Mexican Cultural Heritage

Tangible Mexican Cultural Heritage

"Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan"

Teotihuacan

"Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila"

Tequila

The history of tequila begins with the indigenous peoples of pre-Columbian times with pulque. This Mexican national drink is fermented agave juice. As the fermentation process of the drink is not finished when it is consumed, it cannot be bottled and exported, which is why you should definitely try it when you travel to Mexico.

pulque

The town of Tequila, and its 34,658 hectares of blue agave landscape araound it, is located in the Mexican state of Jalisco in western Mexico, near the city of Guadalajara. Blue agave has been cultivated here and tequila spirit produced since the 16th century. The agave plants have also been used there for 2000 years to produce fermented drinks (like "pulque"). There are still distilleries operating there today. The agave culture there and the drinks made from it in general, especially tequila spirit, are part of the national identity of the Mexicans. The landscape there is characterized by huge, seemingly endless fields of blue agave and towns and villages such as Tequila, Arenal and Amatitan. The hearts of the agave plants are fermented and distilled in the distilleries.

Fun fact: the hearts of the agave plants, from which the spirit tequila is made, are called "pina", i.e. pineapple, although they have nothing to do with each other.

tequila

teotihuacan

The sacred city of Teotihuacan, which means "the place where the gods were created", is located around 50 km north-east of Mexico City. It was built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD and is characterized by its huge monuments, in particular the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, which are laid out according to geometric and symbolic principles. As one of the most powerful cultural centers in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacan spread its cultural and artistic influence throughout the region and even beyond.

Teotihuacan represents one of the most powerful ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica

Intangible Mexican Cultural Heritage

"Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead"

Día de los Muertos

"Mariachi, string music, song and trumpet"

Mariachi

Fun fact: the hearts of the agave plants, from which the spirit tequila is made, are called "pina", i.e. pineapple, although they have nothing to do with each other.

mariachi

Mariachi is traditional Mexican music. It is played by groups wearing regional costumes and using various instruments such as trumpets, violins, vihuela and guitarrón. They play songs from different regions, including corridos about battles and love affairs. The music is about love for the homeland, nature, religion and people. Mariachi is often performed on festive and religious occasions and is passed down from generation to generation. It represents the cultural values of Mexico.

Mariachi band in the Land of the Dead in Disney movie "Coco"

The songs in this music often deal with themes such as home, love, passion and social issues. The mixture of Mexican folk music ("rancheras"), ballad-like narratives ("corridos"), romantic elements ("boleros") and polka expresses and generates a wide range of emotions.

The musical style is lively, passionate and diverse. It contains powerful melodies, rich harmonies and rousing rhythms. The variety of moods and themes in the songs reflects Mexico's rich cultural tradition.

Día de los muertos

Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is an important cultural heritage for Mexican identity. This celebration creates a deep connection to Mexico's past and ancestors by keeping the memory of deceased loved ones alive and celebrating their role in family and community history. With its unique customs and traditions, including decorating altars (ofrendas) with photos, flowers and favorite foods of the deceased, making skulls out of sugar (calaveras) and singing songs (cantos), Día de los Muertos is a rich cultural heritage of Mexico. Particularly noteworthy is the unique fusion of life and death during the festival. Although it serves as a memorial service for the deceased, the atmosphere is often lively and joyful, with music, dancing and colorful decorations. This approach emphasizes the Mexican view of death as a natural part of life. Día de los Muertos also reflects Mexico's cultural diversity. It combines indigenous traditions with Spanish influences and shows how Mexico as a country is rich in cultural traditions and influences. The festival brings the community together and fosters a sense of community as people share memories, stories and traditions.