The Mexican Day of the Dead and The Skeleton at the Feast
This is a compilation of photos, drawings, essays, poems, letters, parts of novels and stories and other sources, all designed to shed light on this unique and enduring Mexican festival. I was also intrigued by the odd coincidence that I happened to read it on the actual Day of the Dead, November 2.
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Did You Know? Mexico in the Guinness world records: part two
An earlier column described several Guinness records and their connection to Mexico and Mexicans. This month's column examines four more very different Guinness records which do not involve quite as mu...
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Cascarones: Egging on Mexican fiestas
The Romans coined the phrase Omne vivum ex ovo, "All life comes from an egg." The egg is a universal symbol of birth and resurrection, employed in burial practices of the ancient Egyptians and Gre...
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A Companion Guide to La Charreada
Mexico has its own version of the rodeo is called la charreada. This basic guide is designed to enhance the enjoyment of the competition for those unfamiliar with Mexico's national sport by of...
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Piñatas boast deep historical roots
Breaking piñatas is not only a familiar element of many Mexican festivities, but a popular custom with deep historical roots. Some scholars link the practice with religious rituals of ancient Mes...
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Mexico's Hermanos Mayar Circus
Hermanos Mayar is one of the top five Mexican circuses. The circus travels in an ongoing circuit around Mexico and usually goes back to the same towns and cities each cycle. Nestor's tiger act is currently the premier act of the Hermanos Mayar Circus.
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Mythology and legends of the Nahua people: Creation of the Fifth Sun at Teotihuacan
Mythology and Legends of the Nahua People:
Essays on Ancient Mexico
Part 1: "The Creation of the Universe"
Part 2: "Legend of the Fifth Sun"
Part 3: "Creation of the Fifth Sun at Teotihuaca...
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Mythology and legends of the Nahua people: Legend of the Fifth Sun
Mythology and Legends of the Nahua People:
Essays on Ancient Mexico
Part 1: "The Creation of the Universe"
Part 2:"Legend of the Fifth Sun"
Part 3: "Creation of the Fifth Sun at Teotihuacan"...
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Why I love to dance Mexican style
The Mexicans can’t dance my legs off, I’ll tell you that — oh, well, in the “barrios” they can, but there the dancing is more like Olympic gymnastics. If you’re just going out in the...
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Bullfights - where and when
Many towns have ferias (fairs) and special celebrations during which there may be one or two days of bullfights. In addition, there is the spectacular Plaza Mexico in the Federal District. You might want to check out the Mexican bullfight website that I have linked below: www.bullfights.org
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Mythology and legends of the Nahua people: The creation of the universe
As the future unfolds, history is tucked away into the past. We see this past because our ancestors recorded the events of their lives by writing them down in some form or another, be it with chisel, quill or pen. What we know about history, or rather what we think we know is dependent on who wrote those histories and what they chose to include. Going further and further back in time there is less and less information, until one reaches a period of time before the written word, approximately 5000 years ago.
read moreMasks and feather headdresses: Mexicans celebrate danzas
Mexicans love to wear masks, to dance and make music in a blazing display of fireworks, feasting and shooting off pistols. Appearances are deceptive; even the poorest pueblo collects money to celebrate...
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Piñatas
On TV we saw a "Pinyada" I have no idea of the spelling. It was a stuffed shape (rather large) filled with sweets that you hang up and hit till it breaks and the sweets fall out. I have heard this is Mexican? My 6-year-old son thinks it is lovely - can anyone help on how to make such a "Pinyada."
read moreFiestas de Octubre - Auditorio Benito Juarez, Guadalajara
ESPECTACULOS EN EL INTERIOR DEL AUDITORIO BENITO JUÁREZ
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS & LOCATIONS:
Community Service Programs · The Bohemio ...
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Mexican Etiquette and Ethics by Boye Lafayette de Mente
"The key to understanding the ‘Mexican Way’ of doing business is to recognize that business management in Mexico has traditionally been an application of cultural attitudes and customs - not the objective, pragmatic function that is associated with management in the United States and other practical-minded countries."
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Huellas ...debajo de la piñata
The Christmas season in Mexico is a time filled with delightfully colorful customs, among which one of my personal favorites is the traditional piñata -breaking that highlights most holiday festi...
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The Mexicans: A personal portrait of a people
Author Oster's portraits make this an excellent account of a timeless and yet changing Mexico. His approach is to focus on twenty varied individuals and use them as a reason to discuss the larger issues they represent.
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Las Posadas
Christmas posada
© Dale Hoyt Palfrey, 1996
In Mexico, the Christmas holidays begin unofficially with the saint's day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. But can decorations appear anytime after the Day of t...
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Mixquic: the Day of the Dead and the Day of All Saints in Mexico
In Mexico on the first two days of November, the dead are remembered in a very special celebration which is one of the most hallowed traditions in the Mexican culture.
Each year, a series of unique ev...
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Footprints in San Pedro Itzican
As a home-based working mother I recently found myself faced with an annual quandary: how to keep my two restless pre-teens entertained over their summer holiday and simultaneously squeeze some quality...
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Luz: Another village light in Mata Ortiz, Mexico
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make ollas, eart...
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The mariachi
Each year here in Guadalajara, we host an international mariachi meeting, with a musical festival and all of the rest included. Mariachis from all over the world come to celebrate the occasion every year. I've even had the opportunity to listen, believe it or not, to Japanese mariachis!
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Your own celebration of the Day of the Dead
A few months ago I received an email request from a small town in Texas. The writer Ray and his fiance wanted my guidance in celebrating the Day of the Dead. My answer was - celebrate it in your own wa...
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Mexico's traditional papel picado: Classic art for a Mexican fiesta
Experienced Mexico travelers recognize a sure sign that a local fiesta is in progress whenever they spy a churchyard or stretch of roadway bedecked with lines of bright tissue paper cut-outs. ...
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Pidiendo Posada: The musical score
When reenacting Mary and Joseph's quest for shelter in Bethlehem, participants in the traditional Posada processions stop to sing a litany at several designated homes. The verses alternate one by one between those seeking lodging outside and those responding from behind the door.
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