Mexico Culture Notes
La Bandera:Green:The Independence Movement- Hope
White- The purity of the Catholic faith- Purity
Red: The Spaniards that joined in the quest for Independence. The blood of the National Heroes-Union
The emblem-shield symbolizes the Aztec heritage.
According to a beautiful legend, the gods had advised the Aztecs that the place where they should establish their city was to be identified when they saw an eagle, perched on a prickly pear tree, devouring a serpent. They saw this mythical eagle on a marshy lake that is now the zócalo or main plaza in Mexico City.
Los Básicos:
Official Name: Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Population: over 108,000,000 people
Size: 3 Times as large as the state of Texas.
Capital: Mexico City
Government: Federal Democratic Republic
Languages: Spanish and more than 50 native languages
La Geografía:
Mexico is located in North America, bordered at the north by the United States, and at the south by Central America with Guatemala and Belize.
Mexico City is the capital, which is one of the biggest cities on earth.
El Dinero:
The PESO is the currency of Mexico.
1 US Dollar = 11 Mexican Pesos
El Gobierno:
The Constitution calls the country the United Mexican States because it consists of 31 states and the Federal District, which have joined together to form a federation.
The current president is: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa 2007-2012
La Cultura:
Mariachi: Is a type of musical group, originally from Mexico. Usually a mariachi group consists of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, one vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar) and one guitarrón (a small-scaled acoustic bass), but sometimes featuring more than twenty musicians.
Siesta: Is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. The word siesta is Spanish, from the Latin HORA SEXTA - "the sixth hour" (counting from dawn, therefore noon, hence "midday rest"). However, the original concept of a siesta was merely that of a midday break. This break was intended to allow people time to be spent with their friends and family. A nap was not necessarily part of the daily affair of a siesta. A siesta after lunch makes it possible for people to eat dinner later or to stay up later. Stores and businesses close for about 2 hours at noon.
La Educación:
Children in Mexico start school at age 6 and required to continue until they are age 14.
Students have the option of going to a trade school or to the university.
Students in public schools are required to uniforms.
Comida Mexicana:
Chiles Rellenos: Large Poblano chilies stuffed with cheese or spicy meat (picadillo).
Enchiladas: Tortillas coated in a tomato and chili sauce, stuffed with vegetables, chicken or pork then folded and baked.
Quesadillas: Tortillas stuffed with cheese and other various ingredients, folded and grilled.
Mole Sauce:A wonderful rich sauce made with the unlikely combination of chocolate, chilies and many spices.
Tacos:Tortillas fried until they are crispy and served with various fillings.
Tamales: Cornmeal paste wrapped in corn or banana husks and often stuffed with chicken, pork or turkey and/or vegetables, then steamed.
El Zócalo:main square/plaza