Art of

Art has played a huge role in Mexico and the way it has developed. There are many types of art in Mexico and each one has a different meaning. There is Mexican folk art, which involves many statues and skulls or skeletons. The skulls represent the dead in belief that they return to visit during the celebration. Another type of art that has shaped Mexico is fine art, there are a few famous painters arising from Mexico. Those painters are Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Arnold Belkin. They are known as a group of artists that have changed Mexican culture and art forever. Their trend of murals started right after the Mexican Revolution and its effect on them and society. aThey gave new forms to Mexican art by providing scenes of human life and social messages.

work cited

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/famous-mexican-artists.html

Government and it's problems

The federal government of Mexico is really no different than our own; their government type is federal republic. The Mexican government contains three branches, an executive, legislative, and judicial. There political parties vary; they have a total of   seven parties. Those parties are Institutional Revolutionary Party, National Action Party, Party of the Democratic Revolution, Labor Party, Green Ecological Party, Convergence party, and the New Alliance. The president of Mexico is currently Felipe Calderon; he has been in position since December 1, 2006

            Like any other country Mexico has its own set of problems to deal with. One of those problems occurs on the southern border of Mexico. Mexico has a problem of illegal immigrants coming into the country from Guatemala. Not only do they face immigration problems, a good portion of the countries people live in poverty. Around 20 million people live on 2 dollars a day. Only 10% of the nation is wealthy, the middle class makes up 30% and the poor make up more than half of the population in Mexico. The poor make up about 60% of the population, and of the 60% 30% live in extreme poverty. The number of people in poverty is still growing.

            The most problematic situation in Mexico at the moment is dealing with the Mexican drug cartels. The Mexican Government is in an all out war with the drug cartels and the violence doesn’t seem to stop. As soon as president Felipe Calderon stepped into office he has tried to put a stop to the crime that persists. He has claimed war on the cartels, because of this many killings and abductions of reporters and judges has continued to today. Many of the Mexican officials are corrupt and have been bribed to work for the drug Cartel. A lot of the times the drug cartels decapitate important people to show who is in charge and instill fear into their enemies.

work cited

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/Mexico-POVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Mexico#cite_note-0

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html

http://www.thp.org/where_we_work/latin_america/mexico/overview?gclid=CI2JodjD76UCFQcKbAod1xWCpQ

The People of Mexico

Mexico’s current population is 112,468,855

29% of the population is under 14 years of age

 64% are between the ages of fifteen and sixty-four

7% are sixty-five and older

            Mexico like any other country has a variety of people living within the country. There are four main groups that make up Mexico’s diversity. The largest group consists of  Mestizos they make up for 70% percent of the population.

A Mestizo can be identified as a regular citizen of Mexico living in the city. The northern part Mexico is mainly populated with Mestizos.

            The second largest group in Mexico is the Amerindians; they make up 20% of the nations population. The CDI recognizes about 62 indigenous groups belonging to Mexico. Out of those sixty-two groups the largest ones are the Maya, Nahua, and Zapotec. They seem to live in rural areas as well as southern states of Mexico.

            Among these large groups there are 2 smaller groups that follow. The third group are the White Mexicans. The white Mexican can be categorized as having European descent from the Spanish settlers that arrived in colonial times. They make up 9% of the population. Despite there small numbers, they are the most socially privileged group of all in Mexico.

            Out of all the ethnic groups in Mexico the fourth has to be the most interesting of all. The fourth doesn’t go by a specific name lets just call them other. The group makes up the last 1%. This one percent contains a mixture of Mexicans such as Afro-Mexicans and Asian-Mexicans. 

work cited

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379167/Mexico

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html

Marriage Customs

The traditions in Mexico are very similar to the traditions in America. The women still wear white dresses but in a different style of dress called flamenco. 

A flamenco wedding dress is usually a white dress with a lot of ruffles on at the bottom unlike the American wedding dresses that are usually straight and long.  In Mexico they also wear vials like America but they are called mantilla veil which is a vial that has more lace and a design to it rather than just one straight fabric. Another dress that they will wear is a Mexican wedding shirt or a guayaberas. This is a loose style shirt as a result; it can be worn by all shapes and sizes. These dresses are more are popular with beach weddings because of their comfort, style, and freshness. For the men they will usually wear a tux in a traditional wedding and a man version of the guayabera for the beach wedding.  The food they will usually serve at a Mexican wedding is spicy rice, beans, tortilla dishes using chicken and beef. The music that plays threw the party of the wedding is usually Mariachi which is a band that plays instruments such as trumpets, drums, guitars, as well as harps and violins. When the bride is walking down the isle the music will usually be played on an organ. In some cities of northern Mexico, there is the tradition of giving a ring called "of promise", just like the engagement ring in America, that occurs before the ring of commitment. Sponsors or the people who will usually pay for the wedding or help pay are usually god parents or madrinas and padrinos. They will also give the couple a prayer book, rosary, and kneeling pillow for the ceremony. Before leaving the home for the ceremony, the bride's mother or parents offers a prayer with the bride. As the wedding starts the flower girl and ring bearer are dressed as miniature versions of the bride and groom and will walk down the isle first. The madrina de ramo carries flowers for the Virgin Mary. The madrina de laso carries a jeweled or beaded rope that is placed around the couple as they say their vows, to symbolize their union. The madrina de arras holds the 13 coins for the groom to presents to the bride. The coins, or arrhea, were a Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage. The groom gives the bride thirteen gold coins as a symbol of his unquestionable trust and confidence. He pledges that he places all of his goods into her care and safekeeping. Acceptance by the bride means taking that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence. The custom of the coins originated in Spain. Thirteen gold coins (arras) are given to the bride by the bridegroom, signifying he will support her. Often presented in ornate boxes or gift trays, this represents the bride’s dowry and holds good wishes for prosperity. These coins become a part of their family heirloom. The number 12 represents Christ and his 12 apostles. The coins are presented to the priest by a friend or relative usually the purchaser. The priest then blesses the coins and hands them to the bride who places them in the groom's cupped hands at the beginning of the ceremony. The coins are then placed on a tray and handed to an assistant to be held until later in the ceremony. Near the end of the ceremony the box and coins are given to the priest who places the coins in the box and hands them to the groom. The groom will then pour the coins into the bride's cupped hands and places the box on top. This represents his giving her control as his mistress of all his worldly goods. Sometimes their hands are tied with a ribbon for this portion of the ceremony. The madrina de copas carries the wine glasses for the toast. Madrinas or padrinos carry a prayer book, a rosary, a guest book for signatures and an embroidered pillow to commemorate the day. There is also a madrina de velacion, who the bride has chosen to turn to for guidance throughout her married life.The last persons in the procession carry the recuerdos, which are remembrances given to the guests. In addition there can be several sets of wedding sponsors, similar to god parents, who look after the couple promising them financial and spiritual aid. As part of the ceremony to symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads or a lasso (cord) is placed in a figure eight shape around the necks of the couple after they have exchanged their vows. It also is beautiful when made of entwined orange blossoms (which symbolize fertility and happiness). A double rosary lasso may also be given by one set of the parents and may be blessed with holy water three times in honor of the trinity. A special person/couple places the lasso around the shoulders of the bride and groom, groom's shoulder's first. The lasso may also be tied around their wrists. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. (The loop is symbolic of their love which should bind the couple together everyday as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives. At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by either the couple which placed the lasso on the couple, or the priest. The lasso is given to the Bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom's heart and home. [1]

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[1] http://www.weddingdetails.com/lore/mexican.cfm