There are certain Mexican traditions that honor the memory of the people and local communities. The best way to get to know them is to live them. In Mexico, cultural heritage always goes hand in hand with unique experiences. Perhaps that is why Mexico is one of the favorite destinations for those who want to make the most of their vacation while discovering other ways of understanding (and celebrating) life.
Thinking of visiting this fascinating country? Here are some parts of Mexican culture and traditions that will surprise you, so that you can start to immerse yourself in the richness of its dazzling culture.
5 surprising Mexican traditions
Candlemas Day: a change of look for Baby Jesus
Mexico’s traditional costumes tell stories. Once a year, the Son of God changes his look to remember them. Candlemas Day, or Candelaria, is celebrated on February 2. Among the many Mexican traditions linked to this Christian date, is that of dressing the figure of Baby Jesus, which is usually set in homes during the Christmas season, with the most representative clothes and accessories of the community or those that the family likes the most.
The spring of the gods
With the arrival of spring, Mexico dresses in celebration and roots with a beautiful tradition that consists of welcoming the new season in a space touched by the gods. On that day, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, located in the former city of Teotihuacan, welcome people from all over the world, who come to this sacred place to climb to the highest part of the pyramids and, together, welcome the season of flowers and renewal. Speaking of pyramids, the ruins of Chichen Itza, in the Riviera Maya, are also a must-see. Any time of the year is a good time to go.
Quebrada cliff-divers, a song to nature
La Quebrada is a 45-meter-high cliff, located in Acapulco. In this impressive natural spot, the rock meets the sea in an abrupt and wild gesture. The so-called "clavadistas", experienced cliff-divers, climb to the edge of the abyss and then let themselves fall into the void without a net. These diving sessions are as typical for Mexicans as they are surprising for visitors. They are usually performed at night, under the light of the moon and spotlights that illuminate their protagonists, while those who witness the jumps hold their breath before the majesty of the natural surroundings as well as human nature itself.
Taco Day and Tequila Day
Did you know that tacos and tequila have their own national day in Mexico? It's no wonder that they both have a specific day dedicated to them, as they are some of the most iconic snacks and drinks. Taco Day is March 31 and Tequila Day is the third Saturday of the same month. Throughout these days, restaurants, street stalls and homes are filled with flavor and tradition. You can taste the best local cuisine during this or any other time of the year at all of Iberostar's Mexican restaurants, such as Uxmal, at the Iberostar Waves Quetzal hotel (located in Playa del Carmen) and Las dos Marías, at the Iberostar Waves Cozumel. In them, memory and avant-garde merge in a wide gastronomic offer, with seasonal preparations and based on zero-kilometer ingredients. In addition, 100% of the fish and seafood at Iberostar’s hotels in Mexico comes from sustainable sources. It is typical to include them in the most delicious tacos.
Courage and skill in the machete dance
As so many different peoples and histories coexist in the same territory, Mexican culture and traditions are also a sample of its diversity, ranging from the most divine to the most profane. In this case, also the most warlike. The Dance of the Machetes is danced machete in hand, performing acrobatics and movements that are years old and represent courtship and bravery. Sometimes, the people who practice it do it blindfolded, showing their great dexterity. The dance of the machetes of Nayarit is one of the most popular. If you stay at the Iberostar Selection Playa Mita hotel in Riviera Nayarit, you will have the opportunity to witness this magnificent spectacle up close.
Weird Mexican traditions
The making of tamales: kicks and beautiful words
The making of tamales is a ritual. They are associated with different festivities, such as Candlemas Day, and are made by wrapping different ingredients with corn as a base in a cooked corn leaf, milpa or other plant. Its name in Nahuatl, "tamalli", means "wrapped". They have always been present in offerings to the gods, since corn is sacred to some ancient civilizations, such as the Maya.
It is not advisable to start preparing tamales when angry, since they are affected by human emotions and could turn out in a way that Mexicans define as berrinchudos, roughly translated as "bad-tempered". When it is time to cook them according to Mexican tradition, they are spoken to with affection, dedicating blessings to them so that the dough does not go off. Afterwards, they "cover the ears" of the pot by tying two strips of totomoxtle (corn husk) to the handles of the lid so that they do not hear the bustle of the kitchen. If, in the end, things turn out sour, the tamalera or tamalero is allowed to scold the tamales or kick the pot.
A sweet (and slimy) birthday custom
Among the weirdest Mexican traditions in the eyes of foreigners is that of throwing (literally) birthday people at their cake. After singing Las Mañanitas, they are urged to take the first bite or mouthful of the cake to the cry of "Mordida, mordida!"(Spanish for “bite, bite!”), and then immediately push their face into it to celebrate. The birthday girl or boy ends up covered in cream, meringue, chocolate or fruit, but also smeared with love and good luck. It is another way of wishing a happy birthday. Would you dare to organize yours with friends in Mexico? Iberostar Selection Paraíso Lindo, in an environment that invites you to connect with nature and your body, is perfect for this.
The Albures or how to play with language to make it shine
Albures, also known as calambures, are puns that, through sarcasm, deal with scatological and sexual themes. They are so popular in Mexico that tournaments and contests are even organized. Attending one of these events helps to better understand Mexican culture through the expression of each area, as well as to immerse oneself in one of the most traditional Mexican traditions.
Mexico's must-see celebrations and festivities
Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. It takes place on October 1 and 2 to honor ancestors. It is a mixture of several Mexican traditions, coming from the original cultures and Christian folklore, resulting in an instant that is also a melting pot, and where the doors that unite the world of the living with the world of the dead are opened. Altars filled with flowers, offerings and special objects are erected in the houses and streets. People sing, pray and remember; they eat and drink; they dance and, above all, pay homage to the dead. The Day of the Dead teaches us to accept death as part of life, and not to see it as something sad but as something natural that deserves to be celebrated.
Guealagetza: a word that dances
Around July 16, the Day of the Virgen del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Oaxaca becomes a dance in itself with the Guealagetza festival. It is here that the different Mexican cultures and traditions reach their most authentic expression, with dance groups dressed in the costumes of the Oaxacan people, who dance to tell each other and tell the history of Mexico without any words needed. They do it as if it were a story in movement, in chronological order, but also from the soul of their indigenous communities.
The Voladores de Papantla Ritual
Another of those Mexican traditions that must be seen is the rite of the Voladores de Papantla. As a cultural and spiritual manifestation of the Mesoamerican feeling, it is an offering to the gods that is carried out with the body, and for which the whole community prepares both physically and internally. A group of five men climb a mast or flying pole 18 to 38 meters high. Then, four of them, held by waist and feet, descend through the air with their arms outstretched, taking turns, while the fifth participant or "caporal" dances and plays traditional music at the top of the pole to communicate with the Sun father.
Mexican traditions for children
Posadas nocturnas: Christmas carols and a sense of community
Between December 16 and 24, the posadas nocturnas are celebrated in Mexico. As the sun sets, the streets fill with groups of people of all ages, who go from house to house singing Christmas carols and asking for an inn to emulate the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph according to the Christian narrative. Altars are set up in the houses and food and drink are prepared for the visitors. It is an ideal tradition to learn about and enjoy with the family, as it highlights the hospitality inherent in Mexican traditions. If you are thinking of visiting Mexico with children at this time of the year, this is definitely a perfect plan.
Piñatas, much more than a moment of glory
One of the most popular Mexican traditions for children is the piñata. Its history is linked to the Mayan civilization. Originally, piñatas were made with an earthenware pot filled with cocoa to which seven star-shaped spikes were added. The game, as now, consisted of breaking the piñata with a blindfolded stick. After the arrival of the Spaniards in America, the monks began to use them as a method of evangelisation, associating each spike of the piñata with a capital sin.
Today, piñatas are a symbol of Mexican heritage. A good way for children to get to know them is through play. But piñatas are present in most celebrations, not only in children's celebrations: birthdays, baptisms, first communions, Christmas parties, farewell parties and night-time posadas are just some of them. When the piñata is broken, a song is sung:
I don't want gold, I don't want silver,
What I want is to break the piñata!
Come on, come on, come on, don't lose your wits!
because if you lose it, you lose your way!
You've already given him one, you've already given him two,
you've already given him three and your time is up.
The parade of the Alebrijes: beings born from fantasy
Alebrijes are giant creatures with human parts, animal parts and parts of mythological beings inspired by Mexican history, created from all kinds of materials, some recycled, and with a rainbow of different shades, expressions and details. Numerous artists, some of them well known, have been involved in its creation since 2007. Once a year, the Alebrijes parade takes place in Mexico City. The little ones love it. It is well worth seeing and, above all, experiencing. The festive atmosphere pervades everything in this celebration of fantasy that enriches the senses through folklore, and where the only limit is set by the imagination.
The literary calaveritas of the Day of the Dead: to experience death naturally
Among Mexico's Day of the Dead customs and traditions, children write and read literary calaveritas, which are very special poems constructed as epitaphs, generally dedicated to the deceased (although they cover all kinds of topics), and which help them to understand death. There are some for children and also for adults, with a more or less short length and, in all cases, they include a touch of humor.
Three Kings' Eve, a magical time for children
The Eve of the Twelfth day of Christmas is an important time in Mexico. The Three Wise Men (or three Kings) from the East and their camels visit Mexican homes in the early hours of January 5-6, bringing gifts to children. Before going to bed, the youngest members of the household place their shoes full of straw near a window for the animals to eat, and in return, the kings leave them gifts. The next day, family and friends are invited to share the traditional rosca de Reyes, a sweet cake with one or more figures of baby Jesus inside. Those who find them are invited to tamales on Candlemas Day.
Christmas is undoubtedly a unique opportunity to get to know Mexico's rich cultural heritage, with countless Mexican traditions for children and adults alike. How about spending the upcoming festivities with your family in paradise? An excellent alternative to the cold is to opt for a hotel where luxury and sustainability coexist in harmony with the local culture, and where in December the climate is as warm as the atmosphere.
