Mexican Culture Essay

Every culture has its different leisure activities whether it’s from extreme sporting or quietly reading a book; whether it’s a toddler playing with his blocks or a senior playing chess with his friends. Some leisure activities that are popular in Mexico that all fit in the same category are fiestas which are parties, music and dancing. All three of these activities are important to one another because they occur at the same time and it’s a way created for family and friends to get closer with one another.
The Mexican culture is filled with delicious foods, beautiful architecture, and colorful clothing. Mexican culture are very communal and not for the individual. They see work as part time and leisure time full time. It’s very different from the work ethic in the United States. Every society has a different culture, which gives its own identity and
uniqueness that is different from each other.
Communication, attitude, etiquette, beliefs, morals, customs, food, art, and clothing are aspects that culture encompasses. These various aspects that one grows up with is knowledge on how to live and survive in our social environment.

Fiestas are one of the most common and frequent leisure activity done in Mexico. Fiestas become a colorful invitation for family and friends to get together and spend time with each other. Fiestas are for everyone; children, teens, young adults, adults and seniors. Fiestas happen for many reasons, whether it’s a baby shower, birthday party, festivals, holidays or carnavales but all have something in common which is spending time with loved ones. These festivities include fiestas that last all day, weekend long festivals or a 10 day carnival in town but everyone goes out to celebrate leaving work and chores on hold. In the
bigger parties, fireworks light up the sky while the partying continues through the night. Fiestas consist of music, dancing, bright colored decorations, food, drinks, and piñatas for the children (“Mexico: Holidays and Festivals par. “) Children are included in these festivities as well. Piñatas are enjoyed by children and create a fun atmosphere that many delight on. A piñata is made of paper-mache and painted with bright festive colors. It is also filled with candy and toys and hung from the ceiling, then the children are blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks and the children gather the goodies inside (“Garcia par. “). There are also barrio (neighborhoods) fiestas where all the neighbors gather together and divide the responsibilities in making the food, drinks and putting up decorations. It then becomes a big party where family and friends of the neighbors join in and enjoy. They also all chip in to pay for the music which is usually a banda or mariachi for a couple of hours because music is extremely important when it comes to fiestas. Food is considered to bring family and friends closer together because

Music plays an important role in Mexico, it is considered soothing to the body and soul. Music is needed to dance but some prefer to just sit and listen to the sound and it also allows us to dance at the fiestas and enjoy what the lyrics speak.
Popular types of Mexican music are mariachi bands, bandas nortenas, cumbias and corridos. Mariachi music is an all-time favorite for Mexicans and it is also famous worldwide. A mariachi band usually consists of four to seven men or women with instruments such as the violin, vihuela, guitarrón, and trumpets (“Haefer par. “). The men are usually dressed in traditional outfits called “charros” and perform in many occasions like fiestas, festivals, carnivals and weddings, quinces, funerals and serenading women.
Mariachi music came from the 16th century along with the Spaniards. Mariachi music was born in the cornfields of Guadalajara and presented in a form of storytelling by peasants accompanied by guitar and violin (“Haefer par. “). Peasants sang about love, revolution, death and politics their weariness away after a hot day under the sun (“Haefer par. “).

Dancing is a favorite activity done by many in Mexico. With so many fiestas, weddings, holidays and festivals that go on in Mexico there is a good chance that if not all, many would be dancing. Dancing isn’t just for a couple but one dances with their grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, and friends. There are different kinds of dances that many Mexicans participate in. Each of thirty one states in Mexico have their own unique dance styles. A few popular and well known dances in Mexico are el jarabe tapatio, banda/cumbia and the quebradita. Be it any festival or event, Mexicans perform their traditional folk dances with gusto (pleasure). Folkdances in Mexico have traditionally been a way of honoring the Mexican culture and a representation of the struggles and joys of the daily Mexican life. They make it a point to respect their past and also take pride in celebrating it as a community.
El Jarabe Tapatio or known as “the Mexican hat dance” is one of the most beloved dance styles in Mexico. It is also considered the national dance of Mexico and it’s accompanied with a Mariachi band. This dance involves women dressing in colorful dresses and men dressed in charro suit. There is a story to the dance where the guy is trying to court the lady but she is refusing then in the end she accepts his love. There are the dance teams you join when you’re young like the dance flokorico which get to perform in perform at festivals or just dancing at quincenciera.

Another style of dance popular in Mexico is la quebradita. The quebradita which means “little break” is a more modern Mexican dance enjoyed by younger audiences. Quebradita is danced socially at parties, concerts and at nightclubs. This quebradita is usually best known as a partner dance but it can also be danced individually with a group of people.The moves of this dance consist of jumping motion with legs high up and having the women’s right leg in between her partner’s legs. Also the most important characteristic is the man flipping the women in the air. his type of dance is sensual, yet highly athletic with one’s partner thus appealing the younger crowd.The music for this dance is based largely on banda sinaloanse, or Sinaloan band also known as tamborazo because of it’s of strong drem or tambor sound ().