Mexico Is an Extremely Diverse

Mexico is an extremely diverse country that defines its cultural differences in a number of ways. Sharing a northern border with the United States and a Southern border with Guatemala, it is uniquely positioned between one of the world's Super Powers, and a region that is recently growing extremely quickly in its economic successes and influence on an international stage. Because of this location, Mexico is able to enjoy a culture that can take advantage of first world luxuries, while also holding fast to its humble roots. It is an extremely interesting culture, with many small facets that make up its larger identity.

One of the most commons ways of creating cultural subdivision is by identifying the culture with the northern, central, and south or south-eastern portions of the country (Countries and Their Cultures). Until recently, the northern portion of the country, with its expansive area and desert-like climate, was extremely sparsely populated with primarily indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, central and western Mexico is home to many more people and is considered the cradle of the nation, as it was populated by highly-developed indigenous cultures in pre-Columbian times, as well as being the heart of Spain's colonization (Countries and Their Cultures). Finally, the southern-most part of Mexico is home to a very tropical climate. Its inhabitants are primarily indigenous; it is also characterized as the poorest part of Mexico (Countries and Their Cultures).

Another look at the culture of Mexico is through its national identity. Mexico's national identity has developed through a number of different avenues, including the positioning of the country in the international arena, as well as through efforts within the country to achieve unity (Countries and Their Cultures). One important aspect of Mexico's internal national identity is that of race. While liberalism was adopted in the nineteenth century, and it was implied that all racial groups in Mexico were made legally equal, that is not the case in social practice (Countries and Their Cultures). As such, it was believed that the only way to create a national identity was through the creation of a racially homogenous society, which led to the promotion of racial mixing known as mestizaje (Countries and Their Cultures).

Mestizaje, in Mexico, is an idea that not only promotes the racial mixing of Spanish and indigenous people to create "one race," but also the creation of a new and uniform culture. However, in the late twentieth century a backlash developed against the idea of having a homogenous Mexican culture and race and, although the vast majority of Mexican population now identifies as mestizo, now ideas have certainly changed (Chorba 3). Today, there is a renewed sense of appreciation for cultural differences as well as diversity and pluralism in the Mexican community (Countries and Their Cultures).

Another aspect of Mexican culture that is extremely important. Roman Catholicism is the primary religion practiced in Mexico. At least 88% of adults in Mexico identify as at least nominally Catholic (International Religious Freedom Report). This widespread Catholicism reaches back to the Spanish conquest of Mexico; during this time, the indigenous people of Mexico were taught to accept the Catholic teachings of the conquistadors. However, instead of converting entirely to Catholicism, the indigenous population accepted the teachings on the basis of their pre-Columbian religious beliefs; this reconciliation of two schools of thought is known as syncretism, and is practiced widely in Mexico. One example of this syncretism is found in the Virgin of Guadalupe. This incarnation of the popular Catholic figure, the Virgin Mary, is associated with the pagan goddess Tonantzin (Countries and Their Cultures). This syncretism allows indigenous Mexican beliefs to remain a prominent part of Mexican culture. However, Catholicism is not the only religion practiced in Mexico. Other religions that are practiced include evangelical religions (including Pentecostals, neopentecostals, and Pentecostal Roots) make up 1.71% of the population; other Protestant evangelical groups, 2.79%; members of Jehovah's Witness make up 1.25%, "historical Protestants" such as Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Del Nazerenos, Mennonites, and others, comprise .71%; Seventh-day Adventists, 0.58%; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), .25%, Jews, .05%, and other religions, .31% (with 3.52% of respondents indicating "no religion," and .86% not specifying). (International Religious Freedom Report).

Of course, it is hard to think about Mexico without calling to mind the distinct culinary flavors that the country has to offer. The cuisine of Mexico is an extremely varied one, with specialties ranging from "Cabrito," or traditional roast baby goat, in the north, to the world famous Mole sauce which comes from the province of Oaxaca in the south (All About Mexico). Other staples in Mexican cuisine include the famous taco, which is consumed primarily as a street food or snack, and is made of corn tortilla, a meat such as steak or chicken, as well as vegetables such as cilantro, tomato, and onion with lime.

The history of Mexican cuisine is as rich as the flavors it incorporates. When the Europeans arrived in Mexico in 1517, they found that the indigenous community's diet consisted primarily of foods such as corn, beans, peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and herbs (Food in Every Country). Chocolate, which is native to Mexico, was a special drink that was considered fit for royalty. The indigenous groups also occasionally included livestock in their diets, such as wild turkey, rabbit, deer, and quail. It wasn't until the Europeans introduced the foods that the country experienced its first taste of cattle, sheep, pig, goat, and chicken (Food in Every Country). The Spanish also introduced sugarcane and wheat to the country.

Today, corn is the primary staple of the modern Mexican diet. It is an integral part of almost every meal, and is usually consumed in the form of a flat piece of bread called a tortilla, or in pozole (a corn stew). Mexicans also enjoy a wide range of fruits and vegetables that grow well in the country's climate, including tomatoes, green tomatoes, avocado, mango, pineapple, papaya, and nopales, or prickly pear cactus (Food in Every Country). Finally, in order to obtain the flavor that Mexican cuisine is so widely known for, a variety of spices and chilies are used. Some popular spices and chilies include jalapenos, poblanos, serranos, chiplotes, cilantro, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves (Food in Every Culture).