Spanish (Mexican) Language and Culture

Where does it come from?

Spanish is the official language of Mexico, it is spoken by nearly the entire population. Mexican Spanish is not the same than Peninsular Spanish. Indigenous languages that still exist in Mexico today have influenced the language. Although few of these languages are actually spoken, they left a significant impact on Mexican Spanish, lending words that are not found in the Spanish of Spain or the rest of Latin America. This is especially evident in the name of common plants and animals. There are even English words such as tomato, coyote, avocado and chocolate that have been incorporated into the language. In addition to this, there are currently more than 50 native Mexican languages spoken throughout the country, all contributing to the diversity of accents found all over Mexico.

Mexican Spanish is the most widely spoken variety of Spanish throughout the USA.

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A spot of culture
Art:
Mexico is well-known for its colourful embroidered shawls, rugs, baskets and rugs. The Mexican folk art traditions are mainly derived from a combination of indigenous and Spanish crafts. After the Mexican Revolution (1910) a new generation of artists emerged, introducing political, historic and folk themes in their works. The most famous of these artists were Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros and José Clemente Orosco. Other well-known artists who were influenced by surrealism and produced more personal works were Frida Kahlo (Rivera's wife) and Rufino Tamayo.

Literature:
Inés de la Cruz, a nun in Colonial Mexico, wrote many poems and became famous for her defence of women's rights. José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi, a writer and political journalist is known as the author of El Periquillo Sarniento (1816), the first novel written in Latin America.

Music:
There are many forms of regional music within Mexico. One of the most popular ones is Marachi, usually an ensemble band of 5 or more musicians wearing the traditional costume of a charro or Mexican cowboy. Instruments include trumpets, violins and guitars as well as traditional Mexican instruments, the vihuela and the guitarron. Other popular music forms are the Ranchera, the Norteña and the Banda.

Food:
Mexican cuisine is full of intense and varied flavours and a variety of spices. Most of today's Mexican cuisine is a combination of native American traditions combined with culinary trends introduced by Spanish colonists. The most common Native American influence is chilli.

Mexican food varies by region, because the degree of Spanish influence varied. In the North of the country you will find more beef and meat dishes, whereas in the southeast most dishes are based on vegetables and chicken.

Spanish (Castillian) Language and Culture

Where does it come from?
Spanish is a member of the Romance group in the Italic subfamily of the Indo-European language family. Descended from Latin, it is closely related to French, Italian and Portuguese. It is also known as Castilian, after the dialect from which modern Spanish developed.

The Spanish vocabulary is basically of Latin origin, although it has been enriched by many borrowed words from other languages, especially Arabic, French, Italian, and various indigenous languages of North, Central, and South America. The oldest extant written records of Spanish date from the middle of the 10th century A.D.

How many people speak it?
An estimated 350 million speak Spanish throughout the world.

In how many countries?
Spanish is the mother tongue of some 40 million Spanish residents. It is also spoken in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

A spot of Culture
Events
Among the main festivals are Festividad in San Sebastián in January, when the whole town dresses up and goes berserk; Carnival takes place throughout the country in late February; in March, Valencia has a week-long party known as Las Fallas, which is marked by all-night dancing, drinking, first-class fireworks and colourful processions. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the week leading up to Easter Sunday with parades of holy images through the streets. The Running of the Bulls (Sanfermines) in Pamplona in July is Spain's most famous festival.

Art
The art world in the early 20th century was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.

Architecture
Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric monuments in Menorca, through to the Roman ruins of Mérida and Tarragona, the decorative Islamic Alhambra in Granada, Mudéjar buildings, Gothic cathedrals, castles and palaces, fantastic modernist monuments and Gaudí's intricate fabulist sculptures.

Music & Dance
Spanish music has vitality and rhythms that reflect the many Christian and Moorish cultural influences.

Spanish dance styles include the bolero, the flamenco, the jota, and the fandango. Flamenco is an individualistic, yet structured folk art from Andalucía, which is often improvised and spontaneous.

Food and Drink
Spanish food has a deservedly high reputation. Paella, gazpacho, tapas and chorizo may be familiar to most Westerners, but Spanish cuisine goes well beyond these, with a rich selection of stews, soups, beans, seafood and meats, all of which have been influential in Latin American cooking.

Some Attractions
Madrid
Madrid has a remarkable collection of museums and galleries, beautiful parks and gardens and wild nightlife. Key sites are Gran Vía - the most exciting street; the Museo del Prado; and the beautiful Real Jardin Botánico.

Barcelona
Barcelona is sophisticated, elegant and romantic, but has the energy of a port city. The unique architecture of Antoni Gaudí is evident in buildings such as the Sagrada Família church and Parc Güell, and its world-class museums include Museu Picasso.

Valencia
Spain's third city is home to paella and the Holy Grail. It is also blessed with great weather and the spring festival of Las Fallas, one of the wildest parties in the country.

Granada
During the period of Muslim domination of Spain, Granada was the finest city on the peninsula. Today it is still home to the greatest Muslim legacy in Europe, and one of the most inspiring attractions on the Continent - the Alhambra.

Seville
Seville is one of the most exciting cities in Spain, with wonderful parks and gardens, Muslim monuments, flamenco, bullfights and a large and lively student population. Seville's immense cathedral is said to have an area greater than any other in the world.

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