Vazquez Hermanos Circus Hank Duckman

Israel Gonzalez, of the circus family known as the Kaylicoas, is the tightrope walker of the Vazquez Hermanos Circus. He also performs an act of gymnastics, balancing on alternating hands, and breezes ... read more

culture-customs finance-personal

Into a realm of spirits: a Native American sweat lodge ceremony kim kroonenburg

Coyote doesn't offer a word to guide us through this mysterious and arduous process. He leaves us to our own world, to our private vision quest. The sweltering heat of the lodge... read more

culture-customs indigenous-groups

Marianne Carlson and the Maestros del Arte Judy Dykstra-Brown

"In Mexico I have found an outlet for creative talents never tapped before. You can do what ever you want. Pick up a plastic bag and make something out of it. Pick up a seed pod, paint it and add legs,... read more

art culture-customs exploring-tourism

Xalapa Symphony Orchestra Rita Pomade

This past February I had the pleasure of attending the first concert of the 2005 season given by the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra. It was the first time I had heard the orchestra, and I was impressed by t... read more

culture-customs music

A Bridge Across Cultures Rita Pomade

The well-known American poet Margaret Randall talks about the documentary
"El Corno Emplumado: Una historia de los sesenta"
(El Corno Emplumado: A story of the sixties"). read more

art culture-customs history

The Masks Of Mexico (Part 2) Rita Pomade

The coming of the Spaniards in 1519 drastically altered the political and religious life of pre-Hispanic America. Cortes, with the help of his mercenaries and priests, decimated the ruling elite and wiped out the existing theocracy, but try as they might, they could not destroy the people's love and need for ritual.

Mexican lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada: Past and present Rita Pomade

In one month, on November 2, it will be "El Dia de los Muertos" (the Day of the Dead), and Jose Guadalupe Posada, or Don Lupe as he was known to his friends, a poor but prolific printm... read more

artists culture-customs day-of-the-dead history

Mexico family roots: the Soteno Trees of Life Erin Cassin and Kinich Ramirez

For the Soteno brethren of Metepec in the State of Mexico, creating the sculptures known as árboles de la vida (trees of life) is more than an art form - it is a family tradition. It all began i... read more

art culture-customs México, Estado de

La Bamba explained: the music of Veracruz Janice Carraher

Can you hear Ritchie Valens belting that one out? One of Rock and Roll’s most copied songs (from garage bands, movies, and college marching bands, to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). La Bamba is an ode to an era, the anthem of the American Boom generation. Many of us over the years continue to sing that catchy song without thinking much about it. But in truth, there is a whole lot more here than meets most peoples ears. read more

culture-customs music Veracruz

Raising The Dead Barbara Kastelein

The attitude towards death evidenced in the quintessentially Mexican holiday of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) might be puzzling for some. It isn't difficult for foreigners to interpret dancing skel... read more

culture-customs day-of-the-dead exploring-tourism

Pulp Fiction - Mexico's Historieta Sergio Ulloa

Moralistic, prejudiced, racist, misogynist, manipulative, sexist, daring, exciting, critical, sarcastic and passionate - these are just a few adjectives that commonly describe Mexico's most widely-read... read more

culture-customs history literature

Music & Dance In Mexico

MUSIC The music of Mexico provides a rich tapestry of rhythm, tone, and variety. Its roots are based on a compelling history of disparate influences. From the music of the Mariachi, the Corri... read more

culture-customs fiction index-page literature music

Mexico's Pyramid Power - Chichen Itza, El Tajin and Teotihuacan Teresa Kendrick

Consider El Tajin's famous pyramid of the Niches, built by inheritors of the Olmec culture. Thousands of small stone blocks came together just so, like a Chinese block puzzle, to produce a structure th... read more

archeological-sites culture-customs history Central Highlands Yucatán Peninsula

Arteplumaria - the Mexican art of feather painting Teresa Kendrick

Did you know that one of the highest, most elegant and sumptuous arts of pre-Conquest Mexico was arteplumaria, the art of feather painting? Used to decorate headdresses, standards, staffs, lances,... read more

art aztec culture-customs fauna history

Reportaje La Fiesta Popular Daniel Diez

Es en las comunidades campesinas del país en donde la fiesta se celebra con mayor intensidad. Destacan también algunos grupos indígenas que buscan conservar intactas sus tradiciones. En los estados ... read more

culture-customs fiestas-traditions

Reportaje - Dia de Muertos Daniel Diez

REPORTAJE Día de Muertos Tradición de siglos que perdura Por Daniel Díez Sin cantos ni rezos, lo... read more

culture-customs day-of-the-dead

Lotería Mexicana

La loteria is an old game of chance played throughout Mexico. It first became popular in the last half of the eoghteenth century and although it is rapidly being replaced by modern, electronic games, i... read more

culture-customs

Viva Mexico! Viva El Mariachi! Dale Hoyt Palfrey

Nothing better exemplifies the lively spirit of Mexico than a fiery shot of tequila, dashing charro horsemen and the stirring strains of a mariachi band. Jalisco is the heartland of these emblematic fi... read more

culture-customs music

Wow, what a dance that was! Or que bailazo! Ed Fesler

"The Twenty-Two Music Professors" squared off against "The "Heavy Metal Charros," (Heavy Metal Cowboys) separated only by the four lanes of a major cross street. Batteries of powerful lights turned an ... read more

culture-customs lifestyles

Huichol Voices Christopher Jordan English

Summer solstice 2003 would be memorable. A local paper mentioned a Huichol vigil to be held near the shoreline of Mexico’s Lake Chapala at a site called Isla de los Patos. The ceremony was to peak on... read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism huichol indigenous-groups

Mexican Mornings: Essays South of the Border by Michael Hogan Reviewed by Allan Cogan

Here's an interesting and entertaining collection of essays, mainly about Mexico, like "The Crawling Things of Paradise", a small tribute to all the crawling, flying, buzzing, poisonous, and non-poisonous insects to be found in the state of Jalisco. In the essay "Connections: Odysseus and the Gran Chingón" we find a quite learned investigation into the prevalence of machismo in Latin American society. On the more sober side there are copious references throughout - both critical and positive - to the Mexican natural environment, the economy and the Mexican character. read more

book-reviews culture-customs lifestyles perspectives Guadalajara, Jalisco

Mexican Lives by Judith Adler Hellman Reviewed by Allan Cogan

Ms. Hellman, who is a Professor of Political and Social Science at York University in Toronto, writes about fifteen Mexicans in all walks of life. They emerge as authentic and likeable people, coping with problems that you and I can scarcely imagine. The people she describes range from well-to-do agri-business people to maids; from industrialists to a coyote who has been successfully smuggling illegals into California almost every night of the week for the last few years. read more

book-reviews culture-customs family lifestyles

Mexicans: Changing The Eastern Oregon Perspective Amanda Villagómez

Large families, devout Catholics, modest clothing, very poor - these are some of the common preconceived notions about Mexicans from a rural eastern Oregon perspective. However, such a view is limiting... read more

culture-customs family lifestyles perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca Maria Diaz

Drawn by the intrigue of all-night vigils in cemeteries and life-size skeletons propped jauntily in shop windows, tourists flock to Oaxaca and other points in Mexico for Day of the Dead. During the la... read more

culture-customs day-of-the-dead Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Personal Views of Easter in Mexico Discussion Thread Forum

Semana Santa in Morelia means a vacation at home for me. For one thing, I don't want to become a statistic by hitting the open road, and for another, I don't like crowds. But most importantly, I bask in those times when the help are gone and it's just me and my Doberboys.