MEXICO MEXICO
Culture Masculine Spainards brought Roman Catholicism to the region but Mexico has no official religion. Very artisitic Frida Kahlo Diego Riviera
Art and Culture
Culture Our Lady of Guadelupe Food is very important Traditional Tamales Salsa Tacos Tortillas NOT CHIPS!
Important staples Mole Chicken Mole Enchiladas Stuffed Poblano Chiles Pico de Gallo
Climate Southern portion is colder (lighter blue) Northern portion is hotter (orange and yellow) Seems backwards but is because of the geography.
Geography Dark red are mountains and plateaus. Orange and yellow are more arid and rocky portions. Green and some yellow are forests and coastal areas.
History of Mexico Mayans – 250-900 AD Aztecs – 1325-1521 AD Arrival of Spanish Conquistadors in 1581 1st expedition in 1517 to Yucatan Penensula, defeated. 2nd expedition in 1518 to Tabasco region and Aztec Empire. 3rd expedition during 1518, purpose was to take over Aztec Empire and bring Mexico under Spanish Rule
Colonial Period 1521-1810 Under Spanish Rule Native Mexicans could not hold offices Even if of Spanish descendants Education was discouraged Only two ports open – did not want to compete with Spain’s foreign trade Same types of crops would grow well in Mexico also (Olives and grapes)
Mexican Independence 1807 Nepoleon I invaded Spain and made his brother King. September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo held a sermon about Mexican Independence. “Grito De Dolores” Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (1821-1855) Benito Juarez ( 1855 – late 1860’s)
Holidays and Fesitvals January 8- Three Kings Day We call it Epiphany Day that wise men got to Jesus in Bethlehem. May 5 -Cinco de Mayo National holiday celebrating the defeat of the French at Puebla in 1862. Three Kings Day bread Small porcelain figurine baked inside.
Holidays and Festivals September 16 – “Grito de Delores” Independence day Not the day they won independence but the day that they began the fight for it. Like our signing of The Declaration of Independence. Revolutionary war happened after
Holidays and Festivals November 1 and 2- Dias de los Muertos Similar to our memorial day 1 is for Saints and Children 2 is for adults Camp out at cemeteries and make “offrendas” at home.
Holidays and Festivals December 16-24.......All of Mexico prepares for Christmas with nine days of traditional festivities. The Posada, a re-enactment of the Holy Family's search for shelter in Bethlehem, is a joyous religious and social event, ending with a piñata party.
Teens Many work with parents to learn their trades or skills and take over family business Do not have jobs during school year Enjoy group activities Most do not go past high school Especially girls
Teens Quinceanera Can wear high heals and make up now 15th birthday for girls Becomes a woman May get married
Points of interest The red poinsettia originated in Mexico and is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico. Mexican children do not get presents on Christmas day…they get them on January 8. One unusual Mayan weapon was a “hornet bomb,” which was an actual hornet’s nest thrown at enemies during battle
Interesting Facs The descendants of the Aztecs speak a form of the Aztec language called Nahuatl. Many of its words, particularly for types of food, passed into English...such as tomatoes (tomatl), chocolate (chocolatl), and avocados (ahuacatl) When Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortés arrived in 1519, the Aztecs believed he was their returning god, Quetzalcoatl, and offered him the drink of the gods: hot chocolate.f
Government Federal Presidential Representative Democratic Republic Federales for short Congressional and multi-party system similar to the U.S. Executive, Legislative, etc. National Action Party, Party of the Democratic Revolution, Institutional Revolutionary Party Elections are usually held on the first Sunday of July.
http://facts.randomhistory.com/2008/11/25_mexico.html