Multicultural Festival -- Mexico

The Multicultural Festival is a three day celebration, which kicks off the month of March in which the students will be educated about different countries, by showing cultural differences, and how we are the same. Mexico is one of the four countries featured in this year's festival.


Games and Activities of Mexico

Soccer is regarded as the most popular sport in the country.  However, basketball, boxing, baseball, golf, wrestling, bullfighting, and charreria are also popular.


Greetings

Click here for greetings


Manners and Customs in Mexico

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

MEXICAN FAMILY VALUES

  • The family is at the center of the social structure.
  • Outside of the major cosmopolitan cities, families are still generally large.
  • The extended family is as important as the nuclear family since it provides a sense of stability.
  • Mexicans consider it their duty and responsibility to help family members. For example, they help each other find employment or finance a house or other large purchases.
  • Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the father as the head, the authority figure, and the decision-maker.
  • Mothers are greatly revered, but their role may be seen as secondary to that of their husband.

WHEN SOMEBODY DIES
People send ''coronas''. This is a big circle with a lot of natural flowers made out with the family name saying ''Nuestro Pesame''. After the internment at the cemetery, family and friends gather at the family home to pray for the person who passed away. They stay up all night, drink coffee, and share remembrances about the person while he/she was alive.

MEDICAL CARE
Hospitals are owned by the government. All employees by law have to be insured, no matter what job they have.


RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNICATION

WHAT'S IN A NAME? PLENTY!
Mexicans usually have three names. On a business card, these are presented in the following order: first name, paternal family name and maternal family name. In addressing someone, you should use the paternal family name. For instance, Sr. Pablo Gomez Ortega would be addressed as Sr. Gomez. Increasingly, Mexicans are abbreviating their maternal family name. In such cases, the name would appear as Sr. Pablo Gomez O. In other cases, the maternal name is dropped altogether.

ADDRESS PEOPLE USING THEIR TITLES
Titles are a huge deal in Mexico. "Señor", "Señora" and "Señorita" all show respect and it is best to use them until the person you are speaking with indicates otherwise. Education is highly regarded and it is a good idea to address people by these titles as well, "Doctor(a)", "Ingeniero" (engineer) and "Profesor(a)" (professor)) are some titles you may come across. If you are a university grad you can always introduce yourself as "Licenciado(a)".

MAIL
Mexican people prefer to make phone calls as opposed to sending cards in the mail.  They feel it's much more personal to greet each other for birthdays and other special occasions using the telephone.

EATING
Do not sit down until you are invited to and told where to sit. Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.  The main meal of the day (desayuno, almuerzo, comida) is 2:00-4:00pm and a lighter meal (la cena) is served from 7:00-9:00pm.

SHOPPING
People use cash for all purchases. Most Mexicans don't use credit cards. The bank only gives credit cards to wealthy people or business owners.

REMEMBER TO ASK FOR THE BILL
It is considered rude to bring the bill to the table if it has not yet been requested. Instead of rushing you out of the restaurant, the servers give you time to relax and enjoy your meal. Whenever you are ready to leave, just nicely ask for the bill.

FRIENDS
As you form friendships in Mexico, the greeting will change quickly from a handshake to a hug. Men have more friendly physical contact than generally seen in the U.S.; these gestures should be accepted willingly.
Close male acquaintances will often perform the "abrazo," a Mexican gesture of good will. The abrazo is a combination hug/backslap/handshake and is used in business situations as well.

RESPECT
Over all, the best thing you can do in Mexico is to be respectful to everyone. From taxi drivers to business executives you need to make sure you treat everyone graciously. Those travelers who make the effort to be courteous and polite will experience better service, lots of smiles and a much better reception when traveling in Mexico.

ATTITUDE
Consider others better than yourself. Intelligence has been issued fairly evenly. Education has not. Many Mexicans you will meet will have limited formal education. Never act superior or talk down to people you meet. Like everybody else in this world, they have lessons to teach you if you are listening. Be courteous, friendly, and ready to share. Most of all, always SMILE and say "Buenos Dias!" Be sincere and forward. Break the ice with a handshake and a smile even if you haven't learned to say Buenos