FAMILY

The culture of Mexican families has a strong foundation in unity. Mexico's divorce rate is one of the lowest in the world and generations of families typically live in the same neighborhood or in the same house, which reflects the dedication to supporting family members and displaying loyalty no matter what happens.

Traditionally, there were clearly-defined roles for mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters in Mexican families. The mother was the heart of the family, the one who cooked, cleaned and cared for the children on a full-time basis. Fathers generally took charge of family decisions, and their authority was rarely challenged by either the mother or children. Machismo, the Spanish word for male chauvinism, was readily accepted in Mexican families and the wife often endured physical and psychological mistreatment, as well as adultery. These roles are similar to what were the traditional version of American family values before the 1960s and 1970s.

Brothers were expected to defend the honor of their sisters, both verbally and physically. Sisters were relied upon to emerge in the image of their mothers, learning how to cook, nurture children and cater to the needs of the men in the family. Both brothers and sisters usually lived in the family home until marriage. This traditional home life is evolving in many parts of Mexico, especially in northern cities. While some Mexican families still have a traditional home life, many others have home lives that look very similar to modern American daily life.

Young Mexican females are honored on their 15th birthday with a quinceanera celebration. The party is full of ceremony and emotion as the girl's father ceremoniously exchanges her flat, childish style shoes for a demure pair of modestly high-heeled shoes to denote her passage into womanhood. The event is full of sentiment as the young woman dances with her father as the guests look on. Another touching Mexican cultural tradition is the matrimonial golden coin ceremony. The groom bestows his betrothed with 13 golden coins as a gesture of his trust in her to treasure and care for him and his possessions. Her acceptance of the coins signifies her devotion to love, respect and nurture him.

Devotion to unity and mutual support extends to Mexican cities, towns and neighborhoods. The schools, churches and worker organizations all depend on the combined efforts of families to sustain themselves. Instead of concentrating on attaining individual wealth and social status, the philosophy leans toward ensuring everyone is sustained financially and emotionally through the combined support of friends, neighbors and family. Many businesses have employees who are all related to each other either by blood or marriage.

In Mexico, like many other countries, the culture continues to evolve as people from other countries become part of the population and new ways of thinking evolve. The media also has a significant influence on family values. These influences have resulted in attitudinal changes in family relationships, especially between husbands and wives, where the roles are becoming less defined and more flexible. However, this progression is mainly in the northern parts of the country and traditional spousal relationships remain popular in southern and rural regions. As with any nationality, individual families have their own culture, but remnants of the traditional family culture and the importance of family values in Mexico still remain in many regions.

(from http://family.lovetoknow.com/family-values/mexican-family-culture)

OFRENDAS

Ofrendas, or altars is reconstructed Mexican tradition. Like the art, it is a merger of ancient Prehispanic offerings to ancestral spirits and Spanish religious practices. Ofrendas are set up in people's homes to honor the spirit of someone dear who has recently died. The ofrenda is loaded with the things he or she loved in life because on the night of November 1-2 the spirits of the ancestors return to partake of them. In the words of the celebrated Mexican writer and interpreter of Mexican culture, Elena Poniatowska:

"The offering consists of corn, a sacred plant that assures the continuity of life. If the dead was fond of beer, then a dozen bottles of beer are lined up on the altar. There are Coca-Cola altars, Bacardi Rum altars, the luxury of death has no limits: altars of cut-pattern violet tissue paper where the dead can see his photograph sitting among candles, his rifle and his hat, his cartridge belts and his belly band, his dog-if it didn't die of sadness-candy fruit, water to scare away the bad spirits, beans, black mole sauce from Oaxaca, or mole poblano, to his individual taste, casseroles of rice, or tejocotes in syrup, ate candy, fruits, coconuts from the tropic, appetizers: enchiladas, covered with white dry cheese, onion and cilantro, tacos rolled up very neatly, hot pepper sauce, lard, tortillas, tostadas de pata, totopos, marquesotes, and tamales, because the body has its reasons".

Ofrendas are also public art. They appear in all kinds of public spaces, from city halls, to museums and shop windows. Most of these have traditional elements such as flowers and food, but they also have lots of political and social satire. In North America colorful ofrendas have become popular not only in Mexican-American communities but also in schools and other public places.

(from http://www.pbs.org/foodancestors/cult.html)

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