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Mexico is a country with a very rich history, which is reflected in the customs and traditions that honor its citizens and of which they feel very proud.

Join us on this journey through the most popular customs and traditions of Mexico that identify it throughout the world.

1. La Guelaguetza

Guelaguetza is a word that derives from the Zapotec “guendalizaa” and means to cooperate.

It is celebrated in the state of Oaxaca.

Also known as «Mondays of the Hill», it takes place the following two Mondays after July 16 and it meets representatives of the eight regions of the state on Fortin Hill.

This is a mixed celebration, in which the samples of traditional dances are mixed with music, typical costumes and typical Mexican cuisine.

Among the dances that are presented are: Dance of the Pen, the Serrano Sones, the Flor de Piña Dance, the Mixtec Syrup and the Sandunga.

2. Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe

The devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe is deeply rooted in the Mexican people, so the celebration of her day is one of the most important and popular traditional festivals.

It is celebrated December 12, the last date on which the virgin appeared to San Juan Diego on the hill El Tepeyac.

The celebrations begin on December 11 at 6:45 p.m. with a popular serenade to the virgin, as well as other tributes to her.

It is customary that at 12:00 a.m. musicians and artists sing the traditional «mañanitas» to the virgin.

3. Dance of the Flyers

Image result for papantla flyers

This is a ritual that has its origins in pre-Hispanic times in the Papantla region, on the border between Veracruz and Puebla Mexico. However, it is also done in other regions of the Mexican nation.

It is a ritual full of symbolism and mysticism. It has been carried out for hundreds of years as a means of communicating with the gods and invoking the rain in times of drought.

4. Day of the Dead

It is one of the most traditional festivals in Mexico. It is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd.

According to the traditions, that day the deceased visit their relatives in the physical world, traveling the path of petals that they have made to guide them.

One of the traditional elements of this festival is the altar. Here people place the offerings that they will give to the dead: food and drink.

The altar, adorned with a white tablecloth, is made up of several steps, whose meaning is as follows: the first represents grandparents and adults, the second is for the rest.

During this celebration, cemeteries are decorated with festive themes and people happily share in them.

5. Epiphany

On this day the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem to worship the Infant Jesus is commemorated. It is celebrated on January 6 in Mexico.

On this date it is customary to eat the famous rosca de Reyes, a delicious delicacy that can not be missed in this celebration.

Inside the thread is a small plastic doll and whoever touches the piece in which it is found is named godfather or godmother.

The sponsor has the obligation to present the Infant Jesus of the house in the church, on February 2, Candlemas Day.

6. Independence Day

It is celebrated on September 16 in every corner of Mexico.

It has its beginning on the night of the 15th, when people begin to congregate in the main squares and baseboards of each city or town.

The highlight is when the president (in the base of Mexico City) or a member of the local government (inside) simulates the famous «Grito de Independencia», they ring the bell and wave the national flag, recreating what was done by Father Hidalgo on September 16, 1810.

To celebrate it, all the cities dress up to party. Around the squares are the food stalls where traditional dishes representative of Mexican cuisine are offered, such as chiles en nogada and mole poblano.

The party culminates when attendees shout full of pride: «Long live Mexico!»

7. The Pinata

This is a highly extended and practiced tradition. It has its origin in the sixteenth century, when the Augustinians undertook the titanic task of evangelizing the indigenous people who inhabited the Acolman region.

Piñatas are large objects, usually circular in shape, that are constructed of cardboard or from clay pots.

They are covered by papier-mâché of many different colors. Seven peaks emerge from the body of the piñata. Sweets, candies and toys are placed inside the piñata.

During the inns, it is customary for people to cover their eyes and with a stick hit the piñata, while others scream and cheer excitedly. When the piñata is broken, its contents are scattered on the ground and everyone starts to collect as much as they can.

The symbology of the piñatas is as follows: the showy piñata symbolizes evil; the seven peaks refer to the seven capital sins; the blindfold symbolizes blind faith and the stick with which the piñata is struck is the willpower.

In the beginning, the piñata symbolized the hard work and effort to end evil, based on faith.

It is a tradition that December after December is celebrated in every Mexican home.

8. Candlemas Day

It is celebrated on February 2 of each year.

On this date it is customary to attend the churches and bring the figure of the Infant Jesus of the Birth to be blessed.

This tradition also has a religious origin, since it is believed that on this date Jesus was presented in the Temple of Jerusalem by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.

It is tradition that this day’s dinner is composed of tamales, which must have been prepared by the person who touched the doll during the departure of the thread of Kings in the Epiphany.

9. Tequila

It is the typical drink of Mexico. This alcoholic beverage is originally from the homonymous municipality of the state of Jalisco.

It is obtained through the fermentation and distillation of agave, a species of plant, especially abundant in the states Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas and Guanajuato.

Tequila is never lacking in Mexican celebrations. Mexicans prefer to drink it at room temperature and, contrary to what is commonly thought, without lemon and without salt. They also use it to accompany meals.

10. Day of the Holy Innocents

This is a tradition that has its origin in a biblical account. According to the Gospels, when Herod learned that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, he ordered the murder of all children up to two years old born there.

On this day, people tend to make jokes to their friends and family (as a child would). Some are very elaborate. Many times in the media, such as newspapers or news, false news is announced to play a joke on the community.