¿Cuánto sabes de…? MEXICO

¿Dónde está México? C A D B

¿Dónde está México? C A B D

How large is Mexico compared to Illinois?

Mexico is almost 34 times larger than Illinois Mexico is almost 34 times larger than Illinois. It’s one-fifth the size of the United States.

How large is Mexico’s population compared to that of Illinois?

Mexico’s population is about eight times greater than that of Illinois. 12.482.000 (2001 estimate) 101.851.000

What languages are spoken in Mexico? Spanish - ~ 88% Doh! Other languages: Náhuatl -- “Tlazocamati!” Mixtec – “Kúta ‘ùná!”

What is the capital city? Mexico City (population 18.4 million – greater than all of Illinois and Wisconsin combined!) In Spanish, it’s called “México, D.F.” (Distrito Federal).

Reading tasks Now scan the cultural reading on pp. 118-119 for the answers to the following questions: What is the unit of currency? Who were Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo? Who were the aztecas?

What is the unit of currency?

el peso mexicano

Who were Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo?

Diego Rivera Muralist His works featured social and historic themes In 1929 he married…

Frida Kahlo Painter Her works featured personal and psychological themes

Who were the aztecas?

Aztecas “dominated Mesoamerica from Mexico and Guatemala to the territories of Salvador and Honduras for nearly 100 years (1427-1521)… The people of this culture were refined workers, merchants, farmers and fishers. Also, they were fervent worshippers of the many gods of the Sun, and fierce defenders and conquerors of their territory. In 1519 when Hernan Cortes landed in this region and came upon this civilization, they were the sole heirs of a flourishing community. Only two years after his landing, the Aztec Empire crumbled and the capital was burned to the ground.” http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/prehistory/latinamerica/meso/cultures/aztec_empire.html

Aztecas “The calendar is evidence of the Aztec's knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. The calendar contained the pictographs for their days, months and suns (cosmic cycles). The stone is 3.6 meters (12 feet) in diameter and weighs about 24 metric tons. It took 52 years to complete, from 1427-1479, it is believed due to the use of only stone tools. This calendar is 103 years older than the Gregorian calendar which is used worldwide today… The Aztec year consisted of eighteen months, each having 20 days.”  http://www2.truman.edu/%7Emarc /webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/aztec_template.html

What is the Día de los Muertos? Bonus question! What is the Día de los Muertos?

Día de los Muertos Una calaca “El dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a celebration that captures the idea of unity between life and death. It emphasizes death as part of the cycle of life. It came into being when the Catholic feast of All Souls Day, a day to remember the dead with prayer, merged with Native Indian rituals of death after the Spanish conquered Mexico in 1521.” http://www.elpayaso.com/muerto2.htm Una calaca

Religion in Mexico Catholicism: 89% Protestantism: 6%, especially in the southeast; called “Evangelical” by the government “Covenant mission work has led to the establishment of 57 Covenant congregations in three districts with 3,640 members.” Other religious traditions (or no religion): 5% Judaism, Islam, indigenous practices http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Mexico http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Articles/mexico_religion.htm http://countrystudies.us/mexico/61.htm http://www.covchurch.org/mission/regions/latin-america/mexico

Syncretism the “reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief” (www.dictionary.com). “Day of the Dead… the European Catholic All Saints' Day is combined with indigenous rites of ancestor veneration. In many Mexican communities, curanderos (traditional healers) use indigenous folk medicine, spiritual, and Christian faith healing to treat ailments and ‘cleanse’ spiritual impurities. In the southern areas of the country, which are predominantly indigenous, traditional religion has been mostly incorporated into Catholic rituals, as can be seen by the change in priest's attires, which instead of being decorated with the usual western symbols, instead include indigenous weaving designs and symbols. For example, the Christian cross converted to a flowery tree of life.” http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Culture_of_Mexico

Curanderos: Traditional folk healers “…often use herbs and other natural remedies to cure illnesses, but their primary method of healing is the supernatural. This is because they believe that the cause of many illnesses is evil spirits, the punishment of God, or a curse.” “…a blend of Catholic and pre-Colombian Indian beliefs and practices… the curandero healing tradition… typically uses herbs, ointments, candles and prayers.” Curanderos believe they have a “gift from God” for healing. http://www.answers.com/topic/curandero http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=510581 http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/sdc1.html

Aztec use of skulls (death and rebirth) Ritual observed in August by Aztecs for 3,000 years Catholic All-Saints’ Day Visits to cemeteries Home altars to deceased family members Aztec belief that the deceased came back to visit during the month-long ritual http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/