The big question is if we can really
talk about a ‘typical Mexican’ anymore. Considering
the globalized world we live in today, everyone is in touch
with a host of different cultures and differences between
these different cultures begin to blur a little. Barriers
begin to fade as immigration and the mass media continue to
grow. .
Nowadays, cultural diversity is the prevalent
factor. You will still find plenty typical Mexican dishes,
traditions and customs, however foreign ideas, products
and even traditions have filtered into the country and are
hardly the exception anymore.
First, Spanish culture left a pronounced
mark on pre-Hispanic culture, and in the past few decades,
North American influences have flowed over the border and
also left their mark here. An example of this American influence
is the impact on the language and “borrowed”
English words.
If we use the typical cliché to describe
a Mexican, we might, for example, immediately think of a not
too tall someone, with big moustaches, in a big sombrero getting
together with the rest of the mariachi band to play under
the balcony of his sweetheart, and who may enjoy a good cockfight
or bullfight on a Sunday afternoon. But are Mexicans really
like that? We would actually be more accurate if we sidestep
such clichés. A trip to Mexico will confirm that such
fore drawn conclusions can be misleading and totally wrong.
Mexicans are generally hardworking individuals
and are very family–oriented. Children are very dear
to them and they also pay special attention to their elderly
or disabled relatives and family members. Meal times and
especially holidays and festivities are times when Mexicans
enjoy the company of their families.
However, should you be interested in finding
a word that we can safely assume describes all Mexicans
as a whole, it would be the way most of them challenge the
problems and fears which may seem hardest to overcome –
they laugh in the face of tragedy and simply regroup their
strength to continue on ahead.
Mexico is a land filled with traditions
from its interesting past and rich cultural background.
