• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Layer Culture

Adventure + Cultural Travel Blog

  • Travel Tips
    • Backpacking
    • Travel Safety
    • Best Hostels
  • Packing List
    • Travel Gear
    • Dan’s Checklist
    • Travel Gifts
  • Travel Guides
    • Mexico
    • Central America
    • Colombia
    • Brazil
    • South America
    • Jamaica
  • Culture
    • Learn Spanish
    • Travel Jobs
    • Living Abroad
You are here: Home / Latin Culture / Interesting Facts About Mexico

Interesting Facts About Mexico

Latin Culture, Mexico Last Updated · Apr 11th, 2022

So, you’re eager to learn some interesting facts about Mexico?

cultural facts about mexico
Mariachi by Rod (CC BY-SA)

Contrary to popular belief, Mexico is not a country filled with drug lords, high crime or lazy Mexicans eating burritos.

Mexico is much better than that so Let’s dispel some stereotypes.

In this article, I’ll share some interesting facts about Mexico’s architecture, art, literature, music, dance, and clothing.

Table of Contents

  • Interesting Facts About Mexico
  • Cultural Facts About Mexico
    • Mexico’s Historical Sites
    • Facts about Mexican Art
    • Literary facts about Mexico
    • Musical Facts about Mexico
    • Facts about Mexico’s Dance Culture
    • Clothing Facts about Mexico
  • Interesting Facts About Mexico

Interesting Facts About Mexico

The origins of Mexico’s culture can be traced back to nearly 3,500 years.

facts about mexico
Mexico Indigenous Civilizations

The history goes right back to the pre-Colombian Mesoamerican era that consisted of several advanced indigenous civilizations.

Civilizations such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Aztec, Mayan, Toltec, and Teotihuacano before the conquest and colonization of Spanish settlers in the 16th century.

Cultural Facts About Mexico

Mexican culture today is a reflection of the gradual blending of native culture (Mesoamerican) with other Spanish and immigrant cultures.

mexican peso facts
Artwork on a Mexican Banknote by eliazar (CC BY)

In fact, Mexico has one of the world’s richest histories and cultures.

Here are some general facts about Mexico:

  • Mexico has an estimated population of 132 million people according to worldometers.info
  • The Federal District, which encompasses Mexico City is the Capital of Mexico. On January 29th, 2016, it ceased to be the Federal District and is now officially known as Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX).
  • The official currency of Mexico is the peso
  • The predominant language spoken in Mexico is Spanish, although the government recognizes 68 indigenous languages.

See these Mexican traditions and customs to get a deeper insight into what gets celebrated on a regular basis in and around Mexico.

Mexico’s Historical Sites

Many of Mexico’s older architectural structures, including entire sections of Pre-Hispanic and colonial cities, have been designated World Heritage sites for their historical and artistic significance.

palenque mexico facts
Palenque in Mexico

Mexico has the largest number of sites declared World Heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the Americas.

Some of these sites include:

  • The National Park of Palenque an ancient Maya city-state
  • The ancient ruins of Monte Alban an archeological site in Oaxaca
  • Puebla (city) See this guide to things to do in Puebla for more.
  • The Casa de Cortes, La Antigua, Veracruz, is one of Mexico’s oldest archaeological sites

It was constructed in the 1520s by the indigenous Totonacas from the river and volcanic stone as well as coral rock, and a special glue mixture comprised of snails, cactus, oyster, seawater, and calcined lime.

It is believed to be the home of Herman Cortes, although he did not live there.

The Casa de Cortes dwelling is believed to be an entry point during that time for arriving Spaniards, African slaves, and storage.

cultural facts about mexico
Palenque Palace

People traveling to Mexico usually visit the Mayan ruins and or one of the many pyramids.

Since Mexico has pyramids, which are different from the pyramids in Egypt – it holds some of the most important landmarks in the Americas.

Unlike Egyptian pyramids, Mexican pyramids were built as homes for deities. These pyramids were flat at the top with a temple used for religious ceremonies and rituals.

interesting facts about Mexico
One of many Mexican pyramids by Arian (CC BY)

They were also used as landmarks for navigation, and there’s some evidence to suggest that the pyramids were also used for military defense by some city-states.

The Olmecs, the first major Mesoamerican civilization, built pyramids between 1,000 BC. – 400 BC. According to Wikipedia, Mexico has 29 pyramids.

Facts about Mexican Art

mexican pottery and art facts
Mexican Art by Gary (CC0)

Mexican art falls into several categories:

  • Murals and paintings
  • Pottery
  • Clothing
  • Baskets and rugs

The term ‘artesania’ (arts & crafts) collectively refers to Mexican handcrafts and folk art fashioned for the purposes of utilitarian, decorative or other purposes.

Items such as wall hangings, vases, and other items, were created for celebrations, festivities, and religious rituals.

facts about mexico
Pre-Hispanic Crafts from Mexico

Mexican artesania has its origins in the crafts of the many Pre-Hispanic cultures within Mesoamerica.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful symbol of Mexican identity, faith, and culture. It marks the date in 1531 when the Virgin Mary purportedly appeared before a native Aztec man named Juan Diego.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is located in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico.

This basilica is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world and the world’s third most-visited sacred site.

Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spanish: Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.

Literary facts about Mexico

Did you know that one of Mexico’s most famous writers, Octavio Paz, is the only Mexican to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990?

octavio paz mexico
Octavio Paz Banner in Mexico’s Capital

See more facts about Mexico’s most prolific author and poet:

  • Paz published his first collection of poems when he was just 17 years old.
  • Paz’s masterpiece Piedra de Sol – (“Sunstone”) along, surrealist poem. The poem’s structure is based on the Aztec calendar and it addresses themes such as romance, eroticism, and death.
  • Paz’s most recognized work is his 1950 book of essays “The Labyrinth of Solitude.”
  • Unfortunately, Paz died of cancer on April 19, 1998. You can read more of his work to get a taste of his style.

Musical Facts about Mexico

Music is an essential part of Mexican culture and features a wide range of musical genres and performance styles.

Mexico’s music can be traced back thousands of years to the days of the Aztec and Mayans who performed ritualistic music during ceremonies and other events.

Mexico’s music is largely influenced by its diverse history as well as the indigenous native peoples of Mesoamerica, European settlers, and African slaves.

Mexican music typically sings of love, country, passion, history, legend, and oppression.

Two dynamic musical genres in Mexican culture everyone should know about are:

  • Mariachi: originally taking form during the mid-19th Century during the French invasion of Mexico. Mariachi musical instruments usually include a Violin, Vihuela, Guitar, Guitarron, Trumpet, and Harp.
  • Ranchera: also originating from the mid-19th Century Ranchera music sings of love, patriotism, nature and honor.

Originating on ranches in rural parts of Mexico, Rancheras are varied and can reflect the tempo of a waltz, polka or a bolero.

Facts about Mexico’s Dance Culture

Los Voladores de Papantla, which is considered by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage is one of Mexico’s most unique ceremonies.

cultural facts about mexico
Los Voladores in Bosque de Chapultepec by Carl (CC BY-SA)

Different from many other Latin dances, it consists of five participants, four of whom launch themselves off a 30-meter high pole while the fifth person remains on top, dancing and playing a flute and drums.

According to one myth, the ritual was created to ask the gods to end a severe drought. Los Voladores de Papantla has its origins near the Puebla-Veracruz border.

Clothing Facts about Mexico

The most recognized piece of traditional Mexican clothing is the Sombrero, sarape, charro suit, guayabero, baja jacket, and poncho.

The most recognizable pieces of traditional women’s clothing are the huipil, quechquemitl, and rebozo.

mexican huipil
Mexican lady making a Huipil

Mexican clothing has its origins in native and European elements. Before the colonization of the Spanish in the early 1500s, traditional Mexican clothing was primarily made from cotton, agave, and bark.

After the arrival of European settlers, the native Mexican people started incorporating silk and wool.

The culture of Mexico is a reflection of its complex and extensive history dating back over 3,000 years with evidence that it was first populated some 13,000 years ago.

Interesting Facts About Mexico

Through the gradual blending of native Mesoamerican, Spanish, and other immigrant cultures Mexico today enjoys a vast array of cultural traditions.

Much of Mexican culture revolves around religious values and the church, as well as the concept of family and inclusiveness.

So, we’ve finally come to the end of this piece on cultural facts about Mexico.

I hope you learned something and maybe you’re even inspired to travel to Mexico in the near future.

Photo Credits: Rod Waddington (c), Michael Swigart (c), Eliazar Parra Cardenas (c), The Real Cloud2013 (c), The Real Cloud2013 (c), Arian Zwegers (c), Gary Todd (c), Pilar Sáenz (c), Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. (c), Secretaría de Cult (c), Carl Campbell (c), Lauren Parnell Marino (c)

📌 Like this article? Pin it…

interesting facts about mexico
cultural facts about mexico
Did this help your search for interesting facts about Mexico?

💬 Leave a nice comment or let’s start a conversation below!

“Dear friend! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps me to keep traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

Filed Under: Latin Culture, Mexico

Daniel James

Helping thousands of people worldwide with independent travel in Latin America. Layer Culture means to dig deeper into the ideas, customs, and behavior of a group of people.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Dan 👋🏽

south america travel

After spending years on the road Dan is now offering to help you find your feet in Latin America; inspire you to learn Spanish and get you started on your adventures. Learn how to travel longer and stronger!

Yes Dan, help me!

Need something specific?

Recent Posts

  • Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?
  • Old Town Cartagena – Colombia
  • Things to do in Paraty, Brazil
  • Is Playa del Carmen Safe?
  • Things to do in Akumal, Mexico

Footer

  • South America Safety
  • Connect with locals
  • Dan’s Travel Bible

Travel Tips

  • South America Safety
  • Connect with locals
  • Dan’s Travel Bible

Work with Dan

  • Be a Travelpreneur
  • About This Blog
  • Ask Me Anything

Get Inspired

  • South America Itinerary
  • Central America Safety
  • Solo Travel Tips

How to Learn Spanish

  • Learn Spanish Conversation
  • Become Fluent in Spanish
  • Top Places to Learn Spanish

© 2022 · Daniel James · Built on Genesis · See my site Policies

Layerculture is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Other affiliate programs linking to other recommended products and services are also used.

This website uses cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
47 shares