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The culture of Mexico is primarily of Western origin with a specific concentration of Iberian influence, but derives influences also from its Native groups and at a smaller propertion populations. Mexico has its own distinct social and cultural characteristics, such as dialect, music, arts, social habits, cuisine, and folklore. Collections of Mexican culture are known as Mexicanidad.

Mexico, as the most populous Spanish-speaking country, has for many years been a cultural force in other Spanish-language cultural and entertainment expressions such as television, music, film, and literature. Because of this, for any Spanish-language content creator, gaining relevance in the Mexican market has almost always translated into success in Latin America.

Mexico has a vast cultural richness in every imaginable aspect. If we take into account the diversity of the approximately 68 native peoples existing throughout the country's territory, add to this the cultural influence brought by being the epicenter of Spanish colonialism, its strategic geographic location, and the cultural exchange implicit in the country's intense international trade, it is logical and natural that Mexico has become a melting pot where different cultures have merged. In addition to the Spanish presence in Mexico, over the years Mexico has received waves of immigrants from France, China, Germany, Eastern Europe and several Middle Eastern countries, among others. All this exchange of people and cultures is reflected in modern Mexican culture.

Origins, development, and spread
Mexico’s revolution against President José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz began in 1910 and brought a new commitment to popular nationalism expressed through culture. Although insurgent politicians and social activists focused on immediate political and economic programs, especially land reform, worker benefits, and family rights, artists and intellectuals in Mexico City took a leading role in shaping the outlines of an inclusive national cultural identity. This occurred in classical and popular music, painting, dance, handicrafts, literature, and education. The thrust in classical music resulted from the leadership of Manuel M. Ponce, Carlos Chávez, and Silvestre Revueltas; popular music was inspired by Joaquin Beristáin and Ignacio Fernández Esperón; and education was led by José Vasconcelos.

Regional variations
[[File:Cultural_Regions_of_Mexico.svg|thumb|• {{legend|#d5c93dff|Northern Culture}}

• {{legend|#6561d6ff|West pacific Culture}}

• {{legend|#008000ff|Central highland Culture}}

• {{legend|#d40000ff|Oaxacan Culture}}

• {{legend|#973b97ff|Southeastern Culture}}]] One way Mexico can be divided into semi-cultural regiones according to the National Institute of Anthropology and History would be the North, the West, the Central Highlands, the Gulf, Oaxaca and the Southeast.

The cultural North of Mexico is a vast region that corresponds to the territories that are above the Tropic of Cancer. On the brink of the Spanish conquest, this large expanse of land was very sparsely inhabited by nomadic groups of hunter-gatherers.

The cultural West of Mexico is comprised of parts of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero.

The cultural Central Highlands of Mexico is located in the south central part of the country and is made up from Mexico City, Mexico State, Morelos, Tlaxcala, and most of Hidalgo and Puebla.

The cultural Oaxacan region of Mexico is almost completely comprised of the state of Oaxaca.

The Cultural Southeastern of Mexico is made up from the territories of the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.

Religion
Although Mexico is a secular state, and the Constitution of 1917 and anti-clerical law imposed limitations on the church and the government does not provide any financial contributions to the church, and the church does not participate in public education, around 90% of the Mexican population identify to Christian denominations: 78% are Roman Catholic, and 11.2% are affiliated with Protestantism. In absolute terms, Mexico has the world's second largest number of Catholics after Brazil.

The states in the Central Highlands and West have the highest concentration of people who practice religion and the Yucatcan Peninsula states are the least religious. Mexico City is the federal entity with the largest amount of jews and muslims in the country.

Language
Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. Although the overwhelming majority of Mexicans today speak Spanish (99.2% of the population) and it is considered to be the de facto national language, there is no de jure official language at the federal level. The government recognizes 68 native languages along with Spanish as national languages with native languages being mainly spoken bilingually (along with spanish) by around 6% of the population. English is taught in public and private schools beginning at the primery level in Mexico, which combined with having close proximity to the United States, makes English the second most spoken language in Mexico and also the most learned both, in and out, of the educational system.

The national spanish dialect is known as Mexican Spanish, which itself consists of numerous regional dialects, but has some shared unifying features that distinguish it from other national varieties of Spanish. Some distinct characteristics of spanish in Mexico is the slang and accent. Having one of the most recognizable slangs and accents in the Hispanosphere, Mexican spanish has transended heavily outside of Mexico from the result of mexican cinema, entertainment and internet culture and the mass dubbing of foriegn media in Mexico for the worldwide hispanic audience. The Mexican Spanish accent differs from the Spanish accents in many other countries in terms of pronunciation. While the accent is slightly different in general, one of the most notable characteristics is the absence of the lisp that is present in European Spanish, the alveolar palatal pronunciation of the "J", "G", "Y" and "LL" being apicodental, the "D" in intervocalic position in all registers and always touching the palate as well as clearly pronuncing it between vowels, and the "S" sounding strong and always present (without aspiration). Mexican Spanish is also characterized by many English loanwords or anglicisms. This is due to the proximity to the United States and the movement of people between the two countries over the years.

Literature
Although today Mexico's literature is one of the most prolific in the Spanish language, prior to the conquista, books were scarce in Mexico. The indigenous peoples had their own writing system, but its use was limited to specific purposes. Instead, they tended to rely heavily on the use of oral tradition to transmit and preserve mythology and narratives.

However, everything changed rapidly with the arrival of the conquistadors. European explorers began to write accounts of everything they saw, analyzing the new lands they had just discovered. Some of the first books about Mexico were written by the discoverers and chroniclers Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and Bernal Díaz del Castillo. As the Spaniards exercised their authority in all fields of culture, native authors began to receive a very strong influence and, before long, the literature produced began to show their own characteristics. The mestizaje between the Spanish and indigenous components resulted in a literature characteristic of colonial Mexico. Some of the most prolific Mexican writers of the time are Bernardo de Balbuena, Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora.

The Mexican Revolution was a fundamental inspiration for the development of contemporary Mexican novels, as can be seen in works such as "Los de abajo" (The Underdogs), by Mariano Azuela or "Como agua para chocolate" (Like Water for Chocolate), by Laura Esquivel. The Mexican writers of the 20th century are probably the best known in the entire history of the country's literature, with key names such as the novelist Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo and his original representation of the relationship between Mexicans and death in "Pedro Páramo" or the poet Octavio Paz with his essayistic work "El laberinto de la soledad" (The Labyrinth of Solitude).

Colonial baroque
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Mexican artists painted mainly landscapes and portraits in a realistic style that followed the tendencies of European painters in the Baroque period. The 18th century was a period of pictorial splendor in Mexico, as local schools of painting were consolidated, new iconographies were invented and painters explored new ways to energize their art.

As evidence of their extraordinary versatility, the artists who created mural-sized paintings to cover the walls of sacristies, choirs and university halls were usually the same ones who produced portraits, caste paintings (depictions of mestizo families), painted screens and finely rendered devotional images. Religious themes were the most represented, such as the Virgin Mary, the life of the saints, biblical passages, etc. However, profane themes such as still lifes, non-religious portraits, emblems and allegories were also developed. The volume of work produced by the four generations of Mexican artists that spanned the eighteenth century is virtually unparalleled in the Hispanic world. Some outstanding painters of this era are: Cristobal de Villalpando, Juan Correa, José de Ibarra, Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez Juárez, José Juárez, Miguel Cabrera, José Joaquín Magón, Sebastián López de Arteaga and Nicolás Enríquez.

Muralism
The Renaissance of mural painting in Mexico (beginning in the 1920s) was a form of Socialist Realism, promoted by the Mexican authorities, in order to reunify the country during the revolutionary upheavals of 1910-29. Although it began during the presidencies of Alvaro Obregon (1920–24) and Plutarco Elias Calles (1924–28), it was led by Mexico's leading modern artists of the time: Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, who between them created a a whole new mythology surrounding the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican Muralism movement - effectively, a form of public art with a socialist message - is still in existence although it lost momentum in the early 1960s. During this period, public buildings across the country were decorated with murals using a variety of artistic techniques including encaustic as well as fresco painting, and a quantity of mosaic art. Coinciding, initially, with similar propagandist campaigns in the Soviet Union, it was (and remains) one of the few nationwide political art movements to occur in the West, inspiring others like the Chicano Mural Movement. It also coincided with the formation of the National Mexican Party (PNM), later renamed the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which ruled Mexico for the rest of the 20th century.

Other Mexican painters involved in the wall painting movement included: Alfredo Ramos Martínez, Roberto Montenegro Nervo, Amado de la Cueva, Ramon Alva de la Canal, Pedro Nel Gomez, Rufino Tamayo, Fermin Revueltas Sanchez, Juan O'Gorman, Federico Heraclio Cantu Garza, Jorge Gonzalez Camarena, Alfredo Zalce Torres, Jose Chavez Morado, Jose Raul Anguiano Valadez and Desiderio Hernandez Xochitiotzin.

Foreign muralists who participated included: Ben Shahn, an important figure in the Social Realism movement in the United States; the Irish artist Pablo Esteban O'Higgins (born Paul Higgins Stevenson); and the French-American Louis Henri Jean Charlot.

Achitecture
With the establishment of Spanish rule in Mexico, the first churches and monasteries were built using the architectural principles of classical order and the Arab formalities of Spanish Mudejarism. Subsequently, large cathedrals and civic buildings were built in the Baroque and Mannerist styles, while in rural areas, manor houses and hacienda buildings incorporated Mozarabic elements. The first cathedrals in Mexico were built after 1521, when New Spain was established; from then on, increasingly elaborate structures were built, an example being the Cathedral of Mérida, in Yucatán, built in Renaissance architectural style and one of the oldest cathedrals in the New World.

The dominant form of art and architecture during most of the colonial period was the New Spanish Baroque. Spanish Baroque was transplanted to Mexico and developed its own varieties from the late 16th to the late 18th centuries. Baroque art and architecture were mostly applied to churches. One reason was that in almost all cities, towns and villages, the church was the center of the community, with streets in a regular pattern leading off from it. This reflected the role of the church as the center of community life. Church design in New Spain tended to follow the rectilinear pattern of squares and cubes, rather than contemporary European churches that favored curves and orbs. The spaces of Mexican Baroque churches tended to be more introverted than their European counterparts, focusing especially on the high altar. The purpose was contemplation and meditation. The rich ornamentation was created to keep attention focused on the central themes. This was especially true of the main altar. Columns and pilasters were an important element of the Mexican Baroque style, particularly the part of the column between the capital and the base, which can be classified into six types, including the Solomonic and the stipe (an inverted truncated pyramid) in the later colonial period. Although the rest of the structure was not covered with decoration, as in the "purist" style, the columns and the spaces between the double columns were profusely decorated. As it developed in Mexico, the Baroque was divided into several sub-styles and techniques. The "stucco" Baroque was purely decorative and did not employ any architectural elements. Elements were molded from stucco with intricate detailing and covered with gold leaf or paint. This form reached its peak in the 17th century in Puebla and Oaxaca. Among the surviving examples are the Chapel of the Rosary in Puebla and the Church of Tonantzintla. One of the reasons this style fell out of favor was that the stucco work eventually dissolved. Talavera Baroque was a variety confined mainly to the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala. The main characteristic that defines it is the use of hand-painted Talavera type tiles. This style emerged here thanks to the pottery industry. The tiles are found mostly in the bell towers, domes and main exterior portals. They are also found interspersed throughout the rest of the façade as accents to the masonry. This type of baroque first appeared in the 17th century and reached its peak in the 18th century. Although the majority use of this style is limited to two states, elements of this tile work appear, especially in domes, in many other parts of the country.

Urban landscapes changed little during the first half of the 19th century in Mexico, until the French occupation during the Second Mexican Empire in the 1860s. Emperor Maximilian I brought a new set of urban design ideas to Mexico. Inspired by Baron Haussmann's mid-century Parisian redevelopment plan, Maximilian administered the construction of a broad new diagonal avenue: the Paseo de la Reforma. This elegant boulevard ran for several kilometers from the centrally located National Palace to the lush Chapultepec Park, where the Austrian ruler lived in Chapultepec Castle. Along the Reforma, double rows of eucalyptus trees were planted, gas lamps were installed and the first mule-drawn streetcars were introduced. The development was the catalyst for a new phase of growth from downtown Mexico City westward, a direction that would define the structure of the city for the next half century.

The New Spanish Baroque dominated in early colonial Mexico. During the late 17th century to 1750, one of Mexico's most popular architectural styles was Mexican Churrigueresque, which combined Amerindian and Moorish decorative influences.

The Academy of San Carlos, founded in 1788, was the first major art academy in the Americas. The academy promoted Neoclassicism, focusing on Greek and Roman art and architecture. Notable Neoclassical works include the Hospicio Cabañas, a world heritage site, and the Palacio de Minería, both by Spanish Mexican architect Manuel Tolsá.

From 1864 to 1867, during the Second Mexican Empire, Maximilian I was installed as emperor of Mexico. His architectural legacy lies in the redesigning of the Castillo de Chapultepec and creating the Paseo de la Reforma. This intervention, financed largely by France, was brief, but it began a period of French influence in architecture and culture. The style was emphasized during the presidency of Porfirio Diaz, who was a pronounced francophile. Notable works from the Porfiriato include the Palacio de Correos and a large network of railways.

In the first two decades of the 20th century, the nature of Mexican architecture and culture was at the core of a complex and rich dialogue of Mexican colonial architecture, with many of the best minds in this country paying attention to it. To various degrees, Baxter, Acevedo, Mariscals, García, and other intellectuals tried hard to organize the history of Mexican architecture, better define the whole industry, reform architectural teaching, preserve colonial architecture, and expand the understanding of the extraordinary architectural history of Mexico. These scholars and architects blended architectural history with beliefs about the ethnic cultural conditions, diversity and integration, the contributions of indigenous Mexicans to colonial architecture, and deep participation in the visual effects of Churrigueresque and Baroque architecture surfaces and facades. These are the roots of the development of modern architecture in Mexico.

Functionalism, expressionism, and other schools left their imprint on a large number of works in which Mexican stylistic elements have been combined with European and American techniques, most notably the work of Pritzker Prize winner Luis Barragán. His personal home, the Luis Barragán House and Studio, is a World Heritage Site.

Enrique Norten, the founder of TEN Arquitectos, has been awarded several honors for his work in modern architecture. His work expresses a modernity that reinforces the government's desire to present a new image of Mexico as an industrialized country with a global presence.

Other notable and emerging contemporary architects include Mario Schjetnan, Michel Rojkind, Isaac Broid Zajman, Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta, and Alberto Kalach.

Music
Music in Mexico is rich in a variety of genres, rhythms and themes. It is the result of the crossbreeding between European and American traditions, but has deep roots in pre-Hispanic and a third root (Africa), which, although little recognized in other cultural fields, is where it acquires greater relevance in music.

Mexican folk music is a manifestation of the crossbreeding that took place between the many European, American and African traditions, among others. It includes diverse styles determined by the geographic region of origin. Some of Mexico's traditional songs are known throughout the world. Several types of musical instruments of mestizo origin are played, in addition to the European ones that are very popular.

Some musicologists divide Mexican folklore into two groups: romances and corridos. The romances would be a variation of the traditional Spanish romances; the corridos would be a purely Mexican Creole creation. The romances would represent the recreation of the Mexican legendary past; the corridos, the present and the future.

Mexican themes of broad national scope are represented in the rhythms of HUAPANGO, RANCHERA, CORRIDO and VALS.

Dance
The roots of Mexican folkloric dance go back many centuries. Although each region and state is home to various types and styles of dance, they all have their origins in the three main dance traditions :

Danza: The oldest form of Mexican folk dances has its roots in Mesoamerica, during the time of the Maya and Aztecs. Ritual dances are often linked to religious aspects. For example, the Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the old men) dance is danced in the state of Michoacán, and is performed during the harvest season, the dancers ask El Dios Viejo (The Old God) for good harvest, communication with spirits, and to learn about the past or to predict the future.

Mestizo: After the arrival of the Spaniards, European dance greatly influenced the native culture. These dances, called mestizos, are a combination of indigenous and European aspects. The Spanish flamenco has affected the development of Mexican dance with its dramatic steps and movements performed in brightly colored movements performed in brightly colored clothing. Aspects of ballet, waltz and polka can also be seen in the mestizo dances.

Bailes Regionales: Regional dances are usually presented in theatrical performances. The dances have many ballet characteristics, such as stretched pointe and choreographed movements. Amalia Hernandez, a Mexican ballet choreographer, popularized these dances in the 1950s and helped make them internationally recognized.

Cinema
Mexican cinema reached its peak, in terms of cultural impact, during the early and mid-20th century. During the 1940s the full potential of the industry developed. Actors and directors became popular icons and even figures with political influence on diverse spheres of Mexican life. The industry received a boost as a consequence of Hollywood redirecting its efforts towards propagandistic films and European countries focusing on World War II, which left an open field for other industries.

Mexico dominated the film market in Latin America for most of the 1940s without competition from the United States film industry. During World War II movie production in Mexico tripled. The fact that Argentina and Spain had fascist governments made the Mexican movie industry the world's largest producer of Spanish-language films in the 1940. Although the Mexican government was reactionary, it encouraged the production of films that would help articulate a true Mexican identity, in contrast to the view often seen in Hollywood movies. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the government became more involved in promoting distribution of films.

In the late 1950s, the golden age of cinema in Mexico came to a symbolic end with the death of Pedro Infante, the national idol at the time and one of the most beloved actors in Mexican history, ushering in a dark era in Mexican cinema, both literally and metaphorically, where mainly low-budget thrillers were produced

Mexican cinema had a resurgence at the beginning of the millennium, regaining some of its former glory with the critical and public successes, at home and abroad, of Amores perros (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2000) and Y tu mamá también (Alfonso Cuarón, 2002). This period is typically cited as the beginning of the "New Mexican Cinema" movement. Since then, production has increased to more than seventy feature films a year, and Mexican cinema now encompasses a wider range than that of any other comparable country: from the austere art-house cinema, generally shown at international festivals and rarely seen in Mexico, to popular genre films with local themes and audiences, to the works of transnational auteurs such as Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro.

Festivals are now the most important venues for the screening of many local films, which often do not reach theaters in the country.

Education
The Mexican Educational System emerged in 1857, and the management of education is the responsibility of each State. The Mexican government has been directly involved in education since the 19th century, promoting secular education.

There are different levels of education: basic, middle and higher education, which include preschool, primary, secondary, high school, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as diplomas and other forms of higher education. Article 3 of the Political Constitution of the United States of Mexico establishes that the education provided by the State shall be compulsory, universal, inclusive, public, free and secular. Recently (May 2019) the mentioned article was reformed, including compulsory education from preschool to high school. Higher education is also considered mandatory, but conditioned to the requirements set forth by public higher education institutions. In addition, the right of children to initial education is recognized.

Undergraduate studies normally last at least 4 years, divided into semesters or quarters, depending on the college or university, and lead to a bachelor's degree (Licenciatura). According to OECD reports, 23% of Mexicans aged 23–35 have a college degree.

Sport
Traditional sports play an important part in Mexican culture and identity. Charreria, an equestrian sport, is the official national sport of Mexico. Bullfighting continues to enjoy some popularity, and Mexico City is home to the largest bullring in the world. Ulama, which is based on the ancient Mesoamerican ball game, is less popular but continues to provide an important link to Mexico’s pre-Columbian past. Sports in Mexico are very diverse, and over the years there have been a number of outstanding national and international figures in both professional and amateur sports. In addition, the country has hosted several world-class events, including two World Soccer Championships and the Summer Olympic Games.

The traditional national sport of Mexico is Charreria, which consists of a series of equestrian events. The national horse of Mexico, used in Charreria, is the Azteca. Bullfighting, a tradition brought from Spain, is also popular. Mexico has the largest venue for bullfighting in the world - the Plaza México in Mexico City which seats 48,000 people.

Other popular international sports in Mexico include boxing, baseball, basketball, golf, and American football.

Football is the most popular team sport in Mexico. Most states have their own representative football teams. Among the country's significant teams include Chivas de Guadalajara, Club América, Cruz Azul, and Pumas de la UNAM. Notable players include Hugo Sánchez, Claudio Suárez, Luis Hernández, Francisco Palencia, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Memo Ochoa, Jared Borgetti, Rafael Márquez, Pável Pardo, and Javier Hernández.

The country hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1968 and the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986, and was the first country to host the FIFA World Cup twice.

Food
Mexican food is based on great contributions from the different immigrant groups that have arrived in the country. Some very recognized aspects imported to Mexican cuisine, not to mention the massive introduction of old world foods brought by the Spanish, could be the various European groups such as Spaniards or Mennonites who greatly influenced the elaboration of cheeses, the Lebanese immigrants who introduced the vertical rotisserie method of tacos or the extensive bread making, which although an ancient practice in Mexico, was greatly influenced by the French until it became what it is today. But besides having an extensive list of foreign influences, Mexican food also maintains many traditional elaborations, which became very apparent with the United States´ rise to global power in the twentieth century that confronted Mexico with the potential loss of culinary identity to americanized mexican food, causing Mexican elites to ground a large part of the national cuisine in the pre-Hispanic past.

the intensive use of tortillas and of fruits and vegetables native to Mexico, such as avocados, tomatoes or chiles, are a great example of this.

Indeed, the first attempt to write a national history of Mexican food, Salvador Novo’s Cocina mexicana, o historia gastronomica de la Ciudad de México ( Mexican Cuisine, or Gastronomic History of the City of Mexico, 1967), asserted boldly that the foods of the capital constituted the national cuisine. Popular national dishes in Mexico include tacos, quesadillas, carne asada, chilaquiles, tamales, flautas, tostadas and pozole. Although national dishes in Mexico are very well known internationally, there are a variety of lesser known regional dishes throughout the country. Some of the most notable regional dishes in Mexico are birria, torta ahogada, cochinita pibil, tlayuda, poc chuc, aguachile, enchiladas potosinas, and chile en nogada.

Mexican diets vary widely by ethnic group and social class as well as by region, there is surprisingly little consensus about what is properly Mexican, even in Mexico. Every region and virtually every town has its own distinct specialties, which are regarded with deep affection by residents.

Pastry
Bread and pan dulce first came to be in Mexico after wheat was introduced to the country by the Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th Century. However, Mexican pan dulce as we know it today rose to popularity during the French occupation in the mid 1800s.

Alcoholic beverages
Mexico displaced the Netherlands in 2003 as the world's largest beer exporter and in 2020, Mexico has remained the world's largest beer exporter, doubling the profits of second place, the Netherlands. Today, Mexican beer is in the hands of two large conglomerates that own some of the best-known brands in the world.

This large beer industry, influenced by German immigrants in the 19th century, has shaped Mexican culture in its gastronomy, with a popular beverage that accompanies many Mexican dishes usually being Mexican beer. Beer has different moments of consumption in Mexico, making it the preferred alcoholic beverage among Mexicans, even above popular liquors such as Tequila and Whisky. Beer production continues to be one of Mexico's main industries and the largest exports are valued at more than one billion dollars.

Internationally, Corona beer is the best known and most consumed beer inside and outside of Mexico, but other well-known and widely consumed Mexican beers include; Sol, Superior, Dos Equis, Indio, Tecate, Modelo, Victoria, and Carta Blanca.

The types of beers preferred by Mexicans are light beer with 40%, in second place light beer with 37.2% and in third place dark beer with 19.4%.

Licores
Popular Mexican liquors include; Tequila, Mezcal, Pulque, Sotol, Bacanora, Pox, Comiteco, Raicilla, Kahlúa.

Aside from agave spirits, like the rest of the world, Mexico produces whiskey and rum. Whiskey is usually made American-style, with corn, which makes sense considering that corn has been a staple food in Mexico for millennia. Mexican rum, also known as aguardiente de caña or distilled cane spirit, dates back to the early 16th century when the Spanish introduced sugar cane to the country, the taste is similar to French "Rhum Agricole", but each rum usually has a distinct flavor, specific to the area in which it was grown; Mexican rum usually has various hints of grass, corn and fruit.

Vino
There are currently seven wine-producing regions in Mexico, with Baja California being the wine-producing region par excellence.

Vitis vinifera vines were planted in Mexico after the Spanish conquest in 1521. The quality of Mexican wine and brandy began to endanger Spanish imports, which led to the restriction of planting. In 1699, wine production was completely prohibited, except for sacramental wine. In 1683, the first grapes were planted in Baja California, now the country's predominant wine region.

In the early 20th century, phylloxera and the Mexican Revolution dealt a double blow. This was followed by tremendous growth in the 1930s and 1940s, when a national market for wine developed. Many of the vineyards planted at that time are still active. The 1980s were a crucial decade for Mexican wine. It began with a major economic crisis and competition from wine imports when Mexico signed the GATT trade agreement in 1986. Many wineries closed, but others emerged with a greater focus on quality. Some of these producers include Monte Xanic, Mogor Badán, Casa de Piedra and Cavas Valmar.

In 2006, there were fewer than 25 wineries in Mexico. Now there are more than 120 commercial wineries in Baja California alone, and many other historic wine regions have re-emerged.

Unlike other wine producing countries, there are no formal appellations or other geographical indications. This lack of restrictions in Mexico has encouraged experimentation. Most grapes can thrive in Mexico. More than 30 varieties have firm bases in Baja, while Magoni has more than 100 varieties in experimental plots. Winemakers focus more on honest varietal expression than an elusive notion of regional typicity.

Holidays
Mexicans celebrate their Independence from Spain on September 16, and other holidays are celebrated with festivals known as "Fiestas". Many Mexican cities, towns, and villages hold a yearly festival to commemorate their local patron saints. During these festivities, the people pray and burn candles to honor their saints in churches decorated with flowers and colorful utensils. They also hold large parades, fireworks, dance competitions, and beauty pageant contests, all the while partying and buying refreshments in the marketplaces and public squares. In the smaller towns and villages, soccer, and boxing are also celebrated during the festivities.

Other festivities include Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe ("Our Lady of Guadalupe Day"), Las Posadas ("The Shelters", celebrated on December 16 to December 24), Noche Buena ("Holy Night", celebrated on December 24), Navidad ("Christmas", celebrated on December 25) and Año Nuevo ("New Year's Day", celebrated on December 31 to January 1).

"Guadalupe Day" is regarded by many Mexicans as the most important religious holiday of their country. It honors the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, and it is celebrated on December 12. In the last decade, all the celebrations happening from mid-December to the beginning of January have been linked together in what has been called the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon.

Epiphany on the evening of January 5 marks the Twelfth Night of Christmas and is when the figurines of the three wise men are added to the nativity scene. Traditionally in Mexico, as with many other Latin American countries, Santa Claus does not hold the significance that he does in the United States. Rather, it is the three wise men who are the bearers of gifts, who leave presents in or near the shoes of small children. Mexican families also commemorate the date by eating Rosca de reyes.

The Day of the Dead incorporates pre-Columbian beliefs with Christian elements. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. An idea behind this day suggests the living must attend to the dead so that the dead will protect the living. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. The gifts presented turn the graveyard from a dull and sorrowful place to an intimate and hospitable environment to celebrate the dead.

In modern Mexico, particularly in the larger cities and in the North, local traditions are now being observed and intertwined with the greater North American Santa Claus tradition, as well as with other holidays such as Halloween, due to Americanization via film and television, creating an economy of gifting tradition that spans from Christmas Day until January 6.

A piñata is made from papier-mache. It is created to look like popular people, animals, or fictional characters. Once made it is painted with bright colors and filled with candy or small toys. It is then hung from the ceiling. The children are blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks open and the candy and small toys fall out. The children then gather the candy and small toys.