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
Perhaps the best known of Mexican holidays is Cinco de Mayo. This celebration on May 5th every year is commonly thought to be Mexico's Independence Day holiday. As it happens, the holiday was declared not to celebrate Mexican independence from Spain, but the victory of the Mexican army over the French in'62 at Puebla.
While it may not be a big deal in much of the country, the citizens of Puebla take great pride in this holiday and make some special holiday recipes for the occasion. Mole is often a part of the dishes cooked n this day; mole is one of Puebla's own creations, which has become a well loved traditional Mexican recipe all over the country.
A dish, which you may see, served on Cinco de Mayo in Puebla is turkey in mole poblano (the poblano here refers not to the large peppers used to make chiles rellenos, but means "Puebla style"). Turkey happens to be a very popular food in Mexico and appears in a great many Mexican recipes. While turkey in mole sauce may not be what most Americans would expect to be served as a Cinco de Mayo dinner, it is a delicious way to celebrate this holiday.
Christmas And Epiphany Food Traditions
Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, which celebrates Christmas (of course) as well as the feast days of many saints and other religious holidays. No country celebrates like Mexico, especially when it comes to holiday food! Christmas Mexican food traditions include the traditional Christmas morning "posada," a sort of morning dinner party.
The traditional posada meal might include dishes like turkey soup, codfish with gravy, punch with marshmallows, and mashed potatoes served with a spicy cranberry sauce. Making this already festive holiday meal even more so is the presence of a piata, something which adds a fun Mexican flair to the holiday.
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 Mexican food traditions and Mexican food history would be complete without a mention of Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican "day of the dead." This is the Mexican celebration of All Saints Day on November first and there are special dishes eaten such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto - bread which is baked, glazed, and decorated with colored sugar. Smaller pieces of dough are prepared in the shape of bones and skulls to decorate these holiday loaves.
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!
Mexican food traditions are a reflection of this nation's rich cultural heritage and include traditional recipes of both indigenous and Spanish origin, a blend which is the hallmark of this country's cuisine, one of the world's most famous. - 30289
Mexican Holidays And Recipes
Perhaps the best known of Mexican holidays is Cinco de Mayo. This celebration on May 5th every year is commonly thought to be Mexico's Independence Day holiday. As it happens, the holiday was declared not to celebrate Mexican independence from Spain, but the victory of the Mexican army over the French in'62 at Puebla.
While it may not be a big deal in much of the country, the citizens of Puebla take great pride in this holiday and make some special holiday recipes for the occasion. Mole is often a part of the dishes cooked n this day; mole is one of Puebla's own creations, which has become a well loved traditional Mexican recipe all over the country.
A dish, which you may see, served on Cinco de Mayo in Puebla is turkey in mole poblano (the poblano here refers not to the large peppers used to make chiles rellenos, but means "Puebla style"). Turkey happens to be a very popular food in Mexico and appears in a great many Mexican recipes. While turkey in mole sauce may not be what most Americans would expect to be served as a Cinco de Mayo dinner, it is a delicious way to celebrate this holiday.
Christmas And Epiphany Food Traditions
Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, which celebrates Christmas (of course) as well as the feast days of many saints and other religious holidays. No country celebrates like Mexico, especially when it comes to holiday food! Christmas Mexican food traditions include the traditional Christmas morning "posada," a sort of morning dinner party.
The traditional posada meal might include dishes like turkey soup, codfish with gravy, punch with marshmallows, and mashed potatoes served with a spicy cranberry sauce. Making this already festive holiday meal even more so is the presence of a piata, something which adds a fun Mexican flair to the holiday.
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 Mexican food traditions and Mexican food history would be complete without a mention of Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican "day of the dead." This is the Mexican celebration of All Saints Day on November first and there are special dishes eaten such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto - bread which is baked, glazed, and decorated with colored sugar. Smaller pieces of dough are prepared in the shape of bones and skulls to decorate these holiday loaves.
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!
Mexican food traditions are a reflection of this nation's rich cultural heritage and include traditional recipes of both indigenous and Spanish origin, a blend which is the hallmark of this country's cuisine, one of the world's most famous. - 30289
About the Author:
Have you ever wondered just how many kinds of hot peppers are used in Mexican food recipes? You are probably familiar with habanero, jalapeo and maybe poblano peppers but there are plenty more to learn about at MexicanFoodRecipes.org, along with the best Mexican recipes to use tasty hot peppers in.
