of dealing with other foreign countries, it’s business structure, it’s cuisine, it’s creation of art/music/cinema, even the way it’s government functions (Rodriguez, 10). America’s influence on Mexico can especially be viewed in those cities that are either very large and highly populated or are very close to the Mexican-American border (Sara Muench, 2004). An example of this is Monterrey, a very large and very high populated Mexican city located only 143 miles from the U.S. border (Sara Muench, 2004). Due to it’s proximity to the United States, Monterrey has experienced a high level of exposure to American culture and American money, and as a result has been pretty significantly influenced by America (Sara Muench, 2004). Sara Muench of Crossing Borders claims that, “Monterrey, one of Mexico's largest and most prosperous cities, is about as Americanized as a Mexican city can be - and still be Mexican. It is a place where Mexican culture holds on for dear life, a few carnecerias and mercados wedged between the Burger Kings and KFCs” (Sara Muench, 2004). She also claims that, “Monterrey residents frequent fast-food restaurants, watch American television and wear the latest U.S. fashions. Young people attend a major university that has a football team - American-style football, as well as soccer -- and a modern, sprawling campus that looks a lot like Arizona State University” (Sara Muench, 2004). While some may consider this to be something that should be a threat to Mexico’s culture and to it’s people, this phenomenon of “Americanization” is recognized and even appreciated by most of Monterrey’s residents. Sara Muench relates a Mexican university student’s musings on the subject – “‘I have to admit that here in Monterrey, we are very 'americanizados',’ said university student and Monterrey native Karina Fuerte” (Sara Muench, 2004). While some may believe Karina to be naive in her appreciation and her lack of recognition of the threat of Monterrey’s Americanization, perhaps she has a point. Maybe the incorporation or infusion of a different culture into another culture can be beneficial and can one day be appreciated as a positive thing and not as the devaluation or compromise of a specific individual culture.
WORKS CITED
Sara Muench. (2004, december 8). Crossing borders. Retrieved from http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/Mexico/america.html
Rodriguez, G. (10, December 2000). Vicente fox blesses the americanization of mexico. Retrieved from http://newamerica.net/node/5799
Websters. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/americanization
WORKS CITED
Sara Muench. (2004, december 8). Crossing borders. Retrieved from http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/Mexico/america.html
Rodriguez, G. (10, December 2000). Vicente fox blesses the americanization of mexico. Retrieved from http://newamerica.net/node/5799
Websters. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/americanization
The Threat of "Americanization"
In Monterrey, Mexico, advertisements for American companies can be seen everywhere, prompting worries and concerns for some of Mexico's citizens about the deterioration of Mexican businesses and cultural values.
SOURCE:Danielle Peterson. (2004, December 8). Crossing borders. Retrieved from http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/Mexico/america.html
SOURCE:Danielle Peterson. (2004, December 8). Crossing borders. Retrieved from http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/Mexico/america.html