My Mexican Culture Essay Text

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Mexican american society is rich with folklore, culture, traditions, rituals and religion. One can say that this came into being shortly after columbus discovered the new world. The spanish conquistadors and padres who sailed with columbus to the new world over four centuries ago were the first to leave their mark on the new territory. These major influences are especially seen in the southwestern region of the united states. The southwest locality is an area rich in the oral traditions of legends and jokes, music, food, beliefs, and customs. It is here that spanish is spoken and the spanish/mexican folkways still mold the lives of modern latinos. There are many things in the mexican culture which have contributed to the shaping and molding of the modern latino society, such as the mexican history, culture, folklore, rituals and traditions.

The culture of the southwest is predominantly hispanic of mexican american origin. The mexican american experience, history and heritage are intensified in its inhabitants. Mexican american culture is not simply a blend of mexico and the united states but the result of a unique historical process that developed with an originality all its own. The embassy of mexico chronicles the history of mexico as so the pre hispanic era was between 1200 b.c. And there were five major native societies that impacted the history of mexico the olmecs, mayans, zapotecs/mixtecs, toltecs, and aztecs. The olmecs were the first recognized culture and they were significant because many past cultures borrowed religious, architectural and artistic customs from them. The mayans are documented for their highly developed technique of mathematics and astrology.

The zapotec were distinguished builders and artisans, who produced remarkable temples, burial chambers, pottery and metal works. The toltecs were master craftsmen and built one of mexicos most extraordinary cities, tula. This civilization is considered to have been developed from the glorious teotihuacan society of central mexico. This society was prospering when spanish conquerors disembarked to the new world in 1519. The aztecs acquired their own complex linguistic, religious, artistic, architectural and military legacy by borrowing immensely from the olmecs, toltecs and mayans.

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, the catholic church and spain forced their authority to establish an financial system that suggested many of the most awful features of colonialism and religion. In this time frame, the spaniards enslaved many of the indians to work on agricultural estates and huge mining operations from this, these greedy spaniards became prosperous. The colonial society was broken down into a caste system, which closely resembled european feudalism. From 1810 to 1860 mexico underwent several revolutions in preparation for its independence and insurrection. It took 300 years of spanish and french colonial supremacy for the country to organize itself for sovereignty. Benito juarez assumed the presidency after the european instilled ruler, austrian archduke maximilian was executed in 1867. Juarezs four year reign lead to a great magnitude of land development and the decline of catholic rights to the citizens of mexico.

In 1871, after juarezs demise, porfirio diaz took control, and in 1876, he led mexico to 34 years of constancy and significant advancement. The wide ranging mining, railroad building, all encompassing architecture and overseas investment transformed mexico, but heightened the countrys monetary and political disproportion. The reform and revolution, which occurred between 1910 to 1945, was a result of mexicos out of proportion affluence and disgraceful living surroundings of its lower class citizens history.

The culture of mexico teaches generation after generation about their historical background. There are the romantic boleros, the tragic stories told in corridos and balzes, and the joy heard in the cumbias and polkas. The music of the latino is at the forefront of everything a mexican does, says and feels. Music is the lifeblood and fuels the passion of the mexican american folkloric dancing teaches the dancers stories of their past, through the steps, costumes and music. Folklorico instructor claudia becerra has been able to teach her students many things about their heritage and the different regions of folkloric dancing. She states that these stories are acted out through the words of the music and the movements of the dancers.

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In the present, folkloric dances reflect the spanish influence on the native dances. The dances are known as pascolas and matachines, those dances are from the states of sonora, sinaloa, chihuahua and durango. The matachines perform ritual dances, which they carry out as a promise to god or in particular to the virgen de guadalupe in gratitude for prayers answered. The indigenas tarahumaras are a different version of the matachines they paint their faces or use masks representing animals and make the public laugh with their play acting. In the region known as the huasteca, which includes the states of san luis potosi, hidalgo and veracruz, their dances are called huapangos. The dancers of this region prefer to perform on a wooden platform, which makes their steps more resonant.

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As a sign of bravery a dancer puts on her or his head a glass filled with water and dances without spilling a drop. In this dance a young boy is the center of attention as different girls dance with him. The dancers make it into a bow using only their feet while they are dancing a complicated zapateado. The story behind this dance is of a contest amongst many girls and the young boy has to choose the girl that dances it the longest and the most graceful. In the dance, the two boys are not really fighting, but competing to see which is the better dancer. As the girl looks on, she is the one who evaluates and decides which one rooster won the fight, and as in la bamba, the winner then courted the girl.

The dances of yucatan, campeche, tabasco and quintana roo are known as jaranas, and are similar to the spanish jota. When the conquerors introduced the seguidillas and zapateados to the yucatan, the dancers of the aboriginals dances soon absorbed the new music and the combined the new musical emotions into the jaranas. The mexican american culture teaches all its generations the art, love and passion of food. Mexicans take their food very seriously and many arguments can start over this touchy subject. Corn was of such importance to them, that they believed in and worshipped a corn god for the promise of a good harvest regional mexican food. They are the basis of many mexican plates such as tacos, enchiladas, and chilaquiles. Some dishes such as gorditas mandate the use of corn patties as necessary part of the meal.

Aztec and mayan civilization are the major influences and are at the heart of authentic mexican food. Many prefer the vegetable sliced or diced into a sauce or salsa, stuffed with cheese or meat, or as an edible garnish on dishes. Chili may be green or red, but nonetheless it is used as important flavoring for many meals junior league of el paso 208. Mexican folklore holds many rich stories that entertain, enrich, enlighten and even scare us. Folklore holds many beliefs or creencias, which have molded the lives and oral history of the mexican culture. Some of these beliefs include the old wives tales, which have been passed down through the years.

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