| | Must Visits | Need to Know | Capital City Mexico City | | Tipping 10-15% | | Electricity 110 V | | Weights and Measurements Metric System |
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People & Language
The 95 million strong population is a blend of Indian and Spanish descent, a vestige of Mexico’s colonial past. Native Indians of Maya, Zapotec, Nahua, Totonacas, Tarascos and Purepechas tribes were the original inhabitants of Mexico. At least 50 indigenous peoples live in Mexico today. While the indigenous Indian population struggled under the new colonial order in the 1500s, a third group of people developed in Mexico. These were the Mestizos, with both Indian and European ancestors.
Today, about 75% of the population are Mestizos, 15% are native Indian and 10% are European Caucasian. There is a marginal sprinkling of blacks and Asians here and there.
Most Mexicans take pride in being Mestizos and some still consider the Spaniards as intruders. But being an Indian in Mexico depends more on a way of life than on ancestry. Mexicans who subscribe to Indian doctrines and customs, speak an Indian language, dress in Indian clothes and live in Indian villages are considered Indians even if they are Mestizos or whites. In Oaxacan and the Yucatan, the lifestyle of the Mestizo population is greatly influenced by Indian culture.
There is a sharp contrast between rural and urban life in Mexico, with village folk following the older way of life. The cities and towns are modern and progressive. About three-fourths of Mexicans live in urban areas. Mexico City, the capital, is the largest city in the world and has a population of 10 million. Guadalajara, Netzahualcoyotl and Monterrey are other huge cities with an equally staggering population density.
Many of the present day towns and cities began as Indian communities. The Spaniards built them into cities with a central plaza, around which a church and buildings are centred. The plaza is still the centre of city life where you can soak in Mexican culture, music and life.
Rural Mexico is very poor and lacks basic health care and education services. The glitz and lure of city life drives many young Mexicans to seek employment in towns. The migration causes imbalances in city services such as housing, sanitation, electricity and running water.
Spanish is the official language of the country and nearly all Mexicans speak it. Mexican Indians usually speak Spanish and their own ancient language. Over 5 million Mexican Indians still use an Indian language primarily.
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Religion
A majority of Mexicans – about 90% - are Roman Catholic. There are a few Protestants, Jews and other religious groups. The Roman Catholic missionaries and priests who arrived in Mexico in the 1500s baptised millions of Indians. The Indians continued worshipping the sun, rain and other forces of nature. Even today, millions of Indian villagers combine Catholicism with ancient religious practices. Freedom of worship is granted under Mexican law.
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Food
Mexicans like it hot and spicy! Red-hot chili peppers and spicy sauces. Turkey mole smothered in a daring sauce of chocolate, chili, sesame and spices… Tropical fruits and juices…All washed down with tequila. Mexican cuisine can be as fiery as it is exotic… and you are advised to take everything you eat (including the tequila) with many a pinch of antacid.
Corn, after thousands of years of cultivation, is still the Mexican staple, especially in villages. Mexicans soften and grind the corn to cornmeal and fashion it into delightful breads and rolls. The thin, flat tortilla bread is eaten plain or folded into a taco before being stuffed and fried. Enchiladas are rolled up, stuffed tortillas smothered in hot sauce. Tostadas are crispy fried tortillas served liberally with beans, cheese, meat and onions. Atole, a thick corn broth and tamales, steamed corn mixed with pork or chicken, are popular all over Mexico.
Beans or frijoles are eaten daily by the common folk, who scoop it up with folded tortillas that serve as spoons. Meat is a treat for the poorer families who stick to a basic diet of corn and beans. They indulge themselves with the occasional fruit, honey, squashes and sweet potatoes.
Fruits such as avocado, banana, mango, oranges and papayas abound. Fruit juices are used to flavour water. Another popular beverage is a frothy cinnamon-flavoured hot chocolate cooked with water. Mescal, pulque and tequila are alcoholic drinks made from the juice of the maguey plant.
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Culture & Crafts
Mexican craftspeople are renowned for their beautiful Indian and Spanish-colonial designs. Tourists simply devour the silver jewelry from Taxco, the pottery and glassware from Guadalajara and Puebla and the blankets and hand woven baskets of Toluca and Oaxaca.
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