1. Tequila
The national drink is a world standard in bars, with exports to 96 countries. Tequila should be sipped and savored like a fine whiskey.
You can get a taste of the best in the Ruta del Tequila, which includes some of the most famous distilleries in the country.
The alternatives are the Tequila Express route operated by Casa Herradura and the José Cuervo Express route.
2. Celebrate death
Many cultures praise their ancestors, but who else turns the commemoration of the deceased into an annual festival of art, food, and community?
On November 2, Day of the Dead, Mexicans place offerings for their loved ones who died.
Each offering includes images of the deceased, food, drinks, candies in the shape of a skull, candles, and flowers.
The belief is that dead children return to Earth to visit their families and friends on November 1, and the souls of adults do the same on November 2.
The Day of the Dead festivals are held throughout Mexico. Three of the most elaborate are carried out in San Andrés Mixquic, in Mexico City, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán and Janitzio, Michoacán.
3. Trumpets
From symphony orchestras to Oompa bands and sections of soul and R & B, everyone loves a blast of metal from the trumpet or tuba.
While most countries tend to keep their trumpets for parties and special occasions, Mexico touches them daily.
Where else can you listen on the radio, every hour of the week, tubas, really tubas! with bass?
It all comes down to bands, the heart of traditional and popular genres of Mexican music. The bands are usually made up of between 10 and 20 musicians who play brass instruments, wind instruments and various percussions.
Every tourist is enchanted by the mariachi, but the bands are a part of several wider genres, the most characteristic are ranchera, quebradita and the corridos.
4. Hangover Cure
The Mexican parties are remarkable for going crazy in a second. That, of course, leads to a family disaster the next morning.
Fortunately, the kitchens of Mexico are always stocked with the best food for the hangover.
Wake up, drink water and then eat some spicy chilaquiles, meat or barbecue tacos with hot sauce and ingest a lot of revitalizing fat; Maybe you can have a light beer for breakfast if you’re really in a bad shape, and you’ll ask the band for songs at night.
5. Albures
El albur is not only a linguistic trick for Mexicans, it is an art form that requires an agile mind and the ability to transmit intelligent but subtle messages, often mixed with sexual or other connotations.
Of course, many languages employ covert connotations and clever wordplay, but it’s so important in Mexico that there is even a national tournament to crown the best alburero.
The current champion is Lourdes Ruiz, who has won the competition every year since 1997, defeating men and women. He even gives courses.
Still not convinced that the Mexicans take the double meaning more seriously than the others? What other country has a day dedicated to the subtle complexities of its language? In Mexico, El Albur Day is celebrated on March 1.
6. Catholicism
The Vatican City does a good job as the center of faith and has some decent paintings on its roof, but its population of 800 souls is not exactly surprising.
Mexico, in contrast, is in second place in the world by number of Catholics (Brazil is the first place and the Philippines the third) and, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, 83.9% of Mexicans are Catholics.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most venerated virgin in Mexico, and perhaps in the world. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is also one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the country, and according to reports, the most visited Marian shrine in the world.
Every December 12, approximately five million pilgrims from all over Mexico visit the Basilica to thank the Virgin for her favors or to ask for a miracle.
7. Fast food
Known throughout the country as Vitamin T, tacos, tortas, tamales and tostadas are part of daily life. It is not surprising that stalls and snack bars (food stalls) can be found in almost every corner.
It does not matter if you are in the Metro, you leave the school or take a break from the office to have lunch, the streets offer endless options of a fast and delicious meal cooked right in front of you.
8. Telenovelas
In 1958, Telesistema Mexicano produced Senda Prohibida, the first Mexican telenovela. 60 years later, his successor Televisa has produced 740 telenovelas.
The formula has not changed much. A man and a woman fall in love but, for tragic reasons, they can not be together. After overcoming obstacles they finally get married.
15 years after exporting its first telenovela, Los ricos también lloran, Televisa found a rich market outside of Mexico. Of all the countries that export soap operas, Mexico sends the most, creating niches in other countries that speak Spanish, as well as in China, the Philippines, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Televisa is not the only network that produces successful telenovelas. TV Azteca and Argos Comunicación also create first-class dramas.
9. Wrestling
Professional wrestling may be more Hollywood north of the border, and braver in other countries, but nowhere is it as moving as in Mexico.
Those masks are not only fun to watch, they are a big part of the drama. Removing one from the opponent’s head is one of the greatest triumphs and the most exciting moments.
The meetings are held at the Mexico Arena in Mexico City on Thursdays (7:30 pm), Fridays (8:30 pm) and Sundays (5:00 pm).
10. Pious Lies
The deep fear of Mexicans to seem rude has given them a big aversion to saying the word “no”.
Instead, and unfortunately for those who are not familiar with the rules of courtesy in the country, we have developed a talent for pious lies that allow us to say yes to fulfill any request. Even if we can not do anything about it.
The pious lies can be as cliché as “The dog ate my homework” or as morbid as “My aunt suddenly developed pancreatic cancer”, but the grandfather of the kind lies is the “Right now”.
“Right now” literally means “in this moment”, but this is almost never the case. When a Mexican tells you he will do something “right now,” get ready to sit down, because the wait can be long.
Think of now as the Mexican art of late payment; It has been handed down from generation to generation a term that can mean everything from 10 minutes to up to three weeks.
The cousin of the right now is the “I’m going there”. This really means “I’m going to finish this TV show, maybe get out of the chair, call my sister, bathe, eat something and actually leave the house to see you”.
We warn you, we are very good at this!
