Mexicans eagerly await the Day of the Dead each year. Papel picado (cut paper decorations), marigolds, chocolate and sugar skulls, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), water, salt, candles, and the favorite foods of their ancestors fill altars in homes and public spaces with the sole purpose of remembering them and welcoming them back […]
The ch, the coolest phoneme in Mexican Spanish
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) tells us that a Spanish speaker is someone whose mother tongue or native language is Spanish. While it is the third most spoken language in the world, the Spanish we speak in our country is unique for several reasons, one of which is the use of the ch. Spanish is […]
Why is an altar set up for the dead in Mexico?
The Day of the Dead is closer than it seems, and in the midst of this very Mexican celebration, it’s good to remember the purpose of setting up an altar to the dead. Why is an altar to the dead set up? This charming Mexican custom has its origins in pre-Hispanic traditions. The Ministry of […]
Historic democratic feat: 201 years of the Mexicanization of Chiapas
For the people of Chiapas, the national holidays begin the day before the night of the Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence), that is, on September 14th, the day on which the union of Chiapas with Mexico is celebrated. This week marks the 201st anniversary of the first recorded plebiscite in what is now Mexico. […]
What was the first Magical Town in Mexico?
Magical Towns are localities recognized by the Ministry of Tourism for their history, culture, legends, and natural attractions that reflect their national identity. The Magical Towns program aims to promote tourism and preserve heritage. Below, we share the first Magical Town in Mexico. Mexico’s First Magical Town The first Magical Town in Mexico is Huasca […]
For which crimes was the death penalty permitted in Mexico until it was abolished in 2005?
The debate over the death penalty in Mexico has been long and complex, and its constitutional regulation reflects the historical tensions between the severity of the punishment and respect for human dignity. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, both the legal framework and the social context permitted its application, only to move, step by step, […]
What did Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés think of the indigenous peoples when they first arrived in the New World?
The conquest of America is undoubtedly one of the historical episodes with the most contradictory versions and legends surrounding it that we know of. The terms “rose legend” and “black legend” are often used to refer to two opposing views of the process: the romantic idealization of those who conquered that territory, conceived as “untamed,” […]
Archaeologists Discover Intact Ritual Deposit in Tlayócoc Cave, Mexico
Deep within the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, an unexpected discovery has shed new light on a previously unknown Mesoamerican culture: the Tlacotepehua people. Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered a possible intact ritual deposit in Tlayócoc Cave, dating back around 500 years. The discovery is set to revolutionize […]
Will the state retain the Mezcal Designation of Origin? The legal deadline for challenging the law is almost over.
In light of the pronouncements made by several mezcal producers in the state of Oaxaca regarding the Mezcal Designation of Origin in Aguascalientes, it has been identified that it is likely that the challenge will not be filed due to the legal deadline, which, incidentally, is already running out, explains Alejandro Salas Domínguez, an external […]
Blood-Stained Rituals: Archaeologists Uncover Chilling Discovery in Ancient Mayan ‘Blood Cave
A recent excavation at Dos Pilas in Guatemala’s Petén archaeological site has shed new light on the dark rituals that took place within an ancient Mayan “Blood Cave.” The cave, known as Cueva de Sangre, is one of many caves in the region that have revealed a glimpse into the lives of the Maya people. […]