Every nation has its own traditions, especially when it comes to food. Mexico is no different, having many unique Mexican food traditions. Mexican food customs include certain dishes, which are served on holidays and other special occasions, with some of these dishes being well known as classic Mexican recipes all over the world.
Mexican Holidays And Recipes
One of the best known of Mexico's unique holidays is Cinco de Mayo. Falling on the fifth of May each year (the name simply means May 5th in Spanish), Cinco de Mayo is often mistakenly thought to be Mexico's Independence Day, a common misconception in the United States. In fact, the holiday commemorates Mexico's victory over the French army at Puebla in 1862.
It is in the state of Puebla that this holiday is celebrated with special Cinco de Mayo recipes. In the rest of the country, it is regarded as a minor holiday, despite how popular this commemoration is in the United States. Puebla's Cinco de Mayo dishes often include mole, a traditional Mexican recipe which hails from this state.
One traditional Cinco de Mayo recipe often made in Puebla for this holiday is turkey cooked in a mole sauce. This would be mole poblano in particular (the name means "Puebla-style mole"), a rich, nutty and spicy sauce which is worth every bit of the considerable time and effort needed to make it. Turkey is a popular food in Puebla and in fact, in much of the country. Turkey shows up not only here, but also in many Mexican recipes, even some of Mexico's other special holiday dishes.
Christmas And Other Religious Holidays
Since Mexico is an overwhelmingly a Catholic nation, there are special Christmas celebrations as well as celebrations for feast days of certain saints as well as other dates of religious significance throughout the year. When it comes to food though, there are few countries, which know how to celebrate with the flair of Mexico. Christmas has its own special Mexican food traditions such as the "posada," a special Christmas morning meal.
On this occasion, you will often find traditional dishes served such as mashed potatoes with cranberry and chili relish, rather than the gravy you would find at the table in the US. Punch is also traditionally served at a posada, as are other dishes including turkey soup and codfish. A piata is also a traditional (and very festive) addition to the Christmas day festivities in Mexico.
In Mexico, the feast of Epiphany is also celebrated with special food and drink. The Spanish-style ring shaped Epiphany cake was introduced to Mexico and has become a Mexican food tradition of its own. The addition of hot chocolate, a drink which is a new world innovation is a Mexican addition to this holiday meal.
Of course, no discussion of typical Mexican food traditions can omit the Mexican celebration of All Saints Day, or Dia de los Muertos as it is known here. On this day, pumpkin candy and other special treats are served, including pan de muertos, a small loaf of bread, which is glazed and sprinkled with colored sugar. These loaves are decorated with small pieces of bread shaped like bones and even skulls!
The most famous food tradition connected with Dia de los Muertos is the making of the colorful, skull shaped candies called sugar skulls. These are made from sugar which is pressed into molds and decorated, sometimes very elaborately - many of these candies are works of art which are simply to wonderful to eat!
The food traditions of every nation reflect their unique culture, something which Mexican food traditions certainly do. The country's amalgam of new world and old world ingredients, recipes and cooking methods have resulted in a culture - and a set of traditional foods which are an integral part of Mexican life and culture.
Mexican Holidays And Recipes
One of the best known of Mexico's unique holidays is Cinco de Mayo. Falling on the fifth of May each year (the name simply means May 5th in Spanish), Cinco de Mayo is often mistakenly thought to be Mexico's Independence Day, a common misconception in the United States. In fact, the holiday commemorates Mexico's victory over the French army at Puebla in 1862.
It is in the state of Puebla that this holiday is celebrated with special Cinco de Mayo recipes. In the rest of the country, it is regarded as a minor holiday, despite how popular this commemoration is in the United States. Puebla's Cinco de Mayo dishes often include mole, a traditional Mexican recipe which hails from this state.
One traditional Cinco de Mayo recipe often made in Puebla for this holiday is turkey cooked in a mole sauce. This would be mole poblano in particular (the name means "Puebla-style mole"), a rich, nutty and spicy sauce which is worth every bit of the considerable time and effort needed to make it. Turkey is a popular food in Puebla and in fact, in much of the country. Turkey shows up not only here, but also in many Mexican recipes, even some of Mexico's other special holiday dishes.
Christmas And Other Religious Holidays
Since Mexico is an overwhelmingly a Catholic nation, there are special Christmas celebrations as well as celebrations for feast days of certain saints as well as other dates of religious significance throughout the year. When it comes to food though, there are few countries, which know how to celebrate with the flair of Mexico. Christmas has its own special Mexican food traditions such as the "posada," a special Christmas morning meal.
On this occasion, you will often find traditional dishes served such as mashed potatoes with cranberry and chili relish, rather than the gravy you would find at the table in the US. Punch is also traditionally served at a posada, as are other dishes including turkey soup and codfish. A piata is also a traditional (and very festive) addition to the Christmas day festivities in Mexico.
In Mexico, the feast of Epiphany is also celebrated with special food and drink. The Spanish-style ring shaped Epiphany cake was introduced to Mexico and has become a Mexican food tradition of its own. The addition of hot chocolate, a drink which is a new world innovation is a Mexican addition to this holiday meal.
Of course, no discussion of typical Mexican food traditions can omit the Mexican celebration of All Saints Day, or Dia de los Muertos as it is known here. On this day, pumpkin candy and other special treats are served, including pan de muertos, a small loaf of bread, which is glazed and sprinkled with colored sugar. These loaves are decorated with small pieces of bread shaped like bones and even skulls!
The most famous food tradition connected with Dia de los Muertos is the making of the colorful, skull shaped candies called sugar skulls. These are made from sugar which is pressed into molds and decorated, sometimes very elaborately - many of these candies are works of art which are simply to wonderful to eat!
The food traditions of every nation reflect their unique culture, something which Mexican food traditions certainly do. The country's amalgam of new world and old world ingredients, recipes and cooking methods have resulted in a culture - and a set of traditional foods which are an integral part of Mexican life and culture.
About the Author:
Tortillas are quintessential to Mexican cuisine and can be stuffed with many different fillings. You can get tortillas stuffed with beef, fish, chicken, vegetables, cheese or a combination of fillings and they are wonderful to stuff and bake with cheese over the top. Tortillas are to Mexicans what bread is to us.
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