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American vs Mexican Culture

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ENGL 1301
April 29, 2014
American and Mexican Culture
Thesis: It is very important to know how México’s and United States’ culture make their principles valued and how they have been influenced through time.

ENGL 1301
April 29, 2014
American and Mexican Culture
History through the years has changed the development of cultures around the world. Culture is the distinguishing aspects of a specific group of people, defined by everything within it. México and United States share some characteristics and the following are examples: arts, foods, holidays, and religions. It is very important to know how México’s and United States’ culture make their principles valued and how they have been influenced through time.
México is a distinctive country that is differentiated by its porcelain, cotton fabrics clothes, and wool scarfs. Their traditional creations of art produced a sense of pride. Artistic legacy has played an important role in Mexican patrimony. “Current research on hybridity in the visual arts helps to tease out Euro-Christian and Mesoamerican forms and meanings in the ritual objects that nuns wore on their bodies” (Cordova 449). Traditional origins with colonial inspirations have continued to influence Mexico’s music.
In the United States art involves the history of painting and visual drawings. “German painter Otto Dix reproduced the nightmare of World War I in works so disturbing they were banned from exhibition and destroyed by the Nazis” (Lifson 9). Artists painted landscapes and portraits in exact styles based primarily on European arts. The United States is recognized as the world leader in mass media production. American television programs are shown around the world with huge admiration. American folk art is an artistic style and is well identified. American music is very varied with many genres.
Mexican cuisine is a combination of original Mesoamerican cooking with Spanish inspiration. Cooking in Spanish cultures is very significant. The basis of their foods involve seeds such as corn, beans and chili peppers, but the Spanish offered different types of meat from domesticated animals beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep. Mexican cuisine is strictly tied to culture and popular traditions of the country. Currently Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries are struggling with eating disorders. They rather choose junk food over nutrient food. “In Mexican adolescents, consumption of fruits, vegetables, cereals, dairy products, starchy vegetables, bread, red meat, white meat, and fast food diminished with decreasing socioeconomic position; conversely, individuals in a low social position consumed legumes and soft drinks more frequently” (Ortiz-Hernández 133). It is tough for poor families in México to eat healthy.
The cuisine of the United States refers to food preparation that originated in other countries. Immigrants brought the recipes and ingredients and from there American cooking has established a blend of these nations. Eating in the United States has become a big problem because people do not have time to cook. Therefore, they buy junk food from fast food industries. These industries have gained an imperative part that takes an essential way of their eating habits. Old people in general struggles the most. It is hard for the elder to buy food when they are poor. “In some parts of the country, homebound elderly can pay out of pocket, but that’s tough for many seniors” (Lieberman 14). Their way of cookery is fundamental. It is filled with domestic, emotional, sensitive, and even religious significance. It defines shared characteristics and indicates pious and group traditions.
Religion plays a big role when it comes to holidays in Mexico. The Feast of the Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12, and it is a foremost Mexican holiday commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man in the first years of Spanish rule. She is the patron saint of the country. The Day of the Dead is essentially notable over two days in November 1 and 2 merging Catholic and native rituals to honor the deceased and is a national holiday. Carnival is also famous in many groups throughout México to mark the period before Lent. Independence Day, marking the country’s departure from Spain in 1810, is celebrated on September 16. Cinco de Mayo marks Mexican military triumph over the French in 1862, is more broadly celebrated in the U.S. than it is in México. “Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States” (History.com Staff 1). Cinco de Mayo is a great holiday for everyone to celebrate. “Fiesta Broadway, held in downtown Los Angeles, is considered the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration not just in the United States but also around the globe” (Medrano par. 16). Important dates in Mexican History have been placed as holidays so that they can be remembered by its people.
History has marked the important dates that Americans remember from the days they were being treated unfairly. Americans honor their independence from Britain on July 4. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Labor Day is perceived on the first Monday in September. Thanksgiving is another distinguishing American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the crop. Presidents’ Day, marking the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, is a federal holiday that occurs on the third Monday in February. “Every country, especially a new one, needs heroes and holidays. But America took to Washington and his birthday because of the kind of hero he was” (Brookhiser 44). The assistances of veterans are privileged on Veterans’ Day, viewed on November 11. The influences of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are recalled on the third Monday in January.
When the Spanish came from Spain to colonize what now is now Mexico. They had something very crucial in mind and that was the accomplishment of making Catholicism to be the main religion practiced. Now days it still remains to be the leading religion. [See figure 1.1] Protestants make up the majority of the enduring religious groups, along with some Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. Even though Catholicism is the dominant religion, religious life is difficult, and is insightful of México’s religious and historical past. “Indigenous women’s roles within the Catholic Church functioned in a space between the traditional public roles associated with men and the private household roles assigned to women” (Truitt 416). The Spanish tried in a violent push to convert indigenous inhabitants.
Religion in the United States is described by a variety of religious principles and practices. People from different parts of the globe brought their cultures including their religions. Therefore, United States is full with diversity from everywhere. “In the American tradition, people have a duty to bring their beliefs to bear on every social, economic, and political problem. That’s not just a privilege, and it's not just a right. It’s a duty” (Chaput 17). Numerous religious faiths have thriven and perished. Americans say that religion is an important part in their lives. The majority of Americans 73% classify themselves as Christians and about 20% have no religious affiliation.
The culture of México and United States is not so different. They have characteristics in common, but indeed each individually is matchless. American culture can be defined with great diversity from everywhere and Mexican culture can be defined as unique with similarities that can relate to American culture. History shaped the way art was created in both nations. Food is not distinct and in fact United States loves diversity and México’s unique cuisine is excellent for them. Holidays bring both cultures together and are very well welcomed and celebrated. Christianity and Catholicism are similar and both are major religions practiced in both countries. It is important to understand both cultures so one can fully appreciate their meaning.

Works Cited
Brookhiser, Richard. "A Birthday Every American Should Remember." American History 47.6 (2013): 42-45. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Chaput, Charles J. "We Can't Be Silent." First Things: A Monthly Journal Of Religion & Public Life 243 (2014): 17-19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Cordova, James M. "Clad In Flowers: Indigenous Arts And Knowledge In Colonial Mexican Convents." Art Bulletin 93.4 (2011): 449-467. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
History.com, Staff. “Cinco de Mayo.” History.com. A+E Networks, 3 June 2009. Web. 26 April 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo>
LIEBERMAN, TRUDY. "The Real Hunger Games." Nation 297.15 (2013): 12-17. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
LIFSON, AMY. "Combat Artist." Humanities 32.5 (2011): 9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Medrano, Lourdes. "Cinco de Mayo: Six fun facts about the Fifth of May." Christian Science Monitor 05 May 2011: N.PAG. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Ortiz-Hernández, Luis, and Blanca Lilia Gómez-Tello. "Food Consumption In Mexican Adolescents." Revista Panamericana De Salud Publica 24.2 (2008): 127-135. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Truitt, Jonathan. "Courting Catholicism: Nahua Women And The Catholic Church In Colonial México City." Ethnohistory 57.3 (2010): 415-444. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

Figure 1.1
Religions in México

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