Category: Mexican
Cinco de Mayo
The “Fifth of May,” is a holiday that is widely celebrated in the United States both by people of Mexican background and by Americans regardless of their ethnic origins. In Mexico, it’s not that big a deal. Similar to St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that is more widely observed in [...] Read More »
Hispanic Wedding Traditions: The Lasso (El lazo)
In many Hispanic cultures, a rope is used to symbolically tie the couple together.
In Guatemala, the couple binds themselves together with a silver rope. Mexican couples use a white rope tied in a figure eight. The rope may also be made of braided orange blossoms, which symbolize fertility and happiness. A double rosary lasso [...] Read More »
Hispanic Wedding Traditions: The Thirteen Gold Coins (Trece monedas de oro)
The tradition of the thirteen gold coins originates in the Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage. Today, the ceremony symbolizes that the groom is placing his trust and confidence in his bride, pledging [...] Read More »
Mexican Wedding Traditions
Weddings in Mexico and other Latino cultures are extremely festive, and often very large affairs with many attendants. Engagements can last a long time, and, in some areas, the bride receives a “ring of promise,” sometimes up to a year before the actual engagement ring.
A wedding party may include “sponsors,” who are often godparents of [...] Read More »
Twelfth Night, Epiphany, or Three Kings Day
Don’t Forget to Leave Out Some Food for the Camels!
January 6th is the twelfth day after Christmas, celebrated as Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings in many countries with strong Christian traditions, such as Germany, Austria, Poland, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Argentina. It commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men, or [...] Read More »
Our Lady of Guadalupe: the Virgin Morena, or la Reina de Mexico
December 12 is one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar: the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. Thousands of faithful make the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which houses the cloak of the "Virgen Morena," the "Dark Virgin." Festivals are held all around the [...] Read More »
BBC to Link School Children Around the World on December 6
On December 6, 2006, BBC News 24 plans to link and facilitate discussions among school children across various troubled and conflicting regions around the world. The children will be entirely responsible for driving the discussion and asking questions of their counterparts. Areas to be linked include:
Baghdad, Iraq - London, UK
Urban - rural China
Abuja, [...] Read More »
Los Dias de los Muertos
On November 1st and 2nd, many countries celebrate All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In some Latin American countries, the day is known as Los Dias de los Muertos (“The Days of the Dead”). In Mexico, these days have become a spectacular national holiday. Unlike many [...] Read More »
All Souls’ Day (Defuncts’ Day)
All Souls’ Day is a Roman Catholic holiday celebrated on November 2nd. (If that day falls on a Sunday, then All Souls’ Day is moved to November 3rd, since it is not permitted to wear black clothing on Sundays.) Like All Saints’ Day (November 1st), it is celebrated in many countries, including Belgium, [...] Read More »
