Shawls for all seasons, rebozos for all reasons Carron Harlan

We sit crushed together, moist and miserable, in the back of the battered old VW van as we do every day about this time. Interesting odors assail our noses. We would rather not know what it is we are s... read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism perspectives

Mexico's Christmas traditions: Posadas, pastorelas and nacimientos Judy King

Few North Americans recognize that the roots of these treasured “Christmas” traditions were active long before the birth of Christ. In fact, most evolved from pagan winter solstice rituals of the Celts, Druids, Scandinavians and indigenous groups, and the much older Jewish Festival of Lights.

Saint Anthony and John the Baptist: June festivals at Lake Chapala Judy King

Church dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mexico.
© Taner Sirin, 2011

During June, we investigate the history, lives and legends of Saint Anthony of Padua, the beloved patron saint of San Antonio Tlayacapan and San Juan Cosala's Saint John the Baptist as these communities on Mexico's Chapala lakeshore focus for nine days on processions, masses, sky rockets and devotions. Each community will begin each of the nine days preceding their Saint's Day with early morning firecrackers to awaken the village for the morning pilgrimage to mass... read more

culture-customs fiestas-traditions religion Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

Juanita and the president: Obama's Mexican connection Maggie Van Ostrand

Juanita, newly arrived from Zacatecas, and who has no reason in the world to make things up, admitted to being in love with the new American President. read more

culture-customs lifestyles

A wedding and christening in rural Oaxaca: The mandate of tradition Alvin Starkman

We usually think of weddings and baptisms as rites of passage we attend on separate occasions. But November 27, 2008, marked the celebration of both in San Lorenzo Albarradas: the nuptials of a couple in their early twenties, and the baptism of their three-year-old daughter. What resulted was a melding of highly organized custom... read more

culture-customs fiestas-traditions perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Colima orphanage runs on faith Marvin West

Through the years, Colima, Colima meant volcano views, small sacks of sea salt, classy museums, pretty parks, souvenir casts and carvings of hairless dogs -- and another hour to the beach. ¡No más! ... read more

culture-customs social-issues Colima, Colima

A Mexican Valentine Nancy C. Brown

It's Joaquina's first day on the job as our housekeeper, and she's outraged at how much my husband Skip and I have paid a roving vendor for clean-up rags. Newcomers to our Mexican village, we hadn't kn... read more

culture-customs lifestyles

New meaning to mañana Marvin West

The good government of Jocotepec, centralized at the west end of Lake Chapala in the great state of Jalisco, has given new meaning to the word "mañana." Too early on a Monday morning in mid-Decembe... read more

culture-customs lifestyles Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

From conspicuous consumption to conspicuous frugality Maggie Van Ostrand

Ever since Al Gore sounded the alarm about global warming, everyone on earth is aware that mankind (an oxymoron if ever I heard one) must preserve itself and the environment if it is to survive. We mus... read more

culture-customs lifestyles Jalisco

Consumer protection in Oaxaca, Mexico: A case study Alvin Starkman

PROFECO has its limitations. However, it does provide an important and valuable alternate means of dispute resolution.

English, and how she is spoken Maggie Van Ostrand

Global economy just can't be ignored any longer, no matter how hard I try. To keep up with the times and learn at least one more language while still keeping things simple, Spanish seemed a good choice... read more

culture-customs

The Virgin of Talpa comes calling Jenny McGill

There are secrets to all this pageantry that everybody doesn't know. read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism Talpa, Jalisco

Coming and going Marvin West

Based on very personal experience, let me tell you there is a considerable difference in coming to Mexico and going from Mexico. Fourteen years ago, old friends Charles and Ginger Rudder pulled up T... read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism

La Llorona: does she seek your children? Maggie Van Ostrand

"Don't go near the water," mothers caution their children, "You might drown." Good advice, but it has another meaning in Mexico and Texas. Moms living near the Rio Grande are protecting their children ... read more

culture-customs lifestyles

Virgin hair for the Madonna's new wig Jenny McGill

Many of you know August is the month when Talpa de Allende's image of the Virgin begins walking the back roads, visiting and blessing the ranches, cattle, crops, ponds and creeks along the way. She is accompanied by her devotees for six weeks on this summer trek.< read more

culture-customs Talpa, Jalisco

Ajijic: the way we were Maggie Van Ostrand

In the ancient Nahuatl language, Ajijic means "The Place Where Water Springs Forth." This year marks the 40th anniversary of an historic event: the Great Geyser Eruption. It is said to have been the ta... read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism Chapala Ajijic, Jalisco

On being a gringo in Mexico: From Colonel to Cuernavaca Mark Wise

Is it easy for a GEM (Gringo en Mexico)? I guess that depends on the GEM! read more

culture-customs exploring-tourism lifestyles Cuernavaca, Morelos

Charro wedding in a small Mexican town Jenny McGill

Wedding traditions vary all over the world and Mexico is no exception. Canada and the United States are such international melting pots that we may see Asian, African or English customs demonstrated in the same ceremony. The same is true in Mexico. Margarita wore her wedding veil over a large white velvet sombrero. read more

culture-customs Talpa, Jalisco

A Mexico love story Marvin West

Marta Palomares and her husband, Michael Dickson A genuine Mexico love story lives in a big, beautiful home behind a high wall in Tzurumutaro, a not-much-to-it community adjoining Patzcuaro in the r... read more

culture-customs lifestyles Patzcuaro, Michoacán

Kooks in the Kitchen and Great Social Skills: A Mother's Trade-off in Mexico Julia Taylor

Sometimes circumstances in Mexico make it harder to care for a child. But overall, Mexico has given us many blessings as parents.

Did You Know? January's weather in Mexico forecasts the rest of the year Tony Burton

Many Mexicans, especially campesinos, who are closer to the land than most, believe that the weather during the month of January serves as a long-range forecast for the entire year. The precise predict... read more

culture-customs geography maya

Did You Know? The Mexican Wave and unruly mobs Tony Burton

Studies of the Mexican wave may suggest how to control unruly mobs Defined as "a rippling wave effect that passes right around a stadium full of spectators, achieved when all the spectators in turn ... read more

culture-customs Mexico City , México D.F.

Did You Know? Mexico's national flower is the humble dahlia Tony Burton

With more than 30,000 native flowering plants to choose from, who would have thought that the humble dahlia would become Mexico's national flower? The earliest known description of the dahlia (known t... read more

culture-customs flora

Did You Know? Different traffic whistles in Mexico mean different things Tony Burton

Mayhem prevails in many Mexican cities during rush hours. The traffic in some big cities rarely seems to let up, or slow down, as vehicles jockey for the best position before becoming ensnarled in a ta... read more

adjusting culture-customs driving-routes

Did You Know? Sixty-two indigenous languages still spoken in Mexico Tony Burton

As many as 62 indigenous languages are still spoken in Mexico. Most people realize that the national language of Mexico is Spanish and that Mexico is the world's largest Spanish speaking country. In f... read more

culture-customs indigenous-groups learning-language