The customs and traditions of Mexico are full of color, celebration and joy , but also of mysticism, tradition and history. Each of them is interesting and attractive both for the inhabitants themselves and for visitors.
A journey through the meaning, culture and manifestations of Mexican traditions is always an invitation to witness and experience them up close. In each festival there are customs that reflect the historical richness resulting from the combination of two ancestral cultures.
The 7 most representative traditions and customs of Mexico
Get up close and personal with the traditions and customs of Mexico with the most history, the most curious or surprising.
1. Day of the dead
It takes place on November 1 and 2 and is celebrated throughout the country with some variations depending on the region but with aspects that are preserved everywhere. Custom dictates putting an offering in each home with photos of deceased relatives and loved ones.
The offering has very particular elements, such as cempazuchitl flower, colored shredded paper, incense and the food and objects that those who are remembering liked when they were alive. Skulls made of sugar are also placed with the names of people who are still alive
Another deep-rooted tradition is to spend the entire night in the pantheon at the tomb of those loved ones, and decorate it with flowers and food, at the same time you can listen to music, because the atmosphere is more than ceremonious, it is festive. Without a doubt, this celebration is one of the most typical and recognized among the customs and traditions of Mexico.
2. Three Kings Day
It is celebrated on January 6. The custom is to eat a sweet bread bagel with caramelized fruits on top and hidden inside there is a small plastic or ceramic doll.
The bagel is shared among several so that each person splits their portion and discovers whether or not they have gotten a doll. Whoever discovers the bagel doll among their bread must invite the rest of those who shared the bagel to tamales on Candlemas Day.
About customs and traditions in Mexico, This is one of the children’s favorites because that same day at night, the wise men leave toys in the houses for the children who had to write a letter and put it in a shoe, so that the wise men pick it up and put the toys there.
3. Candlemas Day
On February 2, the Virgin of Candelaria is celebrated. The custom is to prepare atole and tamales, two of the most typical dishes in Mexico These are invited by people who have found the doll inside the Three Kings Day on Three Kings Day.
Furthermore, another custom is to dress the child in baby clothes or clothing representative of the family’s tastes that are worn at Christmas, another very typical custom in Mexico. This tradition is not one of the best known worldwide, but it is one of the most important in the country.
4. Independence Day Anniversary
The night of September 15, The president in turn goes to the National Palace to perform the so-called “Cry of Dolores” which is what is known as the call made by the priest Don Miguel Hidalgo to start the rebellion for the fight for Mexican independence.
The festivity fills all the squares of the Mexican Republic with color, typical food, mezcal and mariachi music. On September 16, a military parade and a roll call of the armed forces take place.
5. Guelaguetza
It’s a great party brings together dancers from the 8 regions of the State of Oaxaca who perform folk dances for a week accompanied by wind music. It is a festivity that has prevailed over time, full of color and one of the most ancestral traditions in Mexico.
It takes place on the Fortín hill, which is located around the city of Oaxaca.
6. Papantla Flyers
This Mexican tradition does not have a specific date, It is a ritual that takes place mainly in Papantla Veracruz It consists of a series of dances and movements prior to climbing a 30-meter-high log.
Once at the top, tied to a rope that is in turn tied to a cross at the top of the pole, they descend while they circle and the so-called caporal plays the flute at the top of the pole. They do all this dressed in their typical costumes and although it is originally from Veracruz, it is possible to witness this ritual in tourist places for the enjoyment of visitors.
7. Mariachis
Mariachi is a musical genre, but the group that performs it is also known as this. Dressed in a typical charro costume including a hat, each member is assigned an instrument.
The mariachis They are requested at almost any Mexican party with typical music to dance or sing On the other hand, they are a representative icon of the customs and traditions of Mexico as they are present in the pantheons on the Day of the Dead, in the celebrations of Independence Day, in the masses on Candlemas Day.